Page 23 of Nick

“No. I’m not going to do this. I am dating someone. I won’t be used as a sex object by you. If you don’t want to be seen with me, then I don’t want to be seen with you either. Don’t kiss me again.”

“What do you mean I don’t want to be seen with you? Why would you think that?”

“Because you said it, that’s why. You said people would get the wrong idea if we were seen together. I don’t want to do this with you. I’m no longer talking to you about us. There is no us.”

“We’ll see about that,” I said as I turned and walked away. Then I stopped and went back inside. Tina and Jenna had large eyes as they watched me come back inside. “Opal,” I called and she stopped and turned around.

“What.”

“You are mine. Tell that to your boyfriend. I want you to never see him again.”

“I am not yours.” Her eyes locked on my arm, “You’re bleeding.”

I looked down. Blood was seeping out of my wound. “It’s nothing.”

“What happened to your arm?”

“I was shot. The fever is gone. I’ll be fine.”

“You were sh—” I barely caught her as she fainted.

“What the hell is wrong with her?” someone asked, walking inside the shop. I didn’t even have time to glance at her.

“Hell if I know. I told her I was shot, and she fainted.”

“I think it must have been the blood,” Tina said.

I looked over at the woman. She looked at me. “I met you in Scotland.”

“Yes, you did. So I take you’re the Ruby who is Opal’s sister?”

“Yes, how do you know Opal?”

“He kissed her,” Jenna volunteered.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, let me up,” Opal said.

“Why did you faint?” Ruby demanded.

“Because he kissed me long and hard. I told you about Italy.”

“This is the guy who doesn’t want to be seen with you?”

“Yes.”

“No, I’m not. Opal misunderstood.”

“Opal never misunderstands,” Ruby said, looking at me. Then she looked at Opal, “Why did you faint?”

“I was telling you. Nick kissed me, and I was breathless, and he was shot.” I saw her chin shaking. “Why was she so upset?”

“But you’ve seen blood before and never fainted.”

“I don’t know why I fainted. I need to get busy and make some bread. I don’t have time to visit. Take a look at Nick’s arm before he leaves.”

“My arm is fine.”

“Ruby,” Opal pleaded.

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