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“Remember this feeling. The way it’s gonna burn when you pee for the next week. Think on it before you ever even look Paisley’s way again. You just canceled your membership at this gym, you just quit your job, and you’re gonna be out of town in twelve hours.”
Scotty groans in response.
“Got me?” Coal asks, kicking Scotty’s shoulder to make him turn and look him in the eye.
Again, Scotty nods but doesn’t speak and makes no attempt to look at me.
Coal picks up my gym bag, laces his fingers through mine, and leads us out of the gym. When the fresh air hits my face, I inhale deeply.
“Call Screech. Get the cameras wiped,” Coal tells Hammer. Then he stops me before guiding me in front of him. “You okay, Pixie?”
I nod, unable to form words.
The energy between us is so powerful that it’s dizzying. This is an intensity I don’t know how to describe or handle.
Does Coal feel it, too?
My eyes meet his. The dark around his aura is gone. In its place is a red of passion, a red of emotion.
We are both in trouble now that he’s freed from whatever was holding him back. Only, I’m not sure he realizes it yet.
Chapter Fifteen
~Coal~
Today’s the day. Today, I’m going to stop living a half-life and start working toward a full one like my brother Big Jim used to. I even made plans to prove that I can make those changes.
Tonight, I’m going to take Pixie out to dinner. Just the two of us, exploring what this chemistry between us can become. I haven’t told her my intentions, though. I’m going to surprise her, instead.
Finding her trapped by Scotty three days ago pulled at something inside of me. Every wall that has so carefully been built to keep everyone out of my life and away from my heart crumbled the moment I saw her at risk.
Pulling up to the grocery store where she works, I watch through the glass front windows as she rings up a customer. Typical Pixie, all smiles and friendly toward the person she is helping.
I wait ten minutes for her shift to end, and then watch as she heads to the back of the store to clock out. Five minutes later, she’s heading out the front entrance.
It takes her a few seconds to spot me, and when she does, her whole body gives a little jerk in surprise.
I can’t help smiling. I find that I like the idea of surprising Pixie. If I have my way, I will find all sorts of ways to surprise and make her body jerk tonight after dinner.
“Hey, Pixie,” I greet as she approaches.
“Trevor.” She smiles back. “What brings you here?”
“You,” I answer honestly.
Her face changes, showing concern. “If this is about Amber, Trevor, I’m sorry. I should’ve listened.”
Immediately, I feel tension build through me. “What are you talking about?”
She takes a deep breath. “After you told me what happened, I realized the best thing I could do for you is to give you closure.” She reaches out and softly rests her hand on my forearm. “You’re not a rapist, Trevor,” she says on a whisper. “No matter what you think, you didn’t do that to her. I feel it to my core.”
“What did you do?” I ask firmly, now wondering how Amber found me.
“I emailed your phone number to her.”
“Did you tell her I was home for my mother?” My defenses are up. I didn’t even tell Pixie I was going home, so how could she tell Amber?
“No, Trevor. I emailed your phone number; that’s it. I didn’t even know you went home until after I sent it. Des simply told me you went home for a day or two to check on your mom, who was sick. I didn’t contact Amber with that.”
“Has she emailed you back?”
Pixie shrugs. “I don’t know. I don’t check my email.”
Frustration has me ready to scream, but the look on Paisley’s face has me stopping and trying to keep my head clear.
She pulls out her phone. It takes a moment before she hands it to me with an email on the screen.
Paisley,
Thank you for your email. Recently, I was able to speak with Trevor Blake personally without needing his phone number. A friend works at the hospital in Intensive Care and told me he was in town for his ailing mother. I said what needed to be said, and I am moving on with my life. The posts you refer to are taken down, and Trevor Blake is part of my past.
Sincerely,
Amber
At least now I know how Amber found me, and it’s not tied to Paisley.
“Are you angry?” she asks, shifting her feet nervously.
“I should be,” I tell her honestly. “I should be furious. Pixie, the shit in my past … I don’t want you tangled up in any of it. The shit I do for my club, I don’t want it to ever touch you. So, Pixie, I gotta know if I’m gonna take a chance on what we got here between us that you can stand down when I ask you to.”
