Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“I should’ve stopped him. Me. It wasn’t anybody else’s responsibility to make sure I was safe. I was an adult,” she said fiercely, refusing to let go of even a shred of the blame.
“None of it should have happened. I wish more than anything that I could’ve stopped it, that you’d never had to go through that.”
“Don’t,” she said almost coldly. “I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out what one thing I could have changed to stop it all from taking place. Where I went wrong, what I did to deserve it. It’s pointless. I made choices and they turned out badly for me. Some of us just learn the hard way. I got out, and I went to nursing school, and I have a job I love. It turned out okay.”
“This isn’t anywhere near okay. But I’m going to do everything in my power to make things better, to make sure you’re safe. You have a right to live your life without this threat hanging over you.”
“This has really rattled you, hasn’t it?” she asked.
“Yes. More than I expected it to. In my line of work, I hear or read descriptions of a lot of atrocities, to put it bluntly. I know how to be rational about it and look at the legal aspect of the situation without letting emotion cloud my judgment. I’ve failed at that today, and I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ve been as cool-headed and reassuring as I intended to be.”
“You’re not a robot, Jeremy. You’re just the smart one,” she said.
“You’re teasing me,” I shook my head, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “How are you cheering me up after telling me about the trauma you’ve been through?”
“Because I’m a badass, didn’t Kendall ever tell you that?” she said. Then she finished eating and glanced at her watch. “I have to get going. I’m sorry to cut this short. I really—well, I wouldn’t say I had fun considering the topic of conversation, but I liked having lunch with you, Jeremy.”
“Anytime. Let me walk you to your car,” I said, settling the bill and following her across the dining room. As we wove among the tables, I set my hand in the small of her back to guide her. She glanced over her shoulder at me and gave me a shy smile. God, it felt good to touch her.
Outside the restaurant, on the sidewalk, she thanked me again. “You’re a good man, Jeremy. We need more men like you, fighting for the good guys,” she said, her dimple showing as she looked up at me. I smiled back. It made me feel so good, hearing her say that.
“I have ambitions to run for DA,” I told her. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”
“You’ll be a fantastic DA. But you’ll be a better judge. You’re destined for the bench, don’t deny it.”
I was flying high when she said those words, like she could see my future, like she could write my future just by speaking it.
“Thank you,” I said, gripping her hand. I hadn’t even realized I’d taken her hand. We walked on a bit further, and she stopped beside her car.
Julie extracted her hand from mine, leaned in and hugged me. The soft cotton of her pink scrubs, worn thin from washings, did nothing to shield my palm from the heat of her skin. I liked touching her way too much. Lifting on her toes, she smiled softly and started to kiss my cheek. On impulse, I turned my head and caught the corner of her mouth. Startled, she gripped my arm. Instead of drawing back, she leaned into me, and I angled my head and kissed her. Her lips clung to mine as my arm snaked around her waist, hauling her flush against my chest. I felt her smile against my mouth, and my other hand cupped her cheek.
We didn’t kiss like old friends saying goodbye and good to see you after lunch together. We kissed like lovers, right there on the sidewalk. My tongue parted her lips, worked into her mouth and tasted her. I felt her gasp, then a jolt of pleasure ran through me as she sucked my tongue deeper into her mouth. Bodies pressed together, we kissed hungrily. I wanted her to know I was here for her, I wanted to wipe away everything that Eric had done to her, touch her gently where he had been rough, teach her to trust me and want me the way she was afraid to want any man ever again. Something speared deep inside me as we kissed, a sharp longing for her. To keep her safe, to set her free, to love her. I could love this woman, I knew. Maybe I was already on my way there.