He didn’t look like someone who needed to buy women but it could be for political reasons. “No, thank you.” She shrankback from him. The last thing she needed was for him to drug her and she’d be completely vulnerable.
This time she didn’t have to pretend to be scared of him. She was. She needed to get out of here and call the police.
He noticed the change in her demeanor too because he stopped in his tracks and held out his hands. “I thought you might be cold.” It was a sweater and sweat pants. “They might be a little big but they are all I have.”
This man was an enigma to her. Why was he offering her clothes if he planned to hurt her? Why was he even being nice? He could easily overpower her. “Thank you.” She snatched the clothes before he could try and grab her. She pulled the clothes to her chest like a life line.
The man didn’t acknowledge her fearful behavior, just took it in stride like it was completely normal. “There’s a bathroom down the hall you can change into.”
Shay’s eyes darted to the hallway he’d come from. Would he allow her to pass? Was this some sort of trick? She never used to think like this but after the past few days she was fearful of people and their intentions.
The man took a several steps back and to the side giving her a clear path to the bathroom. “I told you, I’m not going to hurt you.”
Saying something and doing something were two different things.
“Once you get changed you can have someone come pick you up or I’ll drop you off somewhere. Or if you prefer you can call them now.” He pulled out his cell phone from his back pocket and held it out.
Shay looked down at it as if it were a snake about to bite her. “I’ll change first.” She’d climb out the window and escape. Shay started making her way down the hall when he called out to her.
“My name’s Drew by the way. Drew Granger.”
Shay looked at him over her shoulder. “Shay. My name is Shay.” It was shame he was the bad guy. She had liked him, almost felt like she could trust him. But the fact he wore a wristband worried her. It couldn’t be a coincidence. She had to be cautious. Whoever was after her wouldn’t give up. Her best bet was to get to the police. They would protect her.
Chapter 5
Drew watched Shay leave. Shay. He tested her name in his head. He liked it. It made him think of sunshine and rainbows. What he didn’t like was the suspicious look in her eyes like he was a demon about to devour her. He was the good guy here. He’d told her more than once he wouldn’t hurt her. He made sure to give her space and to move slowly.
It was obvious she was running from something and instinct told him it had nothing to do with the fire but something else. The way she eyed him like he was a predator and she the prey. Something had happened to her. Could she know what had happened upstairs?
She didn’t look like someone caught up in a drug deal but maybe she saw something and it spooked her. Maybe her boyfriend was one of the drug dealers. That thought made him see red. His fists clenched at his sides. It was illogical to get mad at someone when he had no claim on her.
“Shay,” He knocked on the bathroom door.
There was a moment of panic when she didn’t answer. Where could she had gone? “Shay,” He called louder as he tested the door knob, not at all surprised finding the door locked. The woman was wary, she probably thought a locked door would keep her safe.
He didn’t want to break that trust but he was growing concerned when she didn’t answer him. “Shay, I’m coming in.” He grabbed one of the keys above the door frame and let himself in and froze. This woman kept having that affect on him.
But how else was he supposed to respond to seeing the woman’s ass wiggling a few feet in front of him, her feetbouncing off the toilet seat to hoist herself through. If he wasn’t worried about her hurting herself it would be comical.
“Shay,”
Shay froze in her struggles and turned sideways to look back at him. Panic clear in her eyes, at being caught of fear of him he didn’t know.
He wanted to ask what she thought she was doing but it was pretty evident. She’d been trying to escape. Anyone could have told her she never would have fit through that window. It was a small window that slid up. He hardly used it because it was old and didn’t open all the way. He’d meant to fix it but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. He was suddenly glad for that. She would have stolen into the night without a word.
“Are you going to just keep staring at me or help?” She snapped, her eyes snapping fire at him.
She was feisty when she wanted to be. He liked that. Drew preferred it to her fear. He smiled at her as he made a point to stare at her ass. “Well…” He drew out then chuckled at her scowl. “I’m coming.”
He pressed the window up another inch so she could slide back in. He had to bite back a groan as her backside slid against his front. As soon as her head cleared, he took a step back so she didn’t feel a certain part of him standing up demanding attention.
Shay turned around but wouldn’t look up at him.
“If you wanted to leave you didn’t have to use the bathroom window, you could have just walked out the front door.” She looked up at that statement. Shock clear on her face, shadowed with doubt.
He also noticed the make up on her face had been scrubbed off. She was even more beautiful without it. She also looked much younger than he first thought too. It wasn’t a dealbreaker for him but even he didn’t try sleeping with women barely legal.
“Why did you try running?” He asked, focusing back on the matter at hand.
