“I’m sorry, ma’am. I couldn’t get my hands on my keys.”
She nods and her eyes study me carefully. “I can see that. What’s going on, Jameson?”
“I didn’t do it. She was being attacked and I got them off her but then she just passed out.”
“Poor thing,” she croons softly. “Must have been the shock. She looks so delicate.”
I nod my head. “I’m sure that’s it. But I don’t know where she’s from so I just brought her home.”
She glares at me. “Well, I hope you’re going to be a gentleman, Jameson.”
“Of course, ma’am.” As if I’d ever let anything happen to her.
“Give me your keys and I’ll open the door for you. Hope you don’t have to call the ambulance for her.” Her worried, old, rheumy eyes coast over the woman’s pale cheeks.
“I’m sure that she’ll be alright. Like you said, probably just the shock.”
She nods slowly and takes my keys. I follow her to the door of my first floor apartment. She shoves it open and I step around her, holding out my hand for the keys. She hands them to me but her eyes never leave the woman in my arms. “If you need me for anything just let me know.”
I nod and she closes the door behind her shuffling figure. I blow out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. I have the feeling she almost didn’t leave and there’s nothing on this planet I want more than to be alone with the tiny woman in my arms.
I settle her on the threadbare cushions of my old couch, frowning when her soft, shining hair spills over the stained old cushions. She looks wrong here. Like a dainty ballerina dancing in a factory. Out of place.
My hand caresses the soft curve of her cheek, loving her warm skin under the calloused fingers of my hand.
Her dark lashes flutter and lift and I find myself lost in the golden-brown depths of her eyes. Honey and amber swirled together. Warm and impossibly deep. Dark and yet so full of light. She’s a contrast of light and dark. Soft and strong.
I can tell she was running for a long time from those guys. I saw her stumble out of the alley and immediately ran after them but all of them had a head start that I wasn’t able to diminish until they slammed to a stop when she fell. My heart literally knotted when I saw that.
I had to help her. Had to get to her.
Had to have her. The confusion in her eyes changes to fear and she sits up quickly on my couch, backing away until she’s buried in the corner.
Her hands come up and she shivers. “NO!” she whispers.
My heart stops when I see the fear on her face. The hopelessness painting over the wide-eyed wonder of a moment ago.
Then I know. I can’t have her. She’s terrified. Of me.
CHAPTER3
Charity
My heart races in my chest and the man in front of me holds out his hands, backing away from me.
“No, I’m not gonna hurt you, princess. Don’t you remember me? Do you remember what happened, Uptown?”
My head cocks to the side and a dim memory tickles the edge of my brain.
“You were there. You were one of the guys that attacked me.”
He shakes his dark head, his eyes tormented, glued to mine. “No. I was there to help you.”
I remember the face leaning over me, his eyes gentle and soft. Sapphires lit with so much warmth. All of it focused on me.
“You carried me…” my eyes dart around the small apartment room. “here. Where are we?”
He smiles. “This is my place, Uptown. I’m sure it’s a lot less than you’re used to. But you weren’t awake so I couldn’t take you to your place.”
