10. Chloe
ten
The silhouette is dark against the blinding sun outside, but for a moment I’m paralyzed.
That voice.
That smell.
I’m hallucinating. Time to get a grip.
I turn to Haley and then to King, still a dark mass against the bright outdoor. My heart bangs against my ribcage and my throat constricts. Sure, I’m disappointed that my first interaction with the locals is going so poorly. “Nice welcome committee,” I mutter. “No wonder Uncle Kevin had a heart attack.”
But also, I’m having an overwhelming response to this shadow of a man.Clearly, I’m not over my rebound if I’m seeing him everywhere. “I’ll get out of your way now.” I inch toward King, who’s still blocking my exit.
“You Chloe? Sullivan’s daughter?” That voice… it’s uncanny. My breath catches. God, what is happening to me?
But also, how does my father factor into this non-conversation? I need to get out of here.
“You have some balls getting in my face,” he adds, still blocking my exit.
“I’m trying to leave,” I snap at him.
King steps aside to let me go. I look out the door, meaning to ignore him, but as I walk past him, his scent shakes me to the core, bringing me back nights ago.
“Don’t come back unless you have a certified check,” he snarls, his voice tingling my spine despite the bite in his words.
My knees buckle at his words, and my heart stutters. I look up at him, and my breath hitches. Now that he’s stepped inside the pub, I can see his features. His dirty blond locks curling at his collar. The set of his jaw. The curve of his lips.
It’s him.
It’s him!
All of him.
My insides fire up, and my mouth gapes as my gaze trails his wide shoulders. Any strength I had leaves me at the sight of his strong arms, remembering how they held me all night. Remembering the feel of his wounds under my fingers. Of his skin against mine.
Remembering him inside me.
I fight the urge to throw myself at him.
Because the way he wanted me is etched into my memory.
And now? Now, he doesn’t even look my way. His beautiful green eyes are dark and cold. I run out the door before he turns his gaze to me.