Page 13 of Chalk Outline
I reach for the door handle as it swings open. Broad shoulders tower over me. I crane my neck all the way up, and my hood falls off when I meet his piercing, icy-blue eyes—the kind that can light up the dark. They shimmer brightly, accentuated by the black paint covering the skin around them.
I squeeze my eyes shut and open them.
Confusion clouds everything.
His gaze locks with mine, frozen and raging, while I’m entranced. When I spot the silver, curved barbell piercing his thick eyebrow, I slowly breathe in through the slight gap between my dry lips.
He clears his throat. “It’s all yours,” he says, but my heart hears it first, and a shattering pang reverberates through me like a lost memory. It ticks wildly to his distinctive, husky voice as he moves out of my way.
It can’t be.
My husband doesn’t have piercings or tattoos.
Rule number four.
“Wait.”
Hearing the urgency in my voice, he stops and turns around.
“Who are you supposed to be?” I ask, already piecing it together.
“Jason Todd. He’s—”
“A character from a comic book.” I cut him off. “Not bad.”
“I had to work with what I had.” His platinum blonde streaks fall to his forehead, while the rest of his inky black hair is brushed back. “We have a lot in common,” he says, striding away and vanishing quickly beyond the circle of costumes.
I step into the bathroom and close the door. Staring at my bewildered reflection in the mirror, I turn on the tap and splash water over my eyes.
It’s not him.
It could never behim.
“I don’t want to stay at this party anymore,” I murmur.
“Finally. My brain cells are dying with every second I spend in this hell.” My bodyguard follows behind, being dramatic as always. I cross the house and walk down the street. “Do I need to carry you?”
“I’m not drunk,” I lash out. “I haven’t had one drink.”
“Look at you, following orders.”
I stop on purpose, causing him to walk straight into me before I turn around to face him. “I will pepper-spray you if you keep your mouth running.” I poke at his chest and spin to walk away, but he grabs my wrists and pulls me back to him.
“You don’t throw threats and get to walk away.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Let me show you something fun instead.” His gaze turns challenging, and his cold demeanor becomes flirtatious.
Why do I always feel perplexed around him?
I squint my eyes at him to hide my curiosity. “Where are we going?”
He signals me to follow him and points forward as we near the parking lot around the corner. “What do you say? I know you like bikes.”
“So, what… Now you own a bike?” I tease, shooting him a mischievous grin as I run my fingers along the black fairings of his gorgeous R1.
“Don’t fall in love,” he winks at me, and I roll my eyes. “I’ve had it since I got here. I just kept it from you.”
