Page 9 of His Reward
They were always stealing glances at each other and taking every opportunity to touch.What convinced me the most: I saw Isaac caress Denise’s lower back once.His hand was drifting lower until he remembered I was in the room and yanked it away.Denise didn’t even react like how I expected.Instead of yelling at him or smacking his hand, she wasblushing.
I inhale deeply to clear my mind, but instead of enjoying the fresh night air, an overwhelming scent of sickly sweet body spray assaults my sense of smell.
Oh, no.It’s him.
A presence draws closer and I turn to face him, my poor mood falling another notch.When I didn’t see Tyler tonight, I thought he’d changed his mind and stayed home.My relief came too soon.
“Look at you, my sexy lady in pink.”
He switches his can of beer to his other hand, then caresses my bare shoulder.His cold, damp fingers are unpleasant on my skin despite the warm night.There was a time when his touch used to fill my belly with flutters.Those days are long gone.
“Don’t touch me.”I jerk away and take a step back.“Leave me alone.Stop texting me, too.I don’t want anything to do with you.”
His smile drops.“That hurts.How can you say something like that?”
“Whatyoudid hurt me.How could you do something like that?”
“I said I’m sorry a bunch of times already!What more do you want?”
He looks away, his hair swaying with the movement.He’s always had a surfer-boy look with his lithe body and wavy, shoulder-length brown hair.After a sip of his beer, he meets my gaze again.
“Look, there’s no point in dragging this out.You need to forgive me.”
I scoff and shake my head.“It doesn’t matter how many times you apologize.I don’t need to do anything either.We’re over.We’ve been over for almost a year now.You need to move on.”
He grabs my arm.“I did move on.When we met the other day, I realized I made a huge mistake letting you go.Please, baby.Give me—giveusanother chance.”
I yank my arm.“No.Let me go.”
He tightens his grip, a determined gleam in his blue eyes.
“We were good together.Maybe a kiss will remind you of that.”
Fear surges inside me when he leans in, but he doesn’t get far.Malcolm appears beside us as if he teleported into existence.He grabs Tyler by his lapels and shoves him away from me.Tyler stumbles backward, his beer can clattering to the floor and spilling its contents.
“Get lost.Don’t even think about coming near her again.”
Malcolm’s voice is cold.The rest of his threat is unspoken, but his clenched fists speak the words.
Or else you’ll regret it.
Tyler sizes up Malcolm.He’s dumber than I thought if he thinks he can fight Malcolm barehanded and survive.He must have realized this because his expression turns surly.Without another word, he storms past us back into the restaurant.
Malcolm faces me, his features softening with concern.
“Do you know that guy?”
I let out a shaky breath.“Yeah, he’s my ex.We broke up last year when I found out he was sexting other women.He’s been bugging me to get back together.”
“And you don’t want that.”
“Hellno.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up, then his expression turns serious again.
“Did he hurt you just now?”He takes my arm and examines it before I can answer.“He’s a piece of shit for harassing you, but he has good sense to know when he’s lost something worth holding on to.”
His words draw attention to his hold on my arm and his thumb’s idle sweep across my skin.It would be a lie if I said my heart is beating faster because my ex just tried to forcibly kiss me.The fear is gone, replaced by awareness of Malcolm’s gentle caress.
