Page 6 of Marked by the Protective Biker (Heat & Ink)

EMILY

I blow out a breath as I walk out of the bookstore.

Work today was… off. That’s the only way I know how to describe it.

I knew it would be different without Jack there.

A part of me was waiting for him to walk into my office because he’d done something foolish and gotten himself put back in.

Another part of me walked around with my head on a swivel.

I didn’t realize how much comfort it brought me knowing that Jack was at the prison.

My individual sessions were okay, and nothing happened out of the ordinary.

But the group session went off the rails.

I tried to convince myself it was all in my head, but at the end of the session, one of the newer inmates walked over to talk to me and tried to intimidate me.

His name is Richard, and he’s in for armed robbery and a list of other things.

He wanted private sessions with me, and then he made comments about what he’d like to do with me in those sessions.

Bradley, the guard, was about to intervene when another inmate, someone I know that is friendly with Jack, came in and practically dragged Richard out of the room.

“Sorry, Ms. Riles. It won’t happen again. ”

I was holding folders to my chest and trying to catch my breath when Bradley walked up to me. “Emily, are you okay? I’m so sorry. I should have realized everyone didn’t walk out. I wasn’t quick enough, I?—”

I held my hand up to calm him even though I was feeling rattled. “Bradley, I’m fine. It’s okay.”

Bradley was shaking his head, and it was obvious he was not happy with the turn of events. “I shouldn’t have left the room. I thought?—”

He stopped talking abruptly, and I looked at him curiously. “You thought what?”

He gritted his teeth. “I thought that Jack had this under control. I thought they’d leave you alone.”

I refused to have a conversation about Jack with Bradley. Not that I don’t trust him, but I don’t want to get him into the middle of anything.

“I’m fine, Bradley, I promise.”

I hugged the older man, and then he walked me to my office.

When I left work, I didn’t want to go straight home to an empty house.

I saw the two bikers waiting in the parking lot of the prison. I noticed the club name on their jackets, and I recognized it as the same one that Jack is a member of.

I was in the bookstore for over an hour, and now as I stand outside on the sidewalk, I see the same two guys parked just down the block.

I sit on a bench because it’s obvious these guys are following me, and I’m not sure I want them to follow me home. As I sit here and think, I can’t stop my thoughts from going to Jack.

Maybe he was right; maybe I’m not as safe at the prison as I thought I was, but I’m not going to quit. Nope, I’m going to stay because I know I can make a difference there. But I am going to make sure I make some changes so that I’m protected.

I pull my phone from my purse just as I hear another motorcycle come down the road. I don’t even have to see him to know it’s Jack. It’s like my body is on high alert; my nipples pebble and my breath hitches.

I sit up straighter and watch as he passes by me and parks his bike next to his friends. They talk for a second, and one of the men I don’t know points right at me. Jack looks at me, and I swear I can feel his gaze sweep down my body.

I’m holding my breath as he fist bumps the other two and then walks down the sidewalk toward me.

The other two start up their bikes and drive away as Jack comes to stand in front of me. “How you doing, honey?”

His voice is gruff, and he seems anxious as he waits for my response. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him about the guy at the prison, but I don’t say a word. Instead of answering him, I ask my own question. “Are your friends following me?”

He points at the empty seat next to me. “Can I sit down?”

I nod, and he sits next to me. He doesn’t sit close, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I don’t want there to be distance between us, but I also don’t trust myself with him either.

He sits down and turns to the side so he’s facing me. I feel my body heat under his scrutiny, and I stutter out the words, “Are you going to answer me?”

He blows out a breath. “Yes, sorry about that. I was late getting off work.”

None of this makes sense. What does he mean, he was late getting off work? But before I can ask him, he starts talking. “I found out how I got out early.”

I perk up at that. There have been a few rumors going around the prison, but I’ve made a point to ignore all of it. “How?”

He seems surprised as he shakes his head. “You’re not going to believe this. Before I went in, I started a tattoo on someone, and I didn’t get it finished…”

My mouth drops open, and he nods his head. “Yeah, he wanted me out to get it finished. I’m the only one that has done his tattoos, and he refused to go to someone else.” Jack shrugs his shoulders. “Plus, he believes I didn’t deserve to be in there?—”

I nod my head in agreement. “I agree.”

That seems to stun him. “You do?”

Working as a counselor at the prison, I come across all types of men.

Some of them say they were innocent, some actually were innocent, and some are proud and show no remorse for what they did.

Jack was never sorry for what he did, and most likely if in the same position, he would do it again.

But to a lot of people, he was justified in his actions.

“Yeah, Jack. You saved that kid’s life. Who knows what that man would have done to her? ”

He scrunches up his nose like he doesn’t want to think about it. I hold my hands in my lap. “So talk to me. Why are your friends following me?”

He avoids my question again. “Did they scare you?”

I shake my head. “No, not when I knew they were from your club.”

He blows out a breath. “Good, good. They won’t bother you.”

I blurt out a laugh. “But why? Why are they following me, Jack?”

He searches my eyes. “Because I was late getting off work.”

I throw my hands up. “Are we going to talk in code all night or what? Why are you having them follow me?”

He runs his hand through his hair. “Because I need to know you’re okay, and I couldn’t be here, so I asked them to stay with you until I could get here.”

Suddenly, a thought comes back to me. “Wait. Have they been following me? This wasn’t the first time, was it?”

He leans back in his seat and stares at me. “No, from the first day I met you, I had someone following you outside of work.”

My mouth falls open. How did I not realize someone was following me all this time?

But I know the answer. Jack made me feel safe.

Even when he was in prison and I was in my home, I felt safe.

Now that I thought he was out of my life, I finally started paying attention to my surroundings.

“I need to learn self-defense,” I blurt out.

He sits up a little taller. “Why? Did something happen today?”

I look away from him because I don’t want to tell him about the guy after the counseling session. “Nothing I can’t handle, but I’m realizing that maybe I need to be more aware of my surroundings and I need to be able to take care of myself.”

Jack nods. “I’ll teach you.”

I point at him. “You’ll teach me?”

He nods assertively. “Who else would teach you?” He juts his thumb in his chest and claims, “I’ll do it so I’ll know you can protect yourself.”

I nod and look up and down the street. There are people passing by, and I see the looks from them.

I know they’re curious, and I’m sure they’re wondering why Jack would be sitting with me.

I still have my work clothes on, and I look even more prim and proper sitting next to him.

I’m not sure what Jack sees in me, but he’s obviously attracted to me. Why else would he have me followed?

“So…” I start, unsure how to start. I hesitate and then pull my shoulders back. I might as well ask him or I might never know. “Why are you following me, Jack?”

He shrugs. “I told you I would see you soon.”

I nod. “Yeah, you did. But… what is happening? Between us, I mean?”

He blows out a breath and looks like he’s about to say something he doesn’t want to say. “Nothing can come of us, Emily.”

I turn in my seat and look at him pointedly. “Nothing?”

He’s staring at my lips, and I’m wondering if he’s thinking about that kiss we shared. It was good. Heck, it was everything, but I do wish we had more time. It was over too quickly, and I would love to know what it’s like to kiss him when we can take our time.

He must see the desire on my face. He doesn’t want to let me down, so he does it easily. “Nothing, honey. I don’t fit in your world.”

I jut my chin at him defiantly. “Since when do you care what people think about you?”

He chuckles softly. “Honey, I don’t give a fuck what people think about me, but I’m not going to ruin your name.” He points to where we’re sitting. “I mean, look at us right now. Everyone that walks by is looking at us like they’re trying to figure out if they need to save you or not.”

I lean toward him and touch him for the first time since he sat down. “I don’t need saving from you, Jack.”

I had hoped he would reach for me or lean toward me or something, but he does none of those things. He sits, holding himself tightly. I pull my hand away and stand up. “I’m going home now, so you’re off duty tonight.”

He stands up, towering over me, and just smirks.

“Are you going to follow me home?”

He nods.

I want to scream in frustration. I want to beg him to kiss me, right here and now, but I don’t do it. My hands fist at my sides, and I walk away from Jack toward my car. I drive across town, and I can’t help myself. I keep looking in the rearview mirror to see if Jack is behind me.

As I’m driving, I try to tell myself that Jack is right.

Nothing can come of us. We are too different.

And he only mentioned my world, but I’m sure he’s thinking about his own, too.

There’s no way he’s going to want me in his world.

But as I pull into the driveway, I know I’m not going to be able to stay away from him. No matter how much he thinks I should.