"Fine, grumpy.Now remove your hand."
My fingers uncurl from her skin as I settle back into my seat.Grumpy?Fuck, this woman is—
I order another beer to stop myself from filling in the blanks.Turning my attention to the dance floor, I try to ignore the blonde sitting next to me, but her presence burns against my skin like a brand.This works until the man who harassed her on the dancefloor resurfaces beside her, reeking of alcohol and bad decisions.
"Hey doll face, you're looking mighty fine."The drunk's words slur together as he sways closer to her.
She sends him a warning glare that would make lesser men retreat."Thank you.You mentioned it earlier, but I'm not interested.Please, keep your hands to yourself."
The man does as she asks, but he doesn't surrender."Let's dance, sweetheart."He grabs a strand of her hair and slides it through his fingers.My jaw clenches, muscles coiling with the urge to intervene.
Her head snaps to him."Hey!I'm not dancing with you.Go find another woman who will."
I watch her handling this dipshit, admiring her spine of steel even as my own tension builds.Is he fucking blind and deaf?She's not interested.Every instinct I've developed over years screams at me to step in.
For the second time, she turns away from him, but he stops her by placing his palm on her thigh.Before she can react, I shoot up and place myself between them.
"Get your filthy hands off her.The lady told you multiple times she's not interested.So, fuck off!"
The guy mutters something under his breath and takes a step backward.There he refocuses his attention on the beauty behind me."See you later, doll face."And he leaves.
Satisfied, I turn only to find her folding her arms across her chest and saying in a sharp voice, "I could've handled him myself.I don't need a man to save me."
Dumbfounded, I stare at her for a couple of seconds, but when my mind catches up with her words, I react."So, your way of handling it is letting Mr.Scumbag touch you inappropriately?"
She slides off her stool, tilts her head, and stares straight in my eyes."No."
"Well, your approach didn't work, mine did.So… why don't you say thank you?"
Her nostrils flare."Why in the world would I do that?Did I ask you to come in and help me?"Her fiery gaze holds mine as she continues, "No, I didn't.You choose to waltz in as the goddamn bulldozer you clearly are," she says, pointing to my sizable frame."You can wait all you want, but you're not getting a thank you out of me."
She grabs her drink, and after two substantial chugs, she slams the empty glass back on the bar."Goodbye, Grumpy!"
Dumbfounded and in a fog for the second time by this blonde, I watch how she disappears into the crowd with swaying hips.
"Damn, you need to put your gloves on to handle a woman like her.She's got fire," Darius states after a whistle.
A picture of those emerald eyes gazing at me as I shift her dress up invades my mind.Heat pools low in my stomach.What the hell?The woman called me a bulldozer and grumpy, and here I am thinking of undressing her?Maybe my mother's right – I have been alone too long.I run my hand over my face."Where's Brian?I still need to talk to him about—"
"Still dealing with the security system," Darius cuts in."Want me to tell him you stopped by?"
"Yeah.I'm calling it a night."
Walking out, I find myself searching the crowd for that flash of red, that cascade of blonde hair.But she's gone, leaving nothing but the ghost of her fire burning under my skin.So much for my perfectly uncomplicated life.
2
ALISHA
6 MONTHS LATER
"Please, stop,"I plead after he removes his filthy hand from my mouth.The stench of stale cigarettes and cheap whiskey lingers on my lips, making bile rise in my throat.
He smiles – all predator, no humanity.Pain explodes behind my eyes as his fist connects with my face.The world spins, concrete rushing up to meet me as I crumple like a marionette with cut strings.The impact jars every bone in my body.Before I can catch my breath, rough hands grab my dress, dragging me across the ground.The asphalt scrapes against my skin, each tiny stone a fresh point of agony.
When his palms violate my breasts through the fabric, my mind fractures.Body screaming.Brain shutting down.Please, no!
A sudden bang echoes through the alley.He springs up, head whipping around like a startled animal.I seize my chance, muscles screaming as I try to crawl away.The first kick to my back steals my breath.The second makes something crack.The third...I lose count, each impact sending shockwaves of white-hot agony through my body.His laughter – low and evil – circles around me like a vulture.
