We’ve only just met.
‘What if you’re exactly where you’re meant to be?’ I counter, loosening my grip on her wrist. I don’t want to hurt her, but I’m nowhere near ready to release her yet either. An innate instinct is screaming at me that fate has thrown thisstunning young woman in front of me. And if I let her run out of here now, I’ll never know why.
Her eyes widen further as she processes my words.
I clear my throat. ‘You’re clearly in trouble. Maybe I can help you.’
She regards me warily, shaking her head. ‘I doubt it.’
I glance down at her bare feet. Her open wounds are bleeding all over the floor. I don’t give a shit about the mess, but I don’t feel like taking her for a tetanus shot either. I need to get her cleaned up. ‘Let me at least try.’
She glances at the door, then back to me, like she’s weighing up the lesser of two evils.
Oh, sweetheart, there’s one clear winner.
Whoever she’s running from, I’m definitely worse.
The difference is, I don’t hurt women. Tease them, spank them, suck them and fuck them—but I never cause pain.
‘Take a seat.’ I point to row upon row of spirits behind the woodchipped bar. ‘I’ll pour you a whiskey, and you can tell me all about it.’
‘I don’t drink spirits,’ she blurts. ‘I’ll take some water, please.’
‘Maybe today’s the day you should start.’ I lead her towards a leather covered bar stool and help her into it. Her body visibly trembles under my touch. ‘You’re okay,’ I murmur. ‘You’re safe. No one will hurt you here.’
She glances at the door warily again, but this time, she seems more concerned about someone racing through it, than racing out of it.
‘I’ll lock it.’ I offer. ‘That way, I’ll have time to tuck you behind this bar,’ I pat the mahogany counter, ‘before I put a bullet in whoever’s chasing you.’
Those big baby blues snap to mine, and she stares at me for a long beat, like she’s trying to decide if I’m joking.
I’m not.
I pat the pistol that’s permanently stashed in my suit pocket to prove it.
Finally, a small, humourless chuckle slips from her lips. It’s low at first, but by the time I cross the room, it transforms into full-blown hysteria. I shove the door closed and bolt the lock across. By the time I reach her again, her laughter has subsided. A single fat tear rolls from her kohl-lined eyes, then trickles across her cheek.
Instinctively, I raise my thumb to her face and swipe it away. She startles at the contact. Wide, wild pupils fall to my mouth, then my chest, then to the floor.
I prowl around the bar counter and fetch her the water. She accepts it gratefully, drains it in one go, then places the glass on the counter. ‘Thank you.’
I reach for a bottle of Becketts Gold, the best whiskey in the country. ‘Trust me, it’ll help with the shock.’
‘Today has been pretty shocking,’ she admits, with a sigh, then rests her elbows on the bar. Those glossy blonde, bouncing curls fall forward, covering her high set cheekbones as she cradles her head in her hands. ‘Mostly, I shocked myself.’
I pour two generous measures and push one her way. ‘What did you do?’
Her wary gaze returns to mine as she sweeps a hand over the white dress, drawing my attention to her breasts again in the process.
I’m only human.
She’s nothing like my usual type, but she exudes a rare, ethereal type of beauty that I just can’t put my finger on. Even in her current dishevelled state, she’s the most striking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
‘I ran out on a bad man.’ She lifts the glass to her nose,sniffs, then winces. ‘He’d have probably killed me in the end anyway.’ She pauses, staring at me for a long beat, like she’s still not entirely convinced I won’t do the same. ‘I figured I’d at least make him chase me for the privilege.’
She’s got guts, I’ll give her that. ‘Your fiancé chased you through the streets?’
‘No,’ she scoffs. ‘He wouldn’t break a sweat searching for me. He’ll have instructed his men to raid the city until they find me.’
