Sweet Salvation by Maddie Taylor

Author:Maddie Taylor [Taylor, Maddie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Sunlight streaming through the blinds fell harshly across Stacy’s face, pulling her reluctantly from sleep. Shielding her eyes against the glare, she rolled over, reaching for Jared. His spot was empty. Lifting her head, she squinted at the clock on the nightstand—half past five. Bolting upright, she groaned as memories flooded back. Crap! She’d had a panic attack at the club, in front of Jessie (which she could live with), her fiancé’s mother (which she’d try to forget) and a room full of strangers who had no doubt whispered, pointed, and gawked at the spectacle she had made (her worst nightmare).

Where was Jared? Throwing back the covers, she shouted his name, leapt out of bed, and rushed for the door. She had to see him. As she rounded the end of the big four-poster bed, she found him. This time, she plowed into him, bouncing off his chest.

“Easy, sweetheart.” Jared’s hands gripping her upper arms were the only thing that kept her from being knocked flat on her ass once again.

“Jared.” She exhaled, relief washing through her as she collapsed against him. He held her while she clung to him tightly, shivering in her thin, sleeveless nightgown.

“I’ve got you.” He lifted her and put her back to bed, following her in and pulling the covers up against the chill in the room. “I was just coming to check on you.”

She breathed him in, the scent of his woodsy citrus body wash comfortingly familiar as she shoved her face into his neck. Her arms snaked around him, squeezing like twin boas.

He stroked her back, murmuring gently, soothingly.

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be, honey. Jess recognized what was happening and had you out of there in seconds. It was well past the lunch hour and they said there were very few people left in the dining room.”

She eased her grip a bit, sliding down to rest her cheek against his shoulder. “I remember the waitress spilling the wine and a woman’s terrified screams. The sad thing is that I think the woman was me.” She snorted, making a face of pure disgust. “I’m such a head case.”

“Stacy, don’t.” His tone was firm. He couldn’t stand it when she got down on herself. “I can’t imagine having to go through what you did all alone. It would haunt any of us. Those officers should be shot for putting you through that.”

“So said Lana and Kristie when they came to pick me up that night. I thought they were going to be arrested for assaulting a police officer. They were that angry.”

“I like your friends already.”

She huffed a small laugh. “They are amazing women. Like Jess.”

“Yeah, Mom said it was a blessing she was there. Jess thinks the wine triggered the flashback, which dovetailed into a full-blown panic attack.”

Stacy nodded. “I knew it was wine, intellectually, but in my distorted mind, it looked like blood and all the horrible memories came flooding back. I looked at the wine and saw blood,” she repeated, incredulous. “How messed up is that?”

Tilting her head back, she met his gaze.

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