Excerpt of Until There Was You by Heatherly Bell

It might be time to re-assess. Was Gen afraid of her ex? Granted, no one knew much about this dentist guy. Gen wouldn’t show anyone pictures of the wedding, which had happened in some kind of drive-through but apparently Joe had seen at least one photo of him. Wallace half hoped the guy was coming here to cause some trouble because it had been a long time since he’d kicked someone’s ass and he was beginning to miss it.

He sat Gen down at one of the tables, and joined her. “What’s going on? Time to level with me.”

Gen put her head in her hands, which killed him. “My ex is on his way here, and I don’t want him to find me. I just don’t want him to show his face in town.”

“Right. Did he hurt you?” His fists bunched under the table as he waited for her answer.

“What? Oh no. It’s not that.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

She looked desperate then. “Oh for the love of Pete, don’t get all Alpha on me. I swear he didn’t hurt me, okay?”

“Then why are you so afraid of him?”

“I’m not afraid! I just don’t want him to come here.”

He nodded. “You don’t want to see him.”

“And I don’t want you to see him!”

Shit, what did this guy look like? Did he have some kind of facial deformity? And why did both his best friend and Gen believe he of all people couldn’t handle it?

“Why? Did you marry an ugly man? What the hell is going on here?”

“No, he’s not ugly! Not ugly at all.”

“All right, facially challenged. Whatever.”

Gen shook her head. “He’s good looking.”

“Do you think I’ll fall for him then? Because I don’t bat for that team, and I thought you knew that.” He raised a brow.

Gen laughed then. “I know.”

He studied her. “You worry me. I’m going to get this floor done, and then I’m staying with you until this guy has left town.”

Gen stood up so fast she knocked her chair over. “Staying with me?”

“No arguments. Joe’s out of town and this is not acceptable.”

“Oh,” Gen squeaked out. “Okay.”

“Now get out of my way. I’ve got some floors to put in.”