I’m surprised when she extends her hand to me. “I’m Jade. Thanks for everything.”
“Ryker. Happy to be at your service.”
But I don’t let go of her hand when I should, instead I thread my fingers between hers. “You gonna tell me what’s really going on?”
CHAPTER 2
A stranger’s holding my hand, but I’m hit with déjà vu.
So strange. It’s as if those rough, strong fingers have been clasped between mine a thousand times.
God. I’m losing my mind.
I lean back, forcing distance between us, but he doesn’t retreat. He’s still freaking imposing. The man is big, intent, and taking up all my personal space.
“I’ve got all day,” he adds to asking me if I will tell him what’s going on.
Alarms should be going off in my head, but they’re silent. Ryker knows how to occupy the space with control. This doesn’t feel like aggression.
What I really crave is him as a shield. Big, immovable, solid. Between me and the whole world.
Ohhhhkay.My brain must have gotten rattled by the hit I took. That’s the only explanation for not recoiling from his nearness.
In my world, men equal pain.
“It’s a big mess,” I whisper, sadness and uncertainty compressing my shoulders down. “I’m not sure I could even explain because I don’t understand it myself.”
If anything, this sharpens his focus.
I’m reminded of an animal observing prey. Only I know I’m not it. He’s after my trouble.
What a strange sensation to be the center of someone’s attention when it’s not anger.
My eyes drift closed and a breath I’ve been holding for god-knows-how-long seeps out of me.
Wow.
And then my mouth betrays me as I look up at him. “You can’t get involved any more than you have.”
Ryker inhales, his chest getting even more imposing. The fire behind his gaze turns up to blazing.
“The fuck, I can’t.”
It’s not cruel, and it’s not said with anger. It’s him making it clear that he’s capable and willing.
I blink.
No way.It sounds great now, but this is my life and Ryker will sooner or later be gone and I’ll be left to deal with it.
That will hurt worse than him never helping me at all.
He waits, and his sharp reply hovers between us until the silence is shattered by the bell announcing a customer.
The silent tension between us dissolves and he turns his head slowly toward the front. Without hesitation, he gives my fingers a light squeeze.
“I’ll take care of that.”
Ryker’s gone in the next instant and I catch the strangest exchange drifting back from the customer area.
