Page 109 of The Forbidden
A shadow falls over me, and my head snaps up to find Jarrod standing there, smiling down at me. My stomach somersaults – and not in a good way – but still, I force a polite smile. “Look Mom, I’m just heading home. I’ll call you later?”
“Yeah, okay. Video call tonight?” she asks hopefully.
“Sure. Love you.” I end the call. “Oh, hey, Jarrod.”
He nods to the bench. “Mind if I join you?”
Rising to stand, I gather up my purse. “Actually, I was just leaving. The bench is all yours.”
His face falls, but he recovers quickly, plastering on an easy grin. “Want some company? I could walk you?”
My head shakes on its own volition. “It’s fine, I’ve got some errands to run.” I move to step around him, but he grabs my wrist, stopping me.
Every alarm bell in my body goes on high alert.
A shiver runs down my spine, my heart hammering in my chest. I glance down to where he grips me, before throwing him a pointed look. He releases me, stepping back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to grab you like that,” he chuckles, before sliding his hands in his pockets as if to restrain himself.
My lips form a straight line. “I’ll see you around, Jarrod.”
I move around him, wanting to get the hell away. I’ve heard people say gut instinct is never wrong and right now mine is screaming that something is very off with this guy.
His next words send a chill running up my spine, making me pause. “I do hope so, Anais.”
Without looking at him, I stride away, my paces getting quicker with every step. I’m so caught up in my own mind, I don’t hear the familiar deep voice calling my name.
“Anais?”
Ignoring it, I keep walking.
“Anais,” he says more urgent this time.
Maybe I’m hearing his voice because I miss him so much.
“Anais,” he says once more, and when a strong hand wraps around my wrist I don’t recoil.
I’m tugged to a stop, my breath hitching in my throat when I find Evan Maxwell staring down at me. I blink once. Twice. Three times. And sure enough, he’s still there.
Evan Maxwell is standing on my campus.
All powerful in his designer suit, with adon’t fuck with meexpression on his handsome face.
He searches my face, and I don’t know what he finds but his forehead creases in concern. Then, gently, he tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, his thumb stroking softly down my cheek, down to the pulse point in my neck. I shiver at the familiar contact. I’ve been starved for his touch for so long now, I never want him to stop touching me.
“Are you okay?” he murmurs, his gaze locked on mine.
His voice snaps me out of my trance. I take a step back, putting space between us and his hand drops.
“What are you doing here?”
Disappointment flashes in his eyes, and he sighs, shoving his hands in his pants pockets. “I needed to see you.”
Anger flares inside me. Now he decides to show up. When I’ve finally decided on a fresh start?
My lips tremble as I shake my head. “And where were you? I get nothing but silence from you this past week and suddenly you decide to show up. I thought you had given up on me.” My breath hitches at the thought. “You don’t get to do this to me.”
“Do what exactly?”
“This. Whatever this is.” I wave a finger between us.
