Page 47 of A Fighter’s Love

“Why? Is he on his way round? Is that why you’ve got that ridiculous fancy fucking robe thing on? You want to look sexy for him?”

“Get lost, Billy. I’ve had this robe for years and if you’d even once thought I was sexy and come around to spend the night, you’d know I wear this all the time.”

“Idothink you’re sexy.” He glared at her.

“No you don’t. You haven’t shown any interest in me or my body for years. I’m not sorry we had what we had, but it’s been over for a long time.” She pointed at the door. “Go. Now.”

“So who is he?” Billy said again, defiance in his voice and stubbornness flashing in his eyes. It was clear he had no intention of leaving.

“I’m not prepared to tell you.”

“Embarrassed of him, are you?” He laughed. “Yeah, I bet he’s some wimpy fuck who can’t lift a damn suitcase.”

“He’s pretty tough actually.”

“Yeah, right. Is that why he’s here hiding in a cupboard?”

“For crying out loud, I’m alone. And that’s how I want to be.” She stomped past him, making sure she gave him a wide berth should he try and grab her. “It’s time for you to go, Billy. You want me to ring the damn police?”

“Huh, as if you’d have the balls to do anything like that.”

“You’d be surprised what I have the balls to do, Billy. Having a shit boyfriend does that to a girl.”

“I’m not a shit boyfriend.” He rushed to follow her, his eyes still flashing

She held up her palms. “Do not touch me,” she snapped. “That is not your place. We are over.”

“No, we need to talk.”

“I don’t need to talk. But I will give you one piece of advice. If you want to find love and happiness, Billy, which I’m sure you do, you’re going to have to step up in the romance stakes and figure out how to treat a woman right.”

“Yeah, the way your new fancy man does, huh?” He leaned closer. “He just wants to get in your knickers, you know.”

“And I’m happy to let him in there.” She pulled open the door. “Now leave.”

“You’re a slut, fucking him so soon after meeting him.”

“Actually, thanks to you, I’ve known him a long time.” She gave him a shove catching him by surprise with her words and her push.

He stepped outside. “What? Who?” Confusion washed over his face. “Thanks to me. How long have you—?”

“Goodbye, Billy. Have a nice life.”

She slammed the door then slotted the chain across. She leaned back onto it, closed her eyes and blew out a breath. The man had a nerve, turning up and pretending to be looking for his crap stuff and accusing her of being a slut.

The more she thought about it, the madder she got. But over and above that she was glad he was gone. He was a big guy with a fiery temper and neither were good to be alone with in an apartment, especially when he wasn’t getting his own way.

He did seem genuinely pissed that she had a new man in her life though. She looked at Dale’s jacket. Was he jealous she was seeing someone else, or was he just mad he’d been dumped? That she’d found someone else before he had. Yes, it must be that. He didn’t actually have any romantic feelings for her anymore. She was sure they’d fizzled out a long time ago, likely at the same time her attraction toward him had slipped down the drain.

Chapter Twelve

Jenny walked into Wainwright and Bramon on Monday morning in her high heels feeling like a new woman. She wore a tight blue skirt teamed with a sheer cream blouse and a string of pearls. Having woken early she’d taken the time to style her hair rather than pulling it back into a ponytail, and had even swept on some of her new pink lipstick.

“Hey, Jenny,” Stella said, placing a cup of tea on her desk. “How’d the date go?” She paused. “You look great by the way, which makes me think the date went great.”

Jenny grinned. She couldn’t help it. Whenever she thought of Dale and Jackson and what was happening, she smiled. And when she remembered she was seeing them that evening, in just a few hours’ time, a wonderful warm buttery feeling slipped through her system and settled between her legs.

Stella chuckled and perched on a spare chair beside Jenny. “Were we right? Sian and I?”

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