Page 31 of Not Broken (Not Broken 1)

“Chocolate is never plain,” he said, lowering his voice. “It’s flavorful, rich, and…deeply fulfilling.” That last part made me shudder involuntarily.

“And here I thought you might be a vanilla type of guy.”

The smile on his face got wider. “I do love vanilla just as much. Sweet, creamy, and an absolute delight on my tongue.”

I shifted on the bench and crossed my legs. “How do you make eating ice cream sound so sexual?”

“I’m merely commenting on the flavors I enjoy. If you’re picking up any sort of double meanings, it’s not my fault your mind is in the gutter.” He winked and held the cone closer to my mouth. “Try some, you know you want to.” A wicked smile played on his lips.

The lower half of my body contracted, and I pressed my lips together. What the hell was it with this man that managed to affect me in such a way? The idea of sex, of wanting it, used to make my stomach turn. Being vulnerable to someone in that way was something I’d told myself I’d not do again. Too many times I was a slave to my traitorous body. Never again. But being near Malcolm was messing with my head, and I found myself responding to him.

Taking a deep breath, I placed my hands over his as I leaned forward to sample the ice cream. The smile on his face widened.

“It’s very good,” I said and licked my lips.

Malcolm smiled and gave me another wink. “See, Ginger, I know exactly what you like.”

Those words were like a bungee snapping me back to reality. “I’ll be back.” Quickly, I retreated to the bathroom at the back of the small building.

I was glad it was only a one-person space. Leaning against the locked door, I took in large deep breaths. My hands trembled, and my heart rate sped up.

“Not now. Please not now,” I whispered.

Those words, that name. Malcolm had called me by that name for years, yet it took Seth less time to take something that was once meaningful and turn it into something twisted.

I walked over to the sink and splashed some cold water on my face. “You’re mine, Ginger. You’ll always be mine!” Seth’s angry declaration that night replayed in my head. Gripping the edges of the sink, I worked to force the memory away before it took control. A knock at the door startled me.

“Calida? Are you okay?”

I looked at my reflection in the mirror as I snatched a few paper towels from the holder on the wall. I blotted my face and continued to take in slow breaths.

“Yeah. I’ll be out in a sec.”

Chapter 15

Malcolm

When she opened the door, Ginger looked like she’d seen a ghost.

“Everything okay?”

She nodded but wouldn’t look at me. “If you’re done, can we go? I’d like to be back to put Shawn to bed.”

She started walking toward my truck without waiting for a response. I tossed my remaining ice cream into the trash before jogging over to join her.

“Hey, what happened?”

“Nothing,” she replied, pulling at the door handle. “Can you unlock it please?”

“Can you tell me why this change? One minute we’re chillin’ and the next you’re running off and can’t get away from me fast enough.”

“I didn’t run off,” she snapped, turning back to face me. “I had to go to the bathroom.”

“Got it, so you think I’m stupid and you didn’t have some major mood swing just then.”

I hit the unlock button, and she stepped to the side when I went to open her door. I closed it harder than I intended after she’d climbed in, and Ginger flinched in response. Shit! Running my hands down my face, I let out a long exhale before walking around to get in. Ginger kept her attention directed out the passenger side window.

“Are you going to talk to me or are we going to play this game?”

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