Now Greg was the one who frowned at her. “Becca, I came to talk to you.”

“I don’t think I have anything to say to you.”

He paused for a minute. “Don’t you miss me?” There was real hurt in his tone, as if he was genuinely shocked that she didn’t care for him anymore.

And for a moment, she felt guilty. Because she didn’t miss him. She still felt foolish over all the years she’d spent on him. She missed her hopes and dreams of having a family and a husband she doted on. But did she miss Greg? No. She didn’t miss their tepid lovemaking or the fact that he never had time for her. She didn’t miss the way he always made her feel like she was the problem. He’d never cheated on her, but he’d also never made her feel particularly special.

He’d also abandoned her two days before their wedding.She couldn’t forget that.

But for some reason, he was really good at making her feel guilty. Becca opened her mouth and then closed it again. She wasn’t sure what to say.

For some reason, she looked up at Hank. He was watching her with a steady gaze, as if waiting to see what she wanted.

“Do you miss him?” Hank asked after a long moment.

Becca tensed, then shook her head.

“Good.” He shot a vicious look at Greg and then stepped in front of her again, silently protecting her with his body. “You can leave now,” he said to her ex.

“I—I came to pick up some stuff—”

“You can pick it up from the salon during the daytime. Not right now. Becca has a date with me.”

She did, did she? She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.

“But—” Greg began.

“Goodbye,” Hank said in a hard voice. He took a step forward, still managing to look intimidating despite the fact that he had a toddler in his arms.

Greg shot her a wounded look. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” He glanced at Hank one more time, then hastily left the porch, returning to his car.

She had no doubt her phone was going to be filled with angry texts from him by the morning, but she couldn’t find it in her to care at the moment. Hank was here. He’d come to see her. He’d “protected” her from her ex. It made her feel surprisingly good.

Wanted.

Dear lord, how long had it been since she’d felt so wanted? Hank acted like she was the only woman in town and it was necessary for him to stake his claim on her. She knew that wasn’t the truth, but, lord, it felt good.

Hank looked at her, waiting patiently. When she said nothing for a long moment, he leaned in. “Did I fuck up?”