Page 22 of Brave as It

There is nothing I can say to him. Even though I don’t like the way Stone made things seem, he’s right. I’m free to answer my phone or not and I didn’t. He calls once more. Now I’m gettingmad. Take a hint. This is over before it could begin. If I wanted to talk to him, I would call him.

Okay that’s a lie. I want to talk to him more than I want to breathe. I can’t. He doesn’t need to be a part of this mess. A complete disaster that is getting worse by the minute.

“Never took you for an ol’ lady,” Stone says to me with a smirk like he didn’t just threaten a war with my ex. His entire demeanor has changed.

“It’s complicated.”

“I can see that. You runnin’ from him? He hurt you?”

I jerk my head back in shock. “Wesson, God no! He’s the safest place for me to be.”

“Then why are you working for cash, living in a dive motel in a throwaway town if you got a man to keep you safe back home?”

“We don’t talk about these things, Stone. I like my job. I like where I’m at.” I look down as the shame washes over me. “Where I come from, my past, it doesn’t matter.”

He gives half a smile before stepping even closer, when I didn’t even think that could be possible. In my space, he lets his thumb trace my cheek.

Gently.

Like someone who cares.

“Emmalee, you are a beautiful woman. If you weren’t my employee, I’d want to have a taste. I bet your cunt is sweet, babe.”

I blush and want to crawl in a hole.

“Didn’t ask questions because can’t have nothing come up here.”

His honesty shocks me. Stone is attractive in the bad-boy, rough around the edges way. I’m not his type. He doesn’t know me. I’ve been here months without so much as a second glance from him. Is he one of those men who like the thrill of the chasefor a woman they can’t have? Is this some ‘whose dick is bigger’ game?

“Not tryin’ to rattle you. I don’t want in your head. Just wonderin’ why you got a man who is that fired up for you back home, and yet, you’re here cleaning floors and scrubbing toilets?”

“I’m trying to protect him,” I tell Stone the truth.

He leans down tipping my chin to make me look up at him, “babe, learn something quick, any biker that’s half a biker, outlaw or not, they don’t want their woman protecting them from shit. That man through the phone, he doesn’t strike me as one needin’ protecting from anything you could have possibly gotten into.”

“It’s complicated,” I whisper still looking up at him. He studies me in a way that makes me feel vulnerable.

“Came here to black out the cameras because someone hacked. Now I see who and why. I’ll leave ‘em up. Let your Hellion have a show.”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” I freak out hoping he doesn’t fire me because somehow Wesson has found me.

He watches my reaction. I’m not sure what he sees but a smirk slowly plays on his lips. Stone’s phone rings breaking the moment. Before he answers, he leans down pressing his lips to mine. He leans in and whispers, “answer the man’s call, darlin’. I’m sure that just sent his ass over the edge. If not, I’ll come back later and really lay it on thick for him to see.” He reaches down and grabs my ass firmly causing me to jump closer into him.

Oh my God, Stone knows Wesson is watching the cameras. Without hesitation, he lifts the phone answering his call and walking back out of the laundromat like he didn’t upend my entire day.

A text comes in and I’m stuck in place reading it.

HATE ME ALL U WANT BUT ANSWER THE PHONE. THE KID IN THE BUILDING W/U MATTERS.

I look to the bench and sure enough, there is a child. Being consumed in my own problems and job, I didn’t even look to see who was in here today. His mother is pacing the space clearly on something as she keeps mumbling to herself.

How does he know where I am? How can he see the people with me?

He rings again.

“Hello,” I answer trying to control the trembling in my voice.

“Take the phone and go to the janitor’s closet. You’re gonna go in there, don’t shut the door all the way. Pay attention to that woman and the boy.”

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