Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 128

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Chapter 128 That’s Way Too Close

Chapter 128 That’s Way Too Close

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Marcus‘ low, steady voice brushed her ear, carrying a weight that left no room for refusal.

Natalie’s hands stilled at once; she let him do as he pleased.

When Marcus dabbed the ointment onto her cheek, a sharp sting made her flinch, her brows pinching together.

“You just stood there and took it. Didn’t even try to dodge; let her slap you clean across the face.”

“It wasn’t for nothing. I gave her two back.”

Her tone was calm, her face unreadable.

The cotton swab in his hand paused for the briefest moment.

Then, with a quiet laugh under his breath, he said, “That does sound like something Ms. Foster would do.”

His mouth curved; part serious, part careless.

Natalie felt her cheeks warm. She dropped her gaze, staring hard at his polished shoes instead of his face.

He kept applying the ointment, leaning closer little by little.

A cool breath fanned against her skin.

Natalie went rigid down her spine. He’s blowing on it? While treating me? ·

It did help—the sting eased; the pain dulled.

Still, her chest tightened with a nervous flutter.

Her fingers clenched on either side of the treatment bed, nails biting pale into her skin.

Marcus kept on, his breath light but steady, showing no intention of stopping.

Natalie turned her head slightly, trying to pull away–only to brush against the bridge of his

nose.

Their lips hovered dangerously close.

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15:08 Sat, Oct 11

Chapter 128 That’s Way Too Close

She could feel his breath on her mouth; the longer it lingered, the heavier it grew.

The air in the room thickened, charged with a heat she couldn’t ignore.

She jerked back instinctively, but the sudden movement threw her off balance.

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Before she could fall, a strong arm wrapped firmly around her waist, catching her, holding her upright.

The space between them shrank even further.

When Natalie looked up, she caught him staring–right at her lips.

Her mind spun with flashes of how easily this could turn into something else. Is he going to?

Her heart lurched. She shoved him back and stood quickly, blurting out, “Thank you, Mr. Collins.”

She turned her back to him, screwing the cap onto the ointment with hurried fingers.

Marcus‘ lips tugged into the barest smile as he flicked the used swab into the trash.

“If she comes after you again, you can tell me. I’ll deal with her for you.”

“That won’t be necessary. I can handle small things like this on my own, but thank you offer, Mr. Collins…”

for the

Before she could finish, his broad palm settled at her waist, sliding forward across her stomach.

His chest brushed her back, solid and unyielding.

He bent close, his voice low against her ear. “Ms. Foster, are you deliberately trying to keep me at a distance?”

That nervous tension she’d shoved down came roaring back.

She spun around, stepping away from him in a rush. “No, you’re imagining things.”

He studied her profile but didn’t push further.

Natalie’s eyes landed on a box beside them–pink, neatly wrapped, delicate in its packaging.

He’d carried it in when he arrived.

Curious, she glanced–back at him. “Mr. Collins, what’s this?”

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15:08 Sat, Oct 11

Chapter 128 That’s Way Too Close

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“Some pastries I bought a while back for you and Lily. That day at the clinic, things blew up, so I never had the chance to bring them in. Since I was nearby today, I thought I’d drop them off.”

Natalie’s mind flickered back to that day she’d punished Zoey–Marcus had been outside the clinic then.

It must have been that time.

“There are six flavors in there. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I picked ones kids usually enjoy. Lily can have them, but you and your friend should try some too; no way she can finish them all herself.”

“Then on Lily’s behalf, thank you, Mr. Collins.”

His gaze dropped to the faint curve of her smile; he closed the distance between them in a few long strides.

Looking down at her face, his tone softened, but his words carried weight. “If anyone bullies you again, if it’s something you can’t shoulder alone–you can come to me. Otherwise, people will think the Collins family has no one left to stand up for you. Jackson won’t, but I will.”

The ointment in Natalie’s hand slipped for a beat, her fingers faltering mid–motion.