God, he’s so devastatingly good-looking, my chest constricts. Any traces of boyhood are lengthy gone. His jaw is stronger now and lined with heavy stubble. His shoulders are broader, and his arms have considerably extra bulk. As Beck clenches his fists tightly, I can’t assist remembering how these arms simply spanned my torso. How his calloused fingertips felt gliding alongside my naked pores and skin. Lighter streaks weave via his darkish blond hair, producing recollections of all of the occasions I’d run my fingers via these thick strands, as Beck hummed in appreciation. My arms itch to just do that, to see if it’s simply as silky as I bear in mind, then I remind myself this man is now not mine to the touch.

Though, if I merely regarded into his eyes, I’d have all of the reminders I wanted. The darkish chocolate coloured orbs I spent so many hours staring into belong to a stranger now. They’re tougher. Wiser. Shadows lurk beneath the floor, hinting on the many secrets and techniques residing inside. The one factor that hasn’t modified is how expressive they’re. Rising up, Beck’s eyes often glittered with humor, or love, or warmth. None of these feelings are current as he appears to be like at me now. He’s tough across the edges like I suspected he can be, however I wasn’t in any manner ready for this. I’d’ve by no means imagined the boy I cherished half my life was able to feeling such contempt towards me. I swallow a lump in my throat as I soak up the impression of his glare.

“That you just lastly got here again.”

My pores and skin tingles with consciousness as his eyes leisurely roam my physique. Okay, so the lust may nonetheless be there, however it’s clearly laced with revulsion.

“What occurred to your arm?”

I startle from the query. My shoulder nonetheless has a methods to go earlier than it’s healed, however I’m now not carrying my sling, so I’m undecided how he can inform one thing’s mistaken.

“What do you imply?”

He nods towards my left facet. “You’re favoring your proper arm. Seems to be such as you’re avoiding utilizing the left totally.”

“I bought mugged,” I lie. “Dislocated my shoulder once I fell down.”

“Ah, the fun of residing within the large metropolis,” he mocks. I glare again at him, however it doesn’t appear to faze him. “The place’s your husband?”

“New York,” I snap. “His work retains him very busy.”

I’m so afraid he’ll see proper via me, I mentally erect my protecting barrier. It’s one thing I’ve excelled at through the years. It was the one manner I may survive my marriage. I’d pressure myself to withdraw… to turn out to be distant as if I wasn’t actually inhabiting my physique when Sebastian was working via his rage.

“How lengthy are you on the town, Presley?”

“Why does it matter?”

“It doesn’t. To not me, anyway. I’m merely questioning how for much longer I’ll must tiptoe round you. It’s making my job so much tougher than it must be, and that’s getting tiresome actual quick. You’ve been right here, what? Virtually two weeks now? I’d think about your husband misses you again house.”

I shift barely as my shoulder muscle groups tense. I’m positive the one factor my husband misses is the management he had over me. I extremely doubt he’s lacking intercourse, contemplating the deputy mayor is gladly offering that service.

“I by no means stated you needed to tiptoe round me.”

His full lips flip up within the corners. Like his eyes, Beck’s smiles are able to saying many issues with out talking a single phrase. That is his I do know one thing you don’t smile.

“Possibly not. However anyone did.”

What? “Who?”

“C’mon, Presley. I assumed you went to New York to get an training. Use your mind.” He snaps his fingers. “Oh, however wait, the best way I hear it, you dropped out after a yr to turn out to be a socialite, so perhaps your mind isn’t accustomed to such strenuous actions. My dangerous.”

God, who is that this man? The Beck I knew would by no means fling an insult at a girl. Any girl. He was the true definition of a southern gentleman. I do know I can’t preserve this faux bravado for for much longer. The very last thing I want is for Beckett to see the reality about why I’m right here, so I resolve to step the bitchiness up a notch.

“What would you like, Beckett? You clearly sought me out for a purpose. Simply get it out so I can transfer on with my day. I don’t have time on your bullshit.”

His jaw sharpens because the vitriol flows from my mouth. He pulls a ball cap from his again pocket and takes a second to repair the brim earlier than inserting it on his head. Trying me straight within the eye, Beckett delivers a verbal sucker punch that hurts worse than Sebastian’s fists ever did.

“Naw, darlin’,” he sneers. “I don’t need something from you. Do us all a favor and head again to New York sooner fairly than later.”

Beck turns round and slowly walks away, rapping his knuckles in opposition to the doorframe as he leaves the secure. There’s a toughness to his gait that wasn’t there earlier than. His actions was once so fluid, he virtually had a full-time swagger. His character drew you in with none effort by any means. There was a lightness to him that attracted full strangers, hoping for an opportunity to take pleasure in his heat. His kindness and affection got freely.

Nothing about this Beck is approachable. He’s made up of bunched muscle groups and exhausting edges. Anger radiates off him in waves. This man slings phrases meant to chop deep, however the harshness of these phrases pales compared to that look in his eyes. The one that claims I’m inconsequential. That not one of the good we shared issues. That I’m nothing greater than a vapid gold digger, undeserving of his time. I’ve by no means felt so small in my life, and that’s saying so much contemplating how usually Sebastian belittled me.

The final time Beck and I noticed one another, I used to be the one strolling away, breaking his coronary heart in two. If he felt even half as dangerous as I do now, I hate myself much more for placing anybody via that, particularly him.

Chapter Nineteen

Presley

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