Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Come on, I’ve got you,” the man says, thrusting a hand my way.
I would have taken it without hesitation, I really would have, but then I get my first clear look at the man’s face.
His smug, revolting, oh-so-familiar face…
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, glaring at Aaron Boudreaux. But I shouldn’t be surprised. Being rescued by the man I’d least like to rescue me is the perfect rotten cherry on this slime sundae of a week.
Behind me, Brace Face curses beneath his breath.
I turn to make sure he’s still down, and Aaron decides he’d like to get in on the “grabbing women without their permission” game.
“Put me down,” I shout, my head spinning as Aaron flips me over his shoulder and starts swiftly away from the van through the pouring rain.
Instinctively, I brace my hands on the small of his back, just above the swell of his ass. Despite the danger and my well-deserved loathing for this man, I can’t help but notice that his backside is a thing of finely muscled, well-rounded beauty. If he were anyone other than Aaron Boudreaux, I would like to nibble on that fine ass while he was spread out on my bed like a sexy man-buffet.
But he is Aaron and when he sets me down under the airport’s overhang, I glare up at him, forcing all thoughts of his divine gluteus from my head. “What’s wrong with you?”
His eyes widen before his brows snap together. “What do you mean what’s wrong with me? I just saved you from being kidnapped.” He glances back toward the van and reaches for my wrist.
I snatch my arms to my chest, evading capture. “I was handling it.”
“Handling it? Are you fucking kidding me?” He snorts, his focus shifting between me and the van. The sound of squealing tires cuts through the night and he thrusts a frustrated hand toward the street. “Now they’re gone, and I didn’t get a look at the license plate. Great job, Melissa.”
“Sorry, I’ll try to get attacked in a more orderly manner next time,” I shoot back. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I know who it was.”
He blinks. “What? How? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“No, my brother is, but he’s handling it. Those are the same men who broke into my office earlier.”
“What?” Aaron croaks, his brows now nearly at his hairline. His incredulity would be funny if I had any sense of humor left after this cursed timeline of a day.
I run a hand over my ruffled hair. “It’s fine. Matty knows. He’s handling it. Nora’s with him, and he’s keeping her safe.”
Aaron’s shock transforms to anger as he shifts into protective big brother mode, a mode I am intimately familiar with thanks to my own slew of older male siblings. “What the fuck are you talking about? Nora said she had a business fire she had to put out in Chicago.”
“Yeah, well, I guess she lied,” I say, my heartbeat slowing as I realize my purse is still looped across my torso. I still have money and keys and a way home. Thank God for small mercies. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll—”
His hand whips out faster this time, catching and encircling my wrist. “No, I won’t excuse you. Fuck, Melissa, this is a big deal. You were almost abducted. We have to call the police.”
I shake my head. “No. No cops. I promised Matty.”
I tug at my arm, but Aaron holds on, gently, but firmly. “Well, I didn’t.”
“If you call the police, I’ll say you’re lying,” I counter, glaring up at him.
“And I’ll tell them to take a look at the surveillance footage,” he shoots back, returning my glare.
Cursing silently, I add, “Fine. But I won’t press charges. I’m the victim here. Without my cooperation, you’ll be wasting the officer’s time. Especially since I don’t plan on sticking around to answer questions. They’ll have to track me down at my house in the dark in the rain, when they’re already overwhelmed trying to deal with the flooding in Bad Dog. People might be hurt or worse and it will be your fault for diverting resources.” I shoot a pointed glance at his hand. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go see if the car I called is waiting for me.”
He curses, but after a beat lets me go.
I smile. “Thanks. See ya.”
“You absolutely will.” He grabs the handle of a giant rolling sports bag sitting on the concrete and starts down the sidewalk beside me.
“What are you doing?”
“Coming with you. Sleeping on your couch. Making sure you’re safe.”
I laugh. “No, you’re not.”
“Except that I am.”
I stop and he stops, watching me with irritatingly calm hazel eyes. Even after his tussle with Brace Face and a plane flight, his dark brown hair lies in smooth waves around his handsome face, his superhero jawline is strong but relaxed, and his moody, greenish-brown eyes project an air of authority over all he surveys.