Page 55 of Part of Me (The Seaside Chronicles 2)

She let out a nervous laugh. “Very funny.”

When our eyes met, I hoped she could see I was far from joking.

Her eyes widened. “Wait, are you serious?”

Before I could answer, the bell above the front door went off.

“Crap, I assumed Palmer locked the front. I’ll be right back.”

I made my way around the room, trying to force my dick not to get hard. My eyes traveled up the steps to the loft. I wanted to go see the progress on their…pleasure toy display, but something kept me right where I was.

Then I heard his voice—and immediately made my way to the front of the shop.

Sutton stood behind the counter, and Jack was walking toward her. Sutton didn’t look scared, but she certainly didn’t look happy, either.

“Take another step toward my wife, and my fist will be in your face,” I said.

Jack froze—then looked in my direction. “Excuse me?”

“Get away from my wife.”

“Your wife?” Jack asked as he spun his head to look at Sutton. “You married him?”

I moved around the counter, and Sutton came closer to me. “You were told to stay away from me and the store, Jack,” she said. “Why are you here?”

“Are you fucking kidding me? You married this asshole?!”

Sutton nodded. “Yes, Jack. Brody and I are married.”

He looked at the rings on her finger, then back at me. He let out an evil-sounding laugh. “You always did want her. But at least I had her first.”

I smirked. “I don’t think so, Jack.”

Sutton stiffened. I knew it was a cheap shot directed at Jack, one I fucking had to take against him, but it had ricocheted and hit Sutton as well.

His eyes darkened and he clenched his fists. Turning to Sutton, he hissed, “I knew it was a mistake, marrying you. You were a whore then, just like you are now.”

I moved so fast, Jack never saw my fist coming.

Sutton screamed as Jack stumbled back and hit a rack full of clothes, falling to the floor.

“You have five seconds to get out of here or I’m calling the cops,” I said. “You so much as even look in her direction again, I’ll kill you. Do I make myself clear?”

Jack smiled, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “Threatening me, huh?”

I took another step toward him, and he jumped up. “Kind of like how you’re threatening my wife,” I said. “Your five seconds are up.”

Jack ran the back of his hand over his mouth again, shot a last glare at Sutton, then stomped out the door.

The second it shut, I locked it and headed over to Sutton. “Are you okay?”

She looked up at me and blinked. “You knocked the shit out of him!”

“I wanted to kill him. The second I heard his voice, it took everything inside of me not to put my hands around his neck and choke the life out of the bastard.”

She actually smiled. “Thank you. I think he was waiting for Palmer and Harlee to leave and didn’t realize you were here.”

“Yeah, well, he never was that bright.” We stood there for a few silent moments before I added, “I’m sorry I said that…about having you first.”

---