Page 35 of The Leaving Road

“You seem to come bearing gifts you know I won’t turn away.” I’d always been such asuckerfor a good donut.

“So is that yes?”

I couldn’t help the small grin that took over, but did my best to cover it up with an eye roll. “If I say no, will you just follow me, anyway?”

“There’s a good chance.” His eyes bore into mine; he didn’t even have the decency to looksomewhatashamed of his bulldozing.

I sighed. “Alright, let’s go.”

Chapter 23

Magnolia

Sloan almost ended our uneasy truce for the time being by trying to demand he drive me to the clinic,

“I know you didn’t sleep much, Magnolia; let me drive you,” he protested when I started walking to my car.

“Stalking is really unbecoming, Sloan. If you’re going to continue to be an absolute pain in my ass, then you can stay here,” I huffed while turning on my heel to make it to my truck.

“You see the box back here?” I pointed without looking back at him. “That’s a vet box, in myvet truck. It keeps everything I might need for my job refrigerated and under lock and key, so I’m taking myown damntruck. Before you annoyed me, I might have let you ride with me, but now you can find your own way.” I couldn’t help myself from muttering, “Asshole,”at the end of it. Even though I hadn’t turned my gaze to him yet, I could tell Sloan was seconds away from throwing me over his shoulder in a caveman-like move and shoving me into his vehicle.

Without waiting for his response, I climbed into my truck, locked the doors for good measure, and started off down the road, not bothering to glance back and see if he was following me. My mind was temporarily distracted from the events of the previous night during my interaction with Sloan, but now all the details of the horrific ordeal were coming back, and I found myself pressing my foot on the gas a little harder than necessary.

Once we got to the clinic, I barely had time to put my truck into park and unlock the doors before my driver’s side door was ripped open.

“You might bemadat me, Magnolia, but don’t speed, don’t put yourself in harm’s way because you’re irritated with me.”

I couldn’t help myself with my response. “I think you’ve put me in harm’s way enough for the both of us. Back off, Sloan.” I seethed while he turned ghastly pale.

Almost as if my remark had physically wounded him, Sloan stood rigid in front of me, blocking my escape from the truck. I nudged him a bit and he moved slightly, but not of his own accord. I was done waiting for him to snap out of whatever guilt-like trance he was in, so I proceeded to get out.

If I wasn’t so annoyed, I would have been able to see how little space there was between me, Sloan, and the truck’s door. My entire body slid down his to make my escape, and I couldn’t help but catalog the way his body felt against mine—because,biology—but it unsettled me and knocked me off balance. Sloan slid his arm around my waist to try to help me, which only proceeded to bring us closer.

“Magnolia?” a voice I vaguely recognized called from somewhere around me, but Sloan’s body still had me half trapped in between the truck and him. I didn’t miss the way that Sloan’s hands balled into fists at the sound of someone calling my name, and my gaze briefly met Sloan’s before searching for the person who was called me. His eyes were almost black and shimmering with something, although I was unsure ofwhat.

“Magnolia? Is that you?” the voice I vaguely recognized called out again, and I met Matt’s eyes over Sloan’s shoulders. I maneuvered my body and I stepped out, away from Sloan, which caused a barely concealed grumble, and he was now standing behind me.

“Matt? Hey…uh…what are you doing here?” I was a little out of sorts and a smidge embarrassed at what Sloan and I must have just looked like.

Matt scooped me up into a hug I wasn’t expecting, and he answered while still holding me, “I heard about what happened last night. I came to see if you needed any help today.”

“She’s good.” Sloan’s grumbling had turned into a menacing growl. I turned to him with my eyebrows raised and gave him my bestwhat the fucklook.

Matt gave a lazy grin, and although he was talking to Sloan, his eyes never left mine.

“Sloan, good to see you, but I think Magnolia can answer for herself, my guy.”

I felt Sloan’s body start to vibrate with warning behind me.

“I think we should be good for the day, Matt, but I really appreciate you coming out here today.” I squeezed his hand in hopes to show him how thankful I was that he came out here in the first place.

He shrugged off Sloan’s obvious unhappiness at the situation and proceeded to ignore him entirely as he addressed me, and clearlyonlyme.

“That’s a shame, but I get it. I was actually…well…I was hoping that maybe I could convince you to grab dinner with me sometime.”

He looked nervous—not with Sloan’s obvious unhappiness or growling nature, but with the fact that I might say no. I had to admit, it wasadorable.

“I think that would be nice,” I said at the same time Sloan said, “She’s busy.”

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