Page 50 of Forever After All

Linc jerked his head toward the door. “Show me who he is so I can embarrass him.”

“Wait. Don’t do that.”

Her hands wound around his bicep, and as much as he wanted to storm inside and stomp his boot into the guy’s face, he couldn’t move while Jess was touching him.

“Why not? He deserves it.”

Jess shook her head. “I just want to leave.”

Linc kept his eyes locked on hers, dim and sad in the faint light. Her hair was loosely braided and fell over one shoulder, and she was wearing new boots–not even the nice ones she wore to church on Sundays.

Seeing how she’d tried to impress this loser clawed at his insides. She was so much better than this. What guy in his right mind wouldn’t want to do right by her?

It took a dozen painfully tense seconds before Linc’s fury started to subside. He wanted to teach someone a lesson and defend Jess’s honor.

But that wasn’t what she wanted, which meant his intentions needed to change.

When his vision cleared and he could think straight again, Jess was still watching him like he might make a run for it.

Linc nodded toward his truck. “Let’s go.”

Jess held onto his arm and tucked her body to his side as they walked down the steps. He opened the door for her, and she climbed in.

On his way around the front of the vehicle, he decided he would follow her lead. If she wanted to talk about it, they would. If she changed her mind and wanted the guy to bleed a little, Linc would make it happen.

He settled into the driver's seat and rested his hand on the gear shift. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Jess slumped against the door and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked like a tired kid, and she wore that innocence so easily.

When she didn’t respond, Linc headed toward her place. In the darkness, it was easy to focus on the small area in front of them lit by the headlights, but he was intensely aware of the woman wrapped up in the seat beside him.

As hot as his anger burned a minute ago, all of that fury had morphed into something that tore in his chest.

He didn’t want to punch the guy. He wanted to hold Jess.

When he pulled up in front of her house, he shifted into park and rested back against the seat. “I bet Ms. Landry is going to have the whole town talking. One guy picked you up and another brought you home.”

Jess chuckled, and while it sounded like a genuine laugh, there was a sad sigh behind it.

“Thanks for bringing me home,” she whispered.

“Anytime.”

Jess rested her hand on the door and looked toward her house. After a few silent seconds, she turned back to him. “Will you come in? I don’t want to be alone right now.”

Linc stared at her in the darkness, thankful once again that she always spoke her mind. She wanted him here, and she’d been brave enough to ask.

He shut the truck off and got out. Despite the terrible evening they’d both had, there was still time to turn it around.

Chapter14

Jess

Dragging her feet, Jess unlocked the front door and stepped inside. She turned on the lights by the front door and headed straight for any other light switches in sight. Lots and lots of light was needed if she was hanging out with Linc.

Not that she would be tempted to make out in the dim light. The brightness was just to pump up her mood.

Though, having Linc in her house was oddly comforting. He was familiar and safe. She clung to both of those things as if she needed a shot of happiness.

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