“I don’t think that’s a good idea just yet. I need to completely finish things before we’re seen in public. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay, I understand. I’m going to make you breakfast here then.” He smiled, warming me to my core.
After a wonderful filling breakfast, I’d decided I better leave. I needed to find the ring I dropped, gather my stuff to go home and get ready for work. This dress was going in the bin because I didn’t want any trace of Jacob left in my life.
“What are you doing?” Blake laughed as he exited the bathroom.
I was on all fours on the ground trying to find the ring I’d dropped last night, it could have fallen anywhere.
“I’m looking for the ring. I flicked it off last night before we went into the bedroom.” I looked up and my eyes instantly locked on his bare, still wet, chest.
Wow!
A small chuckle escaped his lips. “You okay?”
I snapped my mouth shut, unwillingly removing my eyes from the masterpiece before me and I went back to my crawling around on the floor.
Blake walked into his room to get changed and I finally spotted what I was looking for. Snatching it up with my fingers I wrapped it in a tissue and placed it inside my bag. I then sat on the couch and waited for Blake to emerge. When he did, the breath was kicked right out of my chest. He literally took my breath away every time I saw him. He was good looking in casual clothes, but holy damn he was one super fine specimen in his police uniform.
“If you keep doing that you’re going to catch flies,” he laughed. I closed my mouth once again. He came and sat next to me, wrapped me in his arms and placed a few light kisses on my neck.
“Are you going to send that ring back to him?”
I was confused by his question and pulled back so I could meet his eyes. “Send? I’m going to give it to him. I don’t think it’s right that I just send it back to him.”
Blake’s face hardened. “I’m going with you then,” he stated firmly.
I shook my head. “No, you’re not, because your family and—”
“He’s not family to me,” he cut me off. I could see that I’d annoyed him.
“Sorry.” I placed my hand on his cheek. “It’ll be okay, I promise. I will tell you about it. How about you see your friend regarding those papers?” It was better to be prepared for anything that might come blowing my way.
“I know, and that’s what worries me.”
“It’ll be all right. We’ll get through this and be together in the end. You’re my future, the one that makes my heart beat faster than it has ever before.” I smiled and he did as well. His eyes lit up as he leant into me, kissing my waiting lips, causing my stomach to do its usual little dance.
“I need to go home and get ready for work,” I announced, hopping up.
“Let me drive you home?” He took my hand and we left together. Nothing could wipe the smile off my face.
Well, I thought nothing could wipe the smile off my face; that was until I got to work and saw that our windows were smashed and there was glass everywhere.
Jess came running over to me, her breathing fast and ragged as she clutched at her chest.
“This is terrible, Abby. Who would do this?”
“I don’t know. Did you ring the police?”
She nodded her head.
“Good. Did you ring Tracey?” Tracey was our boss and she was literally going to flip when she heard about this.
“I haven’t. I’m too scared. She scares me when she’s mad.”
“It’s okay, I’ll ring her now,” I said, taking my phone from my bag. I had like fifty calls from Jacob from last night when I checked it this morning. I didn’t ring him back. I didn’t have the guts to talk to him yet. Looking at the screen I had a further ten missed calls from Blake. I ignored them and rang Tracey, who wasn’t very pleased about what had happened. She just told me she was on her way and hung up. Yep, angry didn’t begin to describe how she felt when she saw what had happened to her shop.
Getting off the phone to her I called Blake and he answered after the first ring.
“Oh, thank goodness you’re all right. We got the call about the shop this morning. We are on our way. How are you?” His voice was panicked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little shocked. Who would do this? It’s only a small clothes shop.”
“They might have thought there was money in there or something. We won’t know until we check out the camera surveillance and everything else. Don’t worry we’ll be there soon.”
“Okay, bye.”
I hung up and moved to stand by Jess, who was clearly shaken by the event before us. “I rang Tracey. She isn’t too pleased and will be here soon. Are you all right, Jess?”
“Yeah, just a little worried about our jobs and stuff. What if Tracey thinks we’re incompetent and can’t do our jobs or something and just gets rid of us? I need this job.” She was on the verge of tears. I wrapped my arm around her in comfort as we stood in silence, looking over the destruction of our workplace. After a few minutes, we could hear the police sirens. A screeching set of tires caught my attention and immediately my blood ran cold. What was he doing here?
“Abby, are you all right?” The caring, loving boyfriend mask was on, but evaluating his cold eyes told me everything I needed to know. He went to wrap his arms around me, but I quickly stepped back, not wanting his dirty, vile hands to ever touch my skin again.
“I’m fine. What are you doing here?” My voice was cold and uninviting.
“I’ve come to see you before I went away for work.”
“Just go. I don’t care. We aren’t together anymore. I’m no concern of yours.” I stare him fair and square in those cold flinty eyes. Anger flared on his face. He grabbed my arm tightly, pulling me away from Jess, who was taking in the scene we were making.
“You’re hurting me. Like usual,” I spat at him.
“You will be my wife. You will treat me with respect.” He squeezed my arms tighter, causing me to wince in pain.
“I will never be your wife. I want you gone and out of my life. I will get the ring back to you when you get back from your business trip. Make sure you tell your skank I said hi.” I smiled at him. He thought I didn’t know about his little mistresses he had in all the places he visited. It was funny what you find out going through his phone after he had passed out for the night.
Did he think I was that stupid?
He looked taken aback by my statement. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t go playing dumb on me now. I know things. They can have you, especially if they like the abuse you give them. I won’t stand for it anymo—” Before I could finish, the palm of his hand connected with my cheek, causing me to fall to the ground because the force was so hard. Tears stung my eyes.
“Hey, you. Don’t ever touch a lady like that again.”
My heart was racing. I knew who that voice was, my rescuer and future, Blake.
“This is a personal matter,” Jacob spat toward Blake.
“It’s not personal when you slap a girl in the street. Would you like to press charges, Miss?” Blake tenderly helped me up to the curb. I shook my head.
“It was just a misunderstanding.”
“Are you sure? You have every right to press charges.”
“No. It’s okay. Just go, Jacob. I don’t want to see you ever again.”
Jacob’s face was red with anger. “This isn’t over, Abby.” With his last statement, he left not looking back.
I willed myself not to cry.
Blake turned me toward him, lifting my chin so I met his emerald green eyes shining with worry and concern. “Why didn’t you press charges?”
“Because I don’t want anything to do with him, and doing something like that would just prolong him in my life. Did you contact your friend yet?” I whispered the last part. He merely nodded. I desperately wanted him to wrap me in his arms and make me feel better, but our moment was cut short by a not so happy Tracey, who was yelling at the other officer.