Free Chasing Tara (Bryant Station Curves) by Rayne Rachels Page B

causing Tara to jump.
    Jason walked in and closed the door. He looked at Tara and grinned. “Good morning.” He walked over to her and kissed her.
    Tara sighed and leaned into the kiss. The taste of cinnamon and sugar flooded her tongue. Desire rippled through her body.
    Jason broke the kiss. “Nice.”
    “Not so bad yourself.”
    “Where were you?” asked Tara.
    “A blue norther will be to be here in an hour or two. I was making sure there was enough wood piled up by the backdoor.” Jason pulled off his jacket and hung it on a peg by the door.
    “It’s going to be that cold?”
    “The weatherman is predicted freezing temperatures by this afternoon, and possibly some sleet. I figured it would be a good idea to have the wood ready. I doubt we’ll need it to warm the house, but sitting in front of a roaring fire might be romantic.” Jason gave her a huge grin. His eyes twinkled.
    Tara blushed.
    “And if the electricity does go out, we’ll have heat.”
    Tara sighed.
    “What’s wrong?”
    Tara shook her head. “Nothing that matters. I was thinking about the winter dad left us.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be. His leaving was the best thing that happened to mom and me. It was just the timing that was the problem.”
    “What do you mean?” Jason poured himself another cup of coffee.
    “We were living up in North Texas, somewhere on the other side of Fort Worth. We were renting a small house out in the middle of nowhere.  We didn’t have a lot of money. Dad liked his alcohol better than food, so by the time he came home on Friday, if he came home at all, his paycheck was usually gone. Anyway, he came home angry, and it didn’t help that there was no food on the table and the electricity had been disconnected for nonpayment. He and mom argued and the next thing I know, the door’s slamming and he’s gone.”
    “He wasn’t much of a father or a man.” Jason’s eyes turned silver.
    “It was like a weight had been lifted from the house, but that night a norther blew in. We didn’t have any wood for the fireplace and there wasn’t anything around the house we could use to chop any wood. The kitchen table and chairs were wood, so mom broke them up and burned them to keep us warm. Mom burned a lot of thing those three days.”
    Jason didn’t know what to say. He had never been in that kind of situation. It hurt him knowing Tara had gone through it.
    “Mom managed to scrap some food together. Three days later, the landlord came looking for his rent. He took us to town to a shelter.”
    “Your mom must be some kind of lady.”
    Tara smiled. “She’s tough. I’ve learned a lot from her.”
    “After you finish your coffee, go get your jacket.” Jason drank his coffee and put the mug in the sink.
    “Why?” Tara raised an eyebrow.
    “We’re going over to Mom’s to have breakfast and check on the kids. Then you and I are going shopping. We need groceries and some other things.”
    Tara swallowed. “Jason, it’s not necessary to spend money.”
    Jason stepped back. “Yes, it is. We need food and you and Haley need clothes.”
    “Haley and I can’t stay here.”
    “And where else are you planning to stay? You are my mate. This is your home.”
    “And Donald will follow me. I don’t want him harming you or Ben.” Tears threatened to fall again.
    “Do you think I can’t protect you?”
    “I never said that.” Tara raised the volume of her voice.
    “Then what are you saying?” yelled Jason, matching Tara’s volume.
    “I don’t want you or your family to get hurt because of me. Donald is my problem.”
    “No! He is our problem.” Jason saw the tears glistening in Tara’s eyes. “Why are you so afraid of him?”
    Tara stared at the wall.
    “Tara?”
    Tara shook her head.
    Jason kneeled down next to her. “You have to tell me, so I know what I’m up against. Why is he after you? What does he plan to do?”
    Tears rain down Tara’s cheeks. “Do you want to know his plans before