Page 86 of Needing Your Love
An old, beat-up car in worse shape than my old Chevy sat along the street, one I hadn’t seen around town before. I pressed my nose to the cool glass to check who stood on the stoop directly beneath me.
A blonde woman huddled in on herself, arms around her stomach, bruises marring her cheek and temple?—
“Fuck,” I whispered as the blood drained from my face. I swallowed against the sudden dryness in my throat.
Fucking Darla Forrester—or whatever name she went by these days—had shown up on Sutton’s doorstep.
What was she doing back in town, and even more importantly, what the fuck did she want?
Another question whispered through my head, causing me to still, every muscle in my body tensing, dick deflating.
Had Sutton been aware she would be stopping by and hadn’t told me? He knew I would flip out. I’d made it clear I was jealous of him and his time.
From what he’d claimed, he hadn’t seen her since she’d fled Pippen Creek over a decade ago. I’d believed him about that…no way he would have hidden an upcoming visit from me.
Right?
My insides knotted, I spun to take in the king-sized bed that needed its sheets changed. The two pillows tossed on the floor, the comforter hanging half-off the foot. Evidence of our love fest and the promise of more gluttonous acts to come.
Those plans had flatlined.
What the actual fuck was she doing here?
With the bedroom door open, I could hear Sutton let Darla intrude into our peace. I strained to listen but could barely make out their murmured voices. Shouldn’t Sutton have been shouting or at least raising his tone? He’d claimed to not ever having loved his ex-wife, but he’d been hurt and angered over what she’d done.
Had he forgiven her?
Considering his nature, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Even worse was the fact she looked beat to hell. Sutton would never turn her away.
I rushed to tug some clothes on over my damp skin, my heart thundering in my ears and making it hard to listen. Panting through parted lips and adrenaline crashing through my system, I crept down the stairs, straining to hear whatever the fuck was being said.
A rustle of clothing—a quiet sob of my lover’s name.
“Come here.” Sutton’s voice held tenderness, stating words he’d said to me countless times when wanting to offer comfort. And now he’d said that same thing to her?
Oh no he didn’t!
Heat slammed into me, causing my face to flame and insides to tremble. Thank fuck for the firm hardwood flooring beneath me that kept my feet from creating noise. I peeked into the entryway, and a stab of pain knifed me in the chest at my worst fear coming true.
Sutton pulled Darla to his chest, one hand around her waist, the other cradling her head. No annoyed furrow lined his brow as he clutched her tight. His eyes were closed as though he basked in having her back in his arms, soaked up the feel of her soft flesh when he’d had nothing but my trim, taut body in the previous too-short weeks.
“It’s going to be okay—I promise,” he murmured, because of course he did. Sutton saw someone in need and couldn’t help but run to the rescue.
My limbs went weak to see evidence that he still cared for the woman who had scorned his faithfulness and had attempted to ruin his name.
And he hugged her.
She clung to him like he was the rock she was desperate for—and he fuckinglether.
Sweat broke out over my forehead, and I gritted my teeth to stop myself from screaming. Sobbing.
Spinning on trembling legs, I hurried toward the stairs. Up to the bedroom. Numb fingers tugged on socks while I attempted to swallow the pain from the back of my throat.
My shoes were in the entryway along with my coat, and no fucking way would I make an appearance, vulnerabilities on display for that bitch to gloat over.
Sutton would be full of excuses for his actions, shit I didnotwant to hear.
“Goddammit!” I grumbled to myself, my voice as unsteady as my eyes were watery.
