Page 96 of Marc

My face warms as I think about Marc fantasizing about me.

“I’ve thought about you taking me in one of the changing rooms or the shower stalls.”

Marc chokes on a bite of his burger.

“Dammit, woman, you need to warn me before you say something like that. I was not prepared.”

“Well, how about after we finish eating and I finish work, I'll show you other ideas that I’ve had?”

Marc places his plate on the coffee table. “I’m done now.”

I let out a little laugh. “We need to eat and resupply first, because I think it’s going to be a long night.”

Marc nods. “A long and satisfying night.”

Chapter Twenty Two

MARC

I’mas happy and nervous as a twenty-five-year-old virgin about to be laid on his wedding night.

Excitement courses through my veins and my stomach tightens with knots.

Today is the day we officially move Staci into my house.

We are packing up the rest of her stuff, emptying her house, and thoroughly cleaning it today, so the realtor can take pictures and put Staci’s house on the market tomorrow.

I back the moving truck into Staci’s driveway before shifting into park and engaging the emergency brake.

I grab the boxes and moving supplies out of the back of the truck as she unlocks the front door and opens the garage.

It’s been a week and a half since we have set foot in this county.

I thought it would be best for us to lie low andlet Jared and his friends think they won while Staci and I submitted any and all paperwork the police and insurance needed for the slashed tires event and the breaking and entering.

Staci called Miss Edith to keep an eye on her house and call the investigator if Jared showed up at her house.

Thankfully, he never showed up, but it would have meant that he would immediately be arrested for violating the restraining order.

Miss Edith drove to my house to give us the footage of Jared breaking in and damaging Staci’s belongings, which we immediately handed over to the investigator dealing with the case.

Bringing the boxes inside the house, I place them in the living room and sit down on the couch next to Staci. “Have you heard anything about the filings?”

Her hair slaps at her face as she shakes her head. “Not yet. He’s supposed to call me if a judge signs off on it today.”

“Well, hopefully, the judge will do the right thing.”

Every day over the past week and a half, we have hoped that we would hear something from the security guy. He seemed so sure of things, but the longer it takes, the less sure I am that something good will happen.

I give Staci’s leg a light pat before standing and making my way into the kitchen, where her glass figurines are still on the counter.

After placing the stack of newspapers on the kitchen counter next to the tiny figurines, I grab a box from the living room and tape it up.

Staci expertly ties her hair up into a bun on top of her head and sighs.

“I don’t have much left after Jared broke into my house, so it shouldn’t take us more than a couple of hours to pack and clean.”

I refuse to let him and his past actions anger me anymore. I will replace everything he destroyed and then some just to see Staci happy.

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