Page 76 of Haunted

“Not really. Just something pretty.” She turns to her gorgeous friend. “Hey, Jules, come over here.”

Jules. The name couldn’t have been more perfect.

When Jules turns to her friend, her expression appears nervous. Her fingers grip the ends of her sleeves as she makes her way over.

“Idon’t know about this, Nicole….”

Her words trail off when her eyes lift to mine. I feel like someone just sucker punched me and stole all the breath in my lungs. Seeing her from across the room is nothing compared to seeing her full-on. I let my gaze show my appreciation and her eyes widen. Her face, naturally beautiful with minimal makeup, flushes at my blatant interest.

Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, and I’d give my left nut to lick away the moisture she left behind. Hell, I’d be willing to give both nuts. I’ve had a lot of women since the first time I had sex at the age of fourteen, but never has one caught my attention so fully before.

Once she’s standing beside her friend, her eyes fall from mine.

“I don’t think I can do this, Nicole,” she says quietly. Even the sound of her soft voice sends blood rushing to my dick.

“Come on, Jules. It can’t be that bad,” whines the one named Nicole.

Jules’s eyes slide to me, but they’re aimed at my chest and not my eyes, where I want them. I keep mine pinned on her.

“Maybe I’ll get one next time,” she tells her friend. “But I’ll stay here with you while you get one.”

“Fine,” she grumbles.

Dale walks up just then. “Afternoon, ladies. Are either of you looking to get a tattoo?”

Nicole turns away from Jules. “I am.” She throws her thumb sideways. “This one chickened out.”

I can’t see it, because I’m still looking at Jules, but I hear the smile in Dale’s voice. “That’s okay. I’ll get you taken care of.”

“I’ve got it, Dale.”

“Don’t you have an app—”

I cut him off. “I’ve got this one. You take my appointment.”

I look over at Dale and let him see I’m not budging. I’venever used my status as the boss’s son, but in this instance I sure as fuck will. His eyes leave mine just long enough to look at Jules before coming back to mine. Understanding dawns, and one corner of his mouth quirks up.

“You got it.”

When I turn back to the girls, I see Jules quickly drop her eyes from mine. As she looks down at a sketchbook on the counter, her face once again flushes a pretty red.

As I take Nicole’s ID and have her complete a consent form, one thought keeps entering my mind.

This girl will be mine, no matter what the fuck I have to do.

I WAKE TO THE SMELL of bacon and coffee. My stomach rumbles, reminding me I never ate last night. Theo showed up right as the food was done, and my stomach was in too many knots after he left.

I get out of bed, slip on a shirt, and go to the bathroom. After, with my feet still bare, I go out to the living room. Over the bar, I spot Jules standing in front of the stove. I walk to the bar and lean against it, deciding to just watch her for a few minutes.

As I stand there, I remember my dream from last night. No, it was more than a dream, it was a memory. I still don’t remember her or those six weeks that I lost, but I have no doubt in my mind that what happened in my dream was real. I may not remember her, but I know the feeling I had in that dream. It’s one I’ve had since the first time I saw her in the hospital. I just wish I knew what happened afterward. That must have been right before she and Theo started dating, or she would have recognized me. Especially since he and I looked more alike back then, with us wearing our hair the same way. Was thatwhen my fixation on her started or did something else happen to trigger it? Either way, it’s apparent I was attracted to her and wanted her from that moment on, but I still struggle to believe I would be manic enough to attack then rape her when I found out they got married. That shit is just too fucking much for my brain to comprehend. Or maybe it’s just because I don’t want to believe it.

Sensing my presence, she looks over her shoulder. Turning partially toward me, a pair of tongs in her hand, she offers a hesitant smile. Hating her uncertainty, I smile back at her.

“Good morning,” she greets.

“Morning.” I lean my elbows on the bar. “Did you sleep well?”

She nods then turns back to the stove to flip the bacon over before facing me again. “I slept better than I have in a long time.”

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