“Come on, Maisie. I need to be there early, too.”
“Yes, but you’re younger than me. When I was twenty-one, I could party and get up early, too.”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “You’re only four years older than me, yet you act like a total grandma.”
“Because I need my sleep? So, sue me.” I pulled her in for a hug and inhaled her sweet floral perfume. “Don’t stay out too late. And call an Uber early.” Earlier, Alicia called and asked if I would take her and her friends to the bar so they could all drink and catch a ride home later. I agreed but still worried. I didn’t like leaving her somewhere, no matter what age.
“Yes, mother.” Alicia smiled and hugged me back.
I blew everyone kisses and said my goodbyes before slinking my way out of the bar and out into the cool night air.
Picking up speed, I jogged towards my car, the chill in the air falling onto my bare skin. Shivers ran through me, and I picked up speed, craving the warmth of my car and the comfort of my sweater.
Suddenly, my feet went airborne, and my ass hit the ground. I used my hands to brace my fall, feeling the pieces of concrete embedding themselves in my palms.
“Ouch!” I cried as I looked around, in total shock. I was now sitting on the ground. Of course, there wasn’t a soul around, even with a few places still open.
No man to rescue me, just like I had expected.
With one last look around, I hauled myself up, my palms stinging, my knees throbbing, and my head pounding, limping the last few hundred feet to my car. I climbed behind the wheel, started the car, flicked on the heat, and burst into tears.
I cried because my knees and hands hurt badly. I cried for myself at being alone and no one coming to rescue me, not one soul.
Suddenly, there was a knock on my window. I jumped in my seat, my hand flying to my chest.
A man stood there. A very handsome man. A very kind-looking man. With a big smile stretched across his sexy mouth.
Why did I suddenly feel at peace?
Why did I know without a doubt he wouldn’t hurt me?
Who was he?
I had to find out.
So, what did I do?
I rolled down the window and said hello.
CHAPTER TWO
Ravi
I couldn’t walk awayfrom a woman crying. She might tell me to take a hike, but I’d rather that than to ignore her.
When she rolled her window down, a lump formed in my throat from her beauty. I blinked, double checking I was seeing what I thought I was, her green eyes mysterious, her long black hair exotic looking.
I’d only arrived in Appleridge last week and had yet to see her because, believe me, I would remember a woman as gorgeous as her.
Seeing her crying alone in her car caused my heart to split in two. I hoped I’d be able to stop her tears.
I knocked on the glass, two short bursts from my knuckles, and she rolled her window down. I smiled as warmly as I could. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head as tears dripped off her chin and fell onto her shirt.
I rested one arm on the hood of the car and leaned forward. “People in small towns help each other in times of need, so letme help you.” I said it with my gentlest tone I could muster, not wanting to scare her off.
People told me I could come off a little overbearing, especially my younger sister Allie, who loved to give me shit, but I couldn’t help it. I needed to protect the ones I loved. It was a need I discovered inside me years ago and I was better off not fighting it.
