my car jolte

my forehead slammed into the stee

belt, I would've gone stra

exploded acro

vision fill

ent, I grabbed a tissue, trying to

me-the window rattle

umped out

d outside

switch and rolle

uniform, his glasses speckled with raindrops. Holding a

ss the damages, but my employer is in a rush. May I have your contact

t the movement triggered anoth

r, dragging my feet

m the Bentley was now

out my phone, and

he man tr

the police." I

mood for conversations-calling the cop

. I saw him speaking to someone in the back seat-a

rain struck harder now, agg

I'd like to report a traff

again-no first-aid kit, just d

to find

y didn't budge. I kep

ice cruiser arrived-alongs

ley's do

first with an umbrella,

n em

eled features and the commanding pres

readable from a distance,

ers away, the moment he sensed my g

I swore I'd s

n my skull made it

er, murmured something, then walked t

had already opened

jogged toward m

t is soaked. Ple

oked

rned translucent, my b

ssment as I quickly slipped

le before heading off t

silently, disappearing i

last glimpse of that man's

A faint, clean sandalwood scent clung to the

minor a

I signed it and exchanged contact info

me to the hospita

ized calling the police mi

willing to handle

I said. "I was in a bad m

Roy replied wi

et dry cleaned and

say something but thought

f to the near

e wound on my forehead, the

king like he was rea

mped. "Sir? Y

I cut in. "He

band almost

aight to the doc

a minor abrasion a

the bandaging and ha

im and step

ad of me, and snatched the medicine from the pharmacist

d not

keys in my wallet, but Cary

ey

houlders, guiding-no, shovi

r door open and practi

shut, muting th

ou drove through a downpour like a maniac and ne

ted, handsome face... a

awful, but his absurd lo

I risked my life ju

ego on

I said, reaching out. "No

ed about the trip. But if I told you t

o remind me, once again, that I'm not good enough for you. She's been running th

rophy wife. I don't get

ed again. I'd

just a friend. Our families go way back. My m

member." I pulled the jacket tight

wered. "Can you swear you wo

ot back. "Yes, our marriage is contractual. But that contract

ed. "I'll make sure what happ

idea what exa

t parade Vaness

anya to quit her

y to ask. I just wanted

tart the c

the collar-his scent hit me

Cary noticed

pensive. Cle

jacket

hat's what h

ew family member today, too. The guy who

face da

et off me and thre

th you?!" I shouted, openi

ked me back in. Then he l

jaw, refusin

, his kiss fierce and una

did he growl, "Don't play games with me. I

en be bothere

y in a puddle, dr

dry clean it bef

wh

I came down

staye

ts-he did all the things that made me m

, my fever stil

, dizzy and

buzzed on t

35

loud in the silenc

lit up. One