Maisey stayed in the robe, ordered room service and dug her phone out of the bag that held her discarded clothes. She was stunned to realize how late it was: after seven and she missed three calls--two from Brett and one from Anna--and fourteen text messages.
She called Anna first, "Oh my God," Anna exclaimed, "Are you ok? We were so worried."
Maisey smiled, "I'm fine, I decided to go shopping and for a massage." She plowed on "If you've never had a massage you should, it feels amazing."
"Oh God." Anna stopped her, "Maisey, Brett's been beside himself, worried that something happened when you didn't come back by noon and you weren't with me, Andy had the sheriff track your phone, he and Brett left to find you two hours ago, I'm sitting at your place in case you come back here."
Maisey was torn in how she wanted to reacted, warring emotions of anger and joy, "I'm not his property." she said finally.
"You nearly died when you left last," Anna reminded her, "Your Andy's patient and have had countless traumas, he isn't about to let you disappear for days without making sure you're alright." The room phone rang, "That's probably them," Anna told her. "Remember they care about you and just wanted to make sure you're safe."
"I'll call you back," Maisey said.
"Ma'am, there's two cowboys in our lobby asking for you: are they the cause of the abuse Janelle advised us of or people you're expecting? I am happy to call the police." Maisey could hear Andy and Brett in the background and sighed.
"That's my doctor and my roommate, I didn't remember to tell them where I was going. Please send them up, and we better have two steaks mid rare sent up with my dinner."
"Very good ma'am."
The phone clicked and Maisey decided she needed to be dressed in order to deal with the two men. Not caring what she put on Maisey grabbed the first item from the bag and found herself putting on one of the new dresses. She had just finished when she heard the knock on her door. Steeling herself for an arguement she threw open the door.
"I thought you said 406," Andy grumbled at Brett, "Sorry we've got the wrong..."
"Sweet mercy Maisey, you look amazing," Brett pushed past Andy and into the room, he swept her into his arms and hugged her to him, "I was terrified they'd found you and hurt you again," he set her back from him when she struggled and pushed at him. "I have been such an ass."
Andy closed the door, "I didn't even recognize you," he admitted, "Quite the transformation."
"I'm furious with the both of you!" She pulled her hand away from Brett, "however bad you felt or worried you felt, you had no right to invade my privacy and have me tracked! Or to show up here and embarrass me! I'm not your girlfriend or your wife or your friggin property! either of you and don't give me any doctor bull shit Andy, you know damn well that this is out of line."
Andy had the sense to look ashamed. Brett sat down hard and missed the seat he was aiming for. Landing on the floor jarred him. All he could focus on was the miles of leg that were visible when she wore that dress and relief she was ok.
Maisey glared at them, her arms folded across her chest, no one spoke for long minutes. Andy pulled his friend off the floor when Maisey went to answer the door. "Where can I put the tray?" After rolling in the cart and setting three meals on the table Maisey tipped him and let him out.
"Now that you two idiots are here you have a choice: eat in silence and watch a movie with me or eat in silence and leave. I came here to clear my head and do some shopping and relaxing after the frigging traumas I've been through this year and I'm not going to have you two boneheads wreck it." She picked up a plate and moved to the couch, curling her legs up under her and turning on the TV to find a movie.
Andy took the desk chair and Brett took a spot on the couch next to Maisey, enduring her glare. He had never seen her pissed off and he didn't like being the reason for the emotion. He moved to the floor instead. Maisey found a movie to watch--it was a romantic comedy--Brett groaned inwardly but watched it anyway, eating his steak.
Andy argued with Brett quietly when they realized Maisey had fallen asleep on the couch. Maisey stirred, "Go home Andy, Brett's obviously determined to protect me from myself, he can sleep on my couch after he puts me to bed, I'm still jello from my massage."
"I'm sorry, Maisey," Andy told her.
Maisey waved an arm in his general direction, "We'll discuss boundaries later, call your sister, drive safe." She didn't know why she was letting Brett stay. He'd all but ignored her for a week. "You're an ass Brett," she told him after the door closed, "I get it, you're trying to keep me safe but you're still an ass."
"I'm sorry Maisey," he told her, "I'm sorry I can't help wanting to take care of you."
"Ignoring me isn't taking care of me, " she told him, "I didn't tell you where I was going because I was pissed off you'd gone from sleeping with me to protect me to icy cold and avoiding me. I needed to clear my head to figure things out for myself."
Brett sat on the couch and she turned to lay her head on his lap, "I know," he stroked her hair, "Staying with you gives me feelings of possessiveness and wanting more with you and I can't have that. It's not right and it's too soon."
"Don't I get a say in that?" She yawned, her eyes closed, "I like being with you, being near you: I feel safe and... loved." the word was tentative as she yawned, "I don't want you ro give up a future with someone else just because I feel safe with you, you deserve more than a broken woman."
They sat like that until Brett thought she'd fallen asleep again, "I don't want anyone else," he whispered into the dark room.
"Then stop pushing me away so hard," came the soft reply. Brett's hand stopped moving through get hair, Maisey took it gently a pressed a soft kiss into his palm. "I need my bed, put me to bed please."
Gently cradling her Brett tucked Maisey close to his chest, too aware that her dress had shifted and his arm was touching her bare legs. "Stay with me," she asked as he went to leave. He didn't answer, warring with himself. The need to be near her won out: he threw back the covers, and climbed in next to her. When she snuggled to him her fingers brushed skin and she smiled as her cheek came against his bare chest.
She sighed and settled back into the crook of his arm with a smile. "Stay with me always," she whispered, "I don't want to be alone when we go home."
He pressed a kiss onto her forehead, "Wild horses couldn't keep me from you," he told her, "I've never wanted anyone the way I've wanted you Maisey."
With a sigh she fell asleep. Brett watched her for hours, still calming his panic and reveling in her demand for their relationship to change. He cared about her too much to rush her but if she felt angry because he'd been putting some distance between them... there had to be a balance.
He wondered how he could share a house and a bed with her without trying to be more than a friend. She still needed to heal. When he finally fell asleep he had no solution.
Maisey was up and showered when Brett opened his eyes, "Check out is at 11 but I've got more spa stuff going on until 1130, the bill is already paid but since you're here can you throw my shopping bags in the truck?"
"Yup," he gave her a thumbs up, "Leave the keys and I'll meet you at the truck whenever you're done." He pulled a pillow over his head and went back to sleep.
She chuckled and went down to the spa in a pair of her new jeans and one of her new tops, she wore it with the new sandals, expecting that she'd have nail polish to try not to muck up.
Janelle greeted her with a grin and guided her to the giant leather armchair that would be her seat for several hours. Janelle reclined it and set the massage setting while another woman guided Maisey's feet into a tub of water with jets. Her hands were extended to either side and placed in water as well. Still tired and lulled by the massage chair and gentle music Maisey dozed.