Page 12 of The Inkslinger

She laughs and some of her color returns. She wraps her arms around my waist before placing her forehead on my chest.

“I don’t want you to do anything. I just needed to not feel alone.”

Tilting her beautiful face up, I stare at her, taking in every detail. I know I really shouldn’t be getting involved, but I can’t help myself. There is something about this woman that draws me in, and I don’t know if I will ever be able to walk away from her.

She stares at my lips before licking her own and I swear she is going to kiss me. The bell above the door sounds and the moment is broken. My gaze travels to the man both of us had momentarily forgotten about, and I can’t miss the anger radiating off him. He clenches his fists as his gaze travels to where my hands are resting on Hailey’s hips.

“It’s time to come home, Hailey,” he says, and I want to punch him in the throat. “You need to let me fix this.”

Hailey stiffens beneath my touch. I want to defend her, I want to fight for her, but I don’t know what the hell is going on so I offer her the only thing I can—my support.

“There’s nothing to fix,” Hailey says as she turns to face him, leaning her back against my chest.

I keep my hands firmly on her hips. In some perverted way, I am enjoying this way too much. Not the fact that she has to face off with an ex, but the fact that I have my hands on her in a totally unprofessional way. That she is leaning against me, trusting me to be there and support her. I do, however, pray my dick will behave for the next few minutes instead of poking at her back.

“You need to get your hands off my woman, boy,” the man says to me, glaring, and I chuckle.

“You barge in here and make demands like everyone should bow to you. Who the fuck do you think you are?” I ask. “If I am touching Hailey, it’s because she is allowing me. You can bet your ass I won’t stop until she tells me to.”

“Hailey,” the man starts once more.

“Stop, Derick. There is no fixing what you did. And I have moved on.” Hailey takes my left hand and twines our fingers. “I don’t know how you found me, but you can go back. You aren’t welcome here.”

My heart is beating a mile a minute. Hailey has all but told her ex she has a new man in her life. Me. Derick glares at us, once more flexing his hands and jaw before storming out.

Chapter Seven

Hunted By The Past

Hailey

“I am so fucking sorry,” I say once the door slams shut behind Derick’s retreating figure.

I know that man well enough after spending two years of my life with him to know that this is far from over. This is why I left the city. Derick has lost his fucking mind, and I don’t feel safe anywhere near him anymore.

After catching him screwing Amanda’s brains out, a lot of other shit fell into place. He wanted me to quit my job, he tried to keep me away from my friends and family. I could finally see all the verbal and emotional abuse he had ben heaping onto me throughout the years. And when it all finally clicked, I realized how lucky I had been that it had never gotten physical.

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