Page 24 of Corrupting Ivy

And cut him out, I would. Her stalker was like a festering wound on me, not her, and I wanted to burn him out of existence in the most excruciating way possible.

“You let me know how that goes.” She tapped on the truck door as she pulled away. “In the meantime, I’ve got to see a man about a pair of jeans.” Her smile fell as she blinked away the emotion that pained her. “I’ll see you around, Randall.”

She walked away, adding a little sway to her hips, enticing me to follow.

I tipped my head back, resting it on the glass behind me. This girl had me by the balls, and she didn’t even know it. I didn’t have that reaction to her last night until she ran into me—after I saw her wide, frightened eyes. I wanted to hurt anyone who put that look there—who made her feel unsafe. The truck door hinges screeched as I got out of the truck to follow her.Those things really need some WD-40.

Rounding the corner to the only country store in town that sells clothing around here, I side-stepped, missing the woman walking and talking on her phone. A task she didn’t seem capable of doing together.

The woman smiled, her hand reaching out for my arm. She inspected me. Then her gray-blue eyes twinkled like fireworks. “Spence?”

I recognized the way this woman said my name, with the same Texas drawl and her half an octave too high voice.

Willow Bailey.

She was the one every high school girl wanted to be like. She was a popular girl. Captain of the cheerleading squad; dated the quarterback, and always led each Fourth of July parade. But there was another thing that everyone knew, one thing she could never live down.

I never wanted her.

She’d made it known to the entire school that one day she’d marry me, and every dance event that came around, she held out hope, but each time, I disappointed her. I was already a notable cartel runner by then, and the last thing I wanted was teenage anything. The girls my age couldn’t handle my dark sexual appetites.

A slight breeze blew through her unnatural blonde hair, causing a strand to become stuck on her glossed lips. She sputtered, pulling the hair away, then smoothing her dress down as it came dangerously close to exposing her ass.

“Willow.”

She tipped her head back as she raised her brows. “So you do recognize me?”

“It'd be hard not to.”

She blushed as she mistook my meaning.

“What are you doing back in town? It’s been ages.”

“Business.”

Her brows drew together as she looked down. “Your ma? I heard she wasn’t doing so well.”

“Something like that.”

The phone in her hand dinged, causing her to look at it. “Hey, look, I need to get going. Do you want to come by for dinner sometime before you leave town?” Her mouth curved into a smile, showing her bright white teeth.

“I’m good. Thanks.”

Ivy, my dark-haired beauty, walked out of the store, drawing my attention. She glanced over my direction, looked Willow up and down, then tipped her head towards the sky.

I skirted around Willow as she leered at Ivy, then strode toward Ivy with purpose. “I thought you were getting pants?”

She glanced at me as I approached her and smiled. “And I thought I told you the stalker position was filled?” Her pupils flared as she bit into her smiling lips.

“I figured I’d get some practice in forwhenit becomes available.”

“When?”

I grinned. “I thought you were getting pants?”

“Oh um,” she looked down at her hands, then threw a thumb over her shoulder in the store's direction behind her, “I decided I should wait.” She paled as she shook her head, then looked away from me.

Liar.

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