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She glances around, focusing on the front windows. “Everleigh knows what’s going on, so it’ll be better if we talk there.”
“Gemma.” I lower my voice.
She snaps her eyes to mine as if she’s seen a ghost. She goes pale, and terror washes over her face.
“Why isn’t it safe?”
“I’ll tell you later, but the short story is Robert hired the private investigator who followed me. I don’t know if they still are, but I refuse to give Robert any more reasons to come after you.”
Pfft. I’d like to see him try.
“You’re sure it was him?” I was certain Victoria was behind it, but it makes sense if he feels that threatened by me.
“Positive. I found the receipts.”
I tap my knuckles on the counter and try to control the rage building inside me.
“Tyler…” My name comes out as a strained whisper. “Heknowsabout us.”
I blink hard, my heart racing in my chest. “Knows what?”
We haven’t been anusin twelve years, and other than the make-out session misstep, we’ve kept our distance.
“That we dated.”
“So?” I shrug. “That was long before you two got together. Why does it matter?”
Gemma cheeks flush as she chews on her bottom lip. “I didn’t tell him we had a history when he asked questions about you. Someone must’ve told him, or he paid to get the information, but it’s not as though we were a secret. When I brushed off that you were working at the garage, he hired a PI. He said he didn’t trust me and wanted to keep an eye on me. Robert’s convinced it was only a matter of time.”
“Until what?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Until we…” She clears her throat and stands straighter. “Until I was unfaithful to him. I don’t think he knows what happened recently, but he’s suspicious enough to have us followed.”
I roll my eyes at the audacity of this asshole.
“I told him I wanted out,” she softly declares almost as if she’s afraid to say the words aloud.
Thank God. Her confession has my entire body buzzing. I wish I could round the counter, pull her into my arms, and tell her she’s safe with me. But instead, I keep my hands and admissions to myself.
“Good.You deserve better, Gemma.”
“Yeah,” she whispers. “He was pissed. Robert won’t let me go without a fight.”
“Well, I hope you told him to fuck off because if he harasses you again, I won’t be as nice as I was at the bar.”
That causes a slight smile to curl her lips. “He doesn’t use his fists, Tyler. He throws money at his problems and pays people to do his dirty work.”
“Pussy,” I mutter, causing Gemma to chuckle. “Alright, well don’t eat before you come over. I’ll make dinner.”
“You don’t have to go to any trouble, Tyler,” she insists, but she’s crazy if she thinks I’m not gonna use this opportunity to cook for her again.
“Cooking for you is never trouble.” I flash her a wink.
The front door opens, and when I look over my shoulder, I see it’s a customer.
“We better get back to work,” she says, smiling at the woman behind me.
“’Kay. See ya later. Holler if you need anything, okay?”
