Page 17 of Hidden Ink

“Good. Now go next door, see your woman, and get some food. Head home and take her with you. Or at least make her go home. She’s been here as long as you have I bet.”

His woman.

He sure loved the sound of that. But was it the truth? Was she his? They hadn’t truly discussed what they were doing, other than that they were taking it one moment at a time. The fact she’d bared her secrets to him had meant more than anything.

Sloane nodded at his boss, then the others, before cleaning up his station. After, he headed into Taboo through the side door and stopped two feet in.

She was magnificent.

Her teeth bit into her lip as she fought not to laugh at whatever Sierra, Austin’s wife, had said. She had flour on her apron, but other than that, she looked pristine—not like a woman who had probably been on her feet for a full shift.

He’d always known she was strong, but now that he knew the truth, he saw the depth of that strength. He was a big man—big hands, large chest—just big. He could break her if he weren’t careful.

He could break her with more than his strength, he knew. The fragility that slid under the surface of her skin wasn’t easy to see, but he saw it. She could be the strongest woman in the world and still carry that.

He couldn’t hurt her.

But he just might.

She turned to him then and smiled, though there was wariness in her eyes. It made sense, after all. He hadn’t come by for coffee and this was the first time they’d seen each other since he’d left her house the night before. He wasn’t sure if he should go to her, kiss her senseless, then carry her out of the building over his shoulder, or stay here and watch her from afar.

He stuck his hands in his pockets and let his smile rise just a little so she would know he liked seeing her.

Sierra looked between them and smiled like the Grinch at Christmas. She all but rubbed her hands together in glee. Of course, he only saw this out of the corner of his eye, as the rest of his attention was on the blonde in front of him—the blonde he wanted in his arms.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey.”

Sierra clapped her hands together, this time in truth, and slid off her stool. “Hi, Sloane. I’m going to head to Harry and Marie’s to pick up the kids.” She grinned. “They wanted time with the grandbabies today. Hailey was just telling me she was done for the day since her closing crew is here. Perfect timing.”

She waved and said her good-byes before she headed through the door to Montgomery Ink, presumably to kiss her husband on her way out.

That left Sloane and Hailey awkwardly standing in front of one another in silence.

Hailey cleared her throat. “Uh, yeah, I was about to get off.”

He wanted to get her off.

Jesus, his mind needed to stay out of the gutter.

From the way her cheeks blushed, her mind had gone there, too. Interesting.

“Want to get something to eat?” he asked. His stomach rumbled then. Loudly. He winced. “Apparently, I really need to eat.”

She smiled then and waved at the counter. “Let me get you some stew. It’s the kind you like. I’ll get a bowl, too.”

He met her gaze. “Can we take it to go?”

She studied his face for a moment then nodded. “That I can do. Where are we going?” She bit her lip again, this time her gaze traveling down his body, slowly.

“Your place,” he whispered, and she sucked in a shaky breath.

“Oh. Okay.” She looked up again and licked her lips. “We can do that.” She turned back to the kitchen, and he swallowed hard.

He didn’t know what they would do once they got there, but he couldn’t wait to find out. She came back quickly, her jacket on and a large bag in her hands. He took it from her, their hands brushing.

They both sucked in a breath, and he had to smile. “I’ll follow you,” he said softly before leaning down to brush a kiss against her lips.