Page 77 of Haunted

Something dark hits my stomach. I have no doubt the stress of living with someone she doesn’t remember is hard enough to handle. I’m sure adding in the fact that he obliterated an already precarious trust by attacking her makes it damn near unbearable.

I want to smash my fist into Theo’s face again at the thought. I didn’t do near enough damage like I wanted.

Jules clearing her throat brings me back to the moment.

“How did your conversation go with your parents yesterday?”

Walking to the coffeepot, I pour myself a cup and take a seat on one of the stools before answering.

“They know something’s up, but aren’t pushing the issue after I told them I couldn’t explain yet.”

She turns away, but I see her worriedly biting her bottom lip. She opens a cabinet, looks inside, not finding what she’s looking for, and closesit again.

“Second cabinet to the right of the stove,” I tell her.

Looking at me gratefully, she moves to the correct cabinet and pulls down two plates. After placing several pieces of bacon, two scoops of eggs, and two pieces of toast on it, she sets the plate down in front of me. Grabbing the butter and jelly from the fridge, she deposits them next to my plate.

“I wasn’t sure how you liked your toast, so I left them dry.”

“Thank you.”

Instead of eating, I watch as she makes her own plate. Her hair is braided over one shoulder, and it reminds me of the times I saw her when she was still in a coma. I try not to let my eyes wander, but they do so of their own accord. She has on a pair of mint-green cotton pants and a black V-neck T-shirt. My stupid fucking eyes notice the tiny bit of cleavage the V shows. I glance down at my coffee and silently reprimand myself.

Once she’s done, she carries her plate, along with her coffee, to the stool next to mine and we eat in companionable silence. It feels nice to do something so simple as share a meal with her.

I set my fork down and finish off the rest of my coffee.

“I have to go in to work in a couple of hours.” I notice her shoulders stiffen. “I’d like for you to go with me.”

When she lifts her head, the relief is apparent on her face. “I’d like that.”

Glad that she agreed, because I wouldn’t put it past Theo to come by and try to talk her into returning home with him, I get up from the stool. Grabbing both of our empty plates, I carry them to the sink.

“I can do the dishes,” she offers a few feet behind me.

“You cooked, I’ll clean.”

“Okay.” She hesitates for a moment before asking, “Do you mind if I take a shower?”

I turn to her. “For as long as you’re staying here, I want you to treat this house like it’s your own, okay?”

A smile tugs up her lips. “Okay. Thank you.”

I turn back to the sink, blow out a harsh breath, and run hot soapy water in the basin. I’m both nervous and anxious to see her reaction once she’s in Ink Me, wondering if it’ll spark a memory.

22

JULES

LUCA OPENS THE BACK door to Ink Me, and I step inside. Looking around, I take this to be a small break area. On one side there’s a small two-seater table against a wall. Across from that, on the other wall, there’s a fridge and a counter with upper and lower cabinets. The counter holds a microwave, a coffeepot, and a few other things.

I turn back to Luca when I hear the door close. When he mentioned this morning he had to go to work, anxiety was my first reaction. I didn’t want to be left alone, worrying the entire time if Theo was going to show up. I also just didn’t want to be alone, period. But it was more than that. I wanted to be where Luca was. He not only makes me feel safe, but so much more. I feel comfortable around him, and warm, and desired like a woman should feel. Not the creepy way that sends terrifying shivers down my body. Not the way Theo makes me feel. I hesitate with my thoughts, not wanting to get ahead of myself or stupidly give myself hope, but Luca makes me feelloved. There’s no reason or rhyme for it, but it’s there anyway.

“You can set your purse there.” He points to the table. “No one comes back here except employees, and it’ll just be us and Ella later.”

I nod and set my purse down. He leaves the room, and I follow him down a hallway. There are several doors on either side of the hallway. I peek inside each one and gather these are the rooms where he does tattoos. There are work benches and those big red metal tool boxes and chairs that look like ones you see in dentist offices.

When we walk into an open area with two long counters, a couple of leather couches and chairs, and the walls filled with pictures of tattoos and drawings, I come to a stop. Dizziness captures me, and I’m forced to grab on to the wall to hold myself up. I close my eyes and pull in several big lungful’s of air, trying to push the dizziness away.

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