Page 15 of Sniper

I’ve never had this feeling with someone, God, even with Marcus Allen. He was a crush, but just two minutes in this guy’s orbit…the way my body is suddenly reacting to him. This moment is momentous—I can feel it.

Crap.

Fear instantly takes hold; how much I’m drawn to him is shocking.

I’m dirty, broken…. I can’t be feeling this, not now, not ever.

Trying to calm my nerves, I clear my throat and step back.

“I, uh, I am sorry, sir…” I mutter before giving him a small, trembling smile, and turning away from his intense gaze.

Swallowing hard, I turn to my daughter, who instantly grins at me. My heart melts as I sit next to her, pushing her red hair out of her face. I feel his eyes on me, but I ignore him.

This little girl is my everything; I don’t need anything or anyone else, including him.

I have been on the move for nearly two years, ensuring he doesn’t find us—county after county, motel after motel…until six months ago.

I spent the first year staying in motels, cleaning for a free room. We moved at least nine times, before we finally settled here in Huntersville.

I did what I normally did on the road and stayed at the motel, cleaning it for board while slowly saving up and barely feeding myself. I had used all the money Hannah managed to grab me, roughly $1000, on diapers, clothes, and formula, and when we moved here, I knew we couldn’t stay in the motel for long.

I wanted her to have her own home, even if it’s small.

I managed to save up enough for a small one-bed apartment, giving Autumn the bedroom while I stayed on the second-hand pull-out couch.

Things are going well now. I still clean the motels, bringing Autumn with me, while also going to school online part-time using government funding. I hope to become a veterinary nurse, and I’m hoping to get a job in a vet practice in a few months.

I can’t afford any distractions, including a very hot guy, who looks like he should be on the cover of a magazine, with his piercing, dark brown eyes, chiseled jaw, tattoos, muscles, and shaggy black hair.

My stomach tightens again, and I will that feeling away. I can’t want him, I just can’t….

Autumn giggles, grabbing my finger, and I blink, trying to get out of my lust-fogged head.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt lust before…. It’s weird.

I smile at Autumn. “Okay, sweetheart, let’s clean you up before we go to the playground.”

She grins and repeats, “Playground,” making me smile as I wipe down her hands and face, then clean up her mess on the table and highchair.

I know I should discipline her for throwing the milkshake, but honestly, she didn’t really mean it. She thought she was sharing; I have to teach her that’s not how we share, is all.

Right?

Dammit, I’m a bad mom, aren’t I?

Tears want to build, my thoughts bringing me down as usual. I always second-guess myself, wondering if I’m doing right by her.

Some days, I wonder how to protect her when I couldn’t even protect myself.

Shaking my head, I smile at Autumn again, and stand. She instantly lifts her arms for me, making me smile. I lift her out of the chair, place her on my hip, and grab Mr. Bunny, handing it to her. She takes it happily, and I grab her bag.

I look around the table to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything while trying to ignore the guy’s eyes on me.

I’m pretty sure he'll run a mile when he realizes I’m not up for games, and it’s for the best.

It has to be….

Ten minutes later, I sit Autumn in the sand box at the playground, and she instantly squeals. I left the bakery without making eye contact with the man, and walked to the playground.

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