Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
I leave my cubical with my eyes on my feet, refusing to look at the boarded-up wall of windows to my left. We might have been able to open, but there is still work to do, and those wooden panels blocking out the light only remind me of the fear I experienced weeks ago.
“Mia.”
I lift my head when Mandy calls my name and stumble when I see the man who’s been haunting me standing near the front podium with his eyes on me. My heart pounds as he takes a step toward me. Good Lord, he’s even more handsome than I remember. And with the sun shining through the doors, he looks like some kind of modern-day Greek god with his black boots, jeans, and tight white T-shirt accentuating his muscular torso. His dirty-blond hair is mussed like he’s ran his fingers through it, and the tattoos on his arms seem more vibrant against his tan skin. As I watch him get closer, I feel overwhelmed—with fear, thankfulness, regret, and longing. The mix of emotions makes me want to run, only I don’t know if I want to run away or into his arms.
“Mia.” Mandy steps in front of me, cutting off the view I have of him, and I blink at her annoyed expression. “Steph is up next for a client, but Talon asked for you.” She shakes her head. “Well, he didn’t ask for you, but he described you and was adamant that he see you, so he’s yours.”
“Talon,” I repeat, liking that I finally know his name after weeks of giving him random names, none of them as perfect as the one he was given at birth.
“She’s worked with him in the past, so she’s going to be mad.”
“Okay,” I acknowledge, not really caring that she’s going to be mad, since she seems to be mad a lot. With everyone working on mostly commission, there is a lot of competition. Personally, I have no desire to be the top salesperson at the dealership. I just want to make enough money to pay my bills, and if I have a little extra, that’s okay too.
Her eyes narrow, and then she mutters, “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She spins on her heel and sashays back toward the podium.
I glance at Talon to see if he checks her out when she walks past him and am surprised he doesn’t. Mandy is pretty, very pretty, and most people recognize her, since she’s in every one of the local commercials for the dealership. Heck, men sometimes come in just to try to get her number.
With her gone, I swallow and turn toward the man who saved me when I feel him get close. I slowly lift my gaze to his and remind myself to breathe when our eyes lock. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with eyes as blue as his, so blue it feels like I could dive into them like the ocean I jumped into once on a trip to Jamaica.
I shift on my heels as he scrutinizes my face like he’s trying to memorize every one of my features, then lick my lower lip and say the only thing I can think of. “You saved me.” He doesn’t reply, but his eyes drop to my mouth, and in response, my nails dig into my palms. “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t done what you did.”
“That girl said your name is Mia.” He lifts his eyes off my mouth, and I nod. “I tried to find out who you were after you left in the ambulance, but it was like I imagined you. No one knew who I was talking about.” He shoves his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “I told you to stick close, and you left.”
My brows dart together at his tone. “I left with Grace. She didn’t want to be alone.”
“I know. I went to the hospital, and after I tracked her down, I talked to her.”
“You went to the hospital and tracked Grace down?” My stomach dips, and my heart flutters.
“She told me that you disappeared when her son got there and that you didn’t say goodbye or leave your number.”
“I didn’t want to be in the way,” I murmur, feeling guilty. I should have told her goodbye, but her family was there, and I knew she was in good hands.
“She gave me her number to give you when I found you.” He pulls a piece of tattered paper from his pocket, and I wonder if he’s been carrying it around with him this whole time.
“Thank you.” My eyes meet his as I take it, and I fight the urge to lean into him. His scent reminds me of home, deep and rich, like the forest in Montana after a summer storm, or sitting on the porch of my parents’ house after dark, listening to the crickets chirp.