“I’d rather he kept them on,” Cleo mumbles, making me snort.
All eyes snap to me, and Rosa abandons her bag. “Fox, you’re home.”
“Evidently.”
“That’s why Helen is in such a good mood today.” She winks. “Of course, that could be Henry’s doing.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. I’m not stupid. People, including my grandmother, have needs. But I don’t need to hear about it.
“You know, Amalee is newly single,” Rosa says as her eyes glaze over. “You guys made the cutest homecoming king and queen.”
Cleo’s lips twitch as George hands her the parcel of lamb. “I won’t be in town for long,” I tell her, hoping to cut off any matchmaking attempts—particularly with Amalee Cage. We dated for a whopping month in high school, and ever since, the town and Amalee believe we are destined. It’s never going to happen. I need someone to challenge me intellectually, and Stepford wives don’t do it for me.
“See you later, Rosa,” Cleo says as she brushes past me. Little zaps of electricity dance from where her skin touches mine. What is that?
She stalks down the sidewalk to the convenience store. I catch up with her in a few strides. “Why did you say yes?” I ask as we enter the store, and she grabs a basket.
She raises a brow and gives me a flat look. “Because he asks every single time I see him, and your grandmother made that a daily occurrence. Better to get it over with, so he realizes now that I am not a catch. I make shit company and an even poorer date. This way, he can concentrate on the job and not me.”
Logical, but untrue.
“Can you pick a bottle of red wine for the meal?” she asks as she turns into the fresh produce aisle and leaves me alone without waiting for an answer.
I do as instructed and stop at the small fresh section that the bakery supplies. Then I wander around looking for Cleo. I spot her at the opposite end of the toiletries aisle. She stares at something on the end of the display, her entire body frozen.
“Cleo,” I call out so she doesn’t disappear somewhere else. Hunting someone in a store is a pet hate of mine. She doesn’t acknowledge me, despite me calling her name three more times. Makes sense, because it’s not her real name. As I approach, I realize she isn’t frozen. She’s trembling from her head to her toes. Fucking hell. I follow what she’s staring at. White roses. Okay. Not exactly the most terrifying thing on the planet.
I reach out and touch her arm. She swings her fist and punches me square in the jaw. “Fuck.” Her glazed expression falters, and the basket of groceries clatters to the floor. I grab her wrists to prevent her from hitting me again. “What’s wrong with you?” I snap.
She squirms as her chest rises and falls rapidly. Her breath crashes over my face in fast whips of air. “Let me go,” she says between pants as she jerks her wrists, trying to break free.
She’s having a panic attack. “Breathe,” I coax as a surge of my protective instincts rises in me. “Come on, follow me. You are safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She blinks but is still trapped in whatever horror stalks herevery moment. Her gaze drops to my lips before sliding to my chest. She coughs as she tries pulling in a deeper breath. A few people give us the side-eye as they pretend to shop for things close by.
I need to get her out of here. I rotate us so her face is protected by my body and the shelves. Her eyes widen at the items behind me.Fuck. Stupid.She pulls free and sprints out of the store like her ass is on fire. I drop my items in the basket and take off after her. She’s quick for having short legs but can’t compete with my stride.
“Cleo, fuck. Wait up.”
She blindly runs out onto the main road, right into the path of a truck. I dart into the street, grab Cleo around her waist, and throw us onto the sidewalk. My body takes the brunt of the fall, and the truck screeches to a stop next to us. My head falls back and I sigh. That was close.
“Are you okay? She came out of nowhere,” a woman’s voice asks.
“We’re fine,” I mutter as I grip Cleo and climb to my feet. Her breathing is calm, which is a good sign. She lies limp in my arms as I scoop her up. Maybe not. She’s out cold. I will teach this woman to look after herself if it’s the last thing I do. But to do that, I have to make sure she doesn’t run.
CHAPTER 19
HONOR
I know my worth. It is not my responsibility to explain it to you.
“Wakey wakey, sleeping beauty.”
A huff moves past my lips. I have never been treated like a princess. No, that’s a lie. The villain treated me like a princess until he revealed himself. I guess the more accurate thing to say would be that I never again want to be treated like a princess. Not when I’m forced to question every word, every action, knowing that what follows affection is horror.
Something warm and wet snakes across my face. My hands rise and dig into soft fur. “Ew, how many times do I need to tell you, Duke? We do not kiss ladies with the same tongue that licks ass.”
“Well, if I ever attempt to kiss you, I’ll be sure that no ass licking has occurred for at least twelve hours prior.”
