Page 57 of Pucking Good Girl

“Mack, we need to warm her up. Her lips are blue.”

He nods. “You’re right. Baby, let’s take these wet clothes off. Becks, can you help Talia and run her a warm bath in the master bathroom’s tub? I’ll make her a hot peppermint tea.”

“On it.”

As he walks to the kitchen, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and guide her to my bedroom.

Thank fuck for quick filling tubs. By the time Mack comes back with a steaming mug of tea, I’ve poured some of the bubble bath soap I found in the welcome basket the complex gave me when I moved in.

Mack sets the mug down and comes to help me get Talia out of her wet clothes.

She hasn’t said a word since I opened the door, and I’m worried sick. Aside from her wet, freezing cold skin, her eyes are red and puffy, like she’s been crying.

I’ve known that I was falling for Talia since the night we met, but the feeling that surges into my chest confirms what I already knew. I would do anything for her.

If someone hurt her, they had better watch out.

CHAPTER 15

WHO HURT YOU?

Macklin

If anyone had ever told me that I would be taking Talia’s clothes off without a single sexual thought, I’d have laughed.

And yet, here I am.

Becks and I work in perfect sync, helping Talia to shed her sopping wet clothes.

I offer her my hand to help her into the tub, but she’s trembling so much that I’m worried she’s going to slip, anyway.

Scooping her up and lowering her slowly into the lavender scented water seems like the safest option.

“Here,” Becks rushes over, placing a folded towel under her head to cushion the already padded headrest at one end of the tub.

Talia’s eyes flutter closed as she relaxes in the tub.

Within a minute, a little bit of color is starting to return to her cheeks, so I offer her the tea.

“Drink some of this, baby. It will warm you from the inside.”

Her hands are still shaking, so I keep my fingers wrapped around the mug to help her drink.

Becks and I look at each other, and I can see the same worry that’s making it hard to breathe reflected in his eyes.

We each perch on the edge of the tub on opposite sides. I have a million questions, and I’m sure Becks does too, but neither of us talks for a few minutes.

It’s hard to keep my anxiety under control, but I want to give Talia a second to warm up. The only reason why I’m able to wait is that there were no signs of physical injuries on her. That doesn’t mean that she’s ok, though.

When she finally opens her eyes, tears slide down her face, and my restraint snaps.

“Baby, what happened? You’re really worrying me. Did someone hurt you?”

She torments her bottom lip with her teeth before nodding.

I know who’s to blame even before she finally speaks.

Whatever happened, my ex-girlfriend is involved. And so help me God, she’d better run. Because I’m going to make her pay for every mean thing she’s ever done.