Page 54 of Sugar & Ink
There were men everywhere. Big men. Tattooed men. Men in leather cuts and worn jeans and boots that looked like they’d seen a hundred bar fights.
And somehow, not one of them felt like Rome.
I couldn’t explain it.
If I’d driven past this place a month ago, I probably would’ve locked my car doors and kept going. Now, standing beside Rome with his fingers laced through mine, I felt safe.
I had from the beginning.
From the first time he sat in Scoop & Swirl, eating ice cream and pretending he hated it.
From the moment he held my wrist and asked if I trusted him.
I did. I still couldn’t figure out why, but I did.
That didn’t stop me from noticing all the eyes on me, though, because people were definitely looking.
I tried not to pay attention and notice the women sizing me up or the men glancing our way, then doing a double take when they saw Rome holding my hand.
Still, I noticed.
I’d spent most of my marriage trying not to take up too much space. Tonight there was no hiding.
Rome squeezed my hand gently. “You okay?”
I looked up at him. “Yeah.” That was a lie.
He could tell. His thumb brushed the back of my hand. “You stay with me.”
“I was planning on it.” He would have to pry my cold, dead hand from his before I let go.
“Good.”
And just like that, my shoulders relaxed.
The second we walked inside, Rome was greeted from everywhere.
Not politely.
Not casually.
Rome barely made it two steps before we were getting shouted at.
“Rome!” A burly guy with a shaved head slapped him on the shoulder. “Thought you forgot where we lived.”
Rome smirked. “I tried.”
The guy barked out a laugh, then his eyes landed on me. His grin got wider. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
Rome rolled his eyes. “This is Josie. She owns the shop across the street from Bad Habit.”
The guy held out his hand. “Cash.”
I shook it. “Josie.”
“You own that ice cream place?”
I blinked. “You know Scoop & Swirl?”
