Fourth of July by Cami Checketts

he’d see the tears in her eyes. She stiffened in his arms, choking down her emotions. She couldn’t allow him to see her cry, and she couldn’t hold back if he kept touching her. She didn’t need any more embarrassment with this man.
    Pushing away from his embrace, she folded her arms across her chest. It was the only way to ensure she wouldn’t kiss him. She wished she could fall into Chris’ strong arms again and bawl with relief, but she couldn’t allow herself that luxury.
    “I was doing just fine on my own,” she said.
    Chris arched an eyebrow. “Oh, you were?”
    She couldn’t let Chris see how shaken she was, better to be perceived as ungrateful and possibly delusional rather than wimpy. Yet, it was impossible to conceal her unsteady hands and quivering lower lip. That disgusting man had almost raped her. The fear rose up in her throat.
    Alexis swallowed hard, trying not to appear like a simpering fool. “Yes, you didn’t need to come rescue me like some damsel in distress.” Her tone was intentionally sharp to disguise her feelings. Deep inside she knew she would cry if she let her anger go.
    “I’m sorry,” Chris said, his voice rising. “What did you want me to do? Leave you alone with the man who was dragging you through the trees by your hair ?”
    Alexis shook her head. “I guess not,” she muttered. “Do you need to go meet the police or something?”
    Why couldn’t she just admit Chris had saved her from a fate worse than death? She shook with fear and tried to disguise it by putting on her tough-girl veneer.
    “They’ll find him.” Chris rolled his eyes, his frustration with her evident. “I was concerned about how you were doing, but obviously you don’t need my help. Do you want me to leave?”
    “No,” Alexis admitted, hugging herself for warmth even though it was a balmy summer morning. “I don’t want to let him hurt anyone else.”
    “Neither do I.” He jammed a hand through his wavy hair. “I especially didn’t want him to hurt you.”
    Alexis felt awful for chastising him when he had just rescued her. Why do I act like this with him? Glancing into his dark gaze, she restrained herself from begging him to hold her. She studied a patch of pine trees as the silence between them became oppressive.

    Alexis studied the foliage. Chris studied her. He wished he could gather her into his arms again, but he wasn’t sure what her reaction would be. Probably not good. Only the chirping birds interrupted the silence. Chris hoped some helpful advice would break the lull and take his mind off touching her.
    “Next time you could prevent something like this from happening.”
    “Really?” Alexis dug the toe of her running shoe into the dirt. “How could I do that?”
    “Try not to go running by yourself, but if you do, be more careful how you dress and carry some pepper spray and your cell phone with you.”
    Alexis’ head snapped up. She stared at him. “He knocked the pepper spray out of my hand, I dropped my phone trying to call for help.” She pointed at the ground and bent to retrieve a pink iPhone. “And what, may I ask, is wrong with the way I am dressed?”
    “Your shorts are a bit, um, short and that shirt is...well,” Chris grew embarrassed. “It really shows your shape.”
    “So, what you’re saying is I made that man attack me by how I was dressed?” Alexis questioned, those perfect red lips snapping at him. “He was just some innocent runner, then he saw me running by, all scantily clad, and he had no choice but to assault me?”
    “No, I didn’t say that at all. Of course he was the one in the wrong.” Chris blew out all his breath. “I am just saying if you run around looking like this you are going to get attention from the wrong kind of people.”
    Chris didn’t like the thought of anyone seeing her bare, shapely legs or the figure that fitted shirt revealed.
    “So, Agent Harmer,” Her voice was cold, her eyes narrowed to dark slits. “What