out Brea’s appearance, yet everythin

ere was something between him and this woman. So he didn’t give a damn i

changed a few words, she nodded. He cupped her shoulder and brushed

ulled out of the lot. She drove right past him without so much as a glance in his direction. No surprise she didn’t take stock of her surroundings. Why should she? She pr

hrough Brea Bell’s lif

toward Lafayette. On the outskirts of town, she pulled off. He followed at a discreet distance,

ted down a bumpy two-lane road and pulled into an overw

meeting someone, like Bryant, at

ll of those establishments in favor of the beauty supply on the end. She exited her car and locked it, then

eep her safe. But he’d be damned if he set foot in the foreign territor

at of the music and stared at the glass door. As “Centuries” faded out and Radiohead’s “Creep” filled his ears instead, he had to smile. Yeah, he felt a bit li

ated the lot and positioned himself against her car door, ankles crossed and arms folded over his chest, when she stepped out of the shop. Halfway across the

The bag fell from her fingers and onto the roasting

just like that when he shocked her in b

crambled to recover her purchas

er. But why lie? “Yeah. You knew I

pecting someone. One of her girlfr

have

minu

“I can’t stay. The h

ch pit of hell. Today was particularly sweltering. But he also didn’t think the sudden flush of her cheeks had

can

her expectin

“How would y

After last night, I l

sno

ed,” he c

hy

pell it out for y

eas

erse to his libido. He crooked his f

wide eyes. “I shouldn

cau

me promise

was afraid the bad boy would steal his woman? He ought to be. But One-M

oking for co

ned with regre

mired her conviction. “How about a little help, then? I moved here a few months back, and I don’t know much ab

and follow me here so I co

be sweet but that didn’

more. And regardless of what Bryant mi

His cock jerked. The things

ally want, Mr.

truth… “You. Naked. Under

. “Why me? Why not the bartender

ble twenty minutes if he’d noticed, as One-Mil

n’t feel the pu

and sank her teeth into

u do.” He edged cl

n’t follow me again. And don’t pursue me. T

hy

diffe

ites a

r head. “Too

ani

never be ca

pect that, with you, sex would

in a shaky b

you the options Cutt

oyed glare his way. “He doe

up your own mind.” He cocked his

possible, and we’re done with th

you afraid of losing your boyfriend? Or worried you’

t question with an answ

lanted himself in front of her again. “

ingly fierce expression.

ing. But you owe it to

car. He’d rather stay and talk, even with the stifling midday sun beating down and the beads of sweat rolling down his back. B

he door and gave the handle a tug, her phone rang, its chime clanging like church bells. She

parent. Besides Cutter Bryant, he

k. “Oh, my gosh. How long ago

r went off. Som

is. I’ll be there as soon as I can.

called an ambula

ned and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears leaked from

n strap snagged on the lace trim at her shoulder. When she nudged, the leather stubbornly resisted. Finally, she ignored the bag

ted seeing

ar door. “Hey. What’s

dad collapsed at the church shortly after I le

abbed at it with impatient fingers and yanked. The strap finally flopped off her shoulder but clung to the crook of her elbow. The b