welcome.” At least she admitted he saved her. He was just grateful he’d been here to protect her. Too bad she hadn’t fallen into his arms or given him one sweet kiss to express her gratitude.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” He searched for signs of distress. “That must have been awful.”
“I’m all right.”
The brightness of her eyes made him wonder.
“I’ve had men bother me before. No one’s ever gone that far, though. I didn’t know how I would get away.”
Her body trembled. Chris reached out to steady her. His hand engulfed her small shoulder. Once he touched her warm skin, he couldn’t stop himself. Pulling her close, he rubbed her back. He relished the feel of her lithe form tucked into his embrace. She fit perfectly in his arms. Gently stroking her hair, he inhaled the soft scent of her shampoo.
“You’re okay. It’s over now,” he soothed.
Her body stiffened in his arms. Pulling away, she shook her head a couple of times. Chris resisted the urge to drag her back. He was confused. Why did she react that way when he was just trying to comfort her? At least that’s why he told himself he wanted to hold her.
“I’d better get going. I have to be ready for work in an hour,” she said.
They picked through the dense undergrowth, making their way toward the running path. Alexis tripped once. Chris was quick to steady her. She was just as quick to retrieve her arm from his hand. By the time they reached the path Chris was certain she wanted nothing to do with him.
Alexis studied a pine tree as she spoke to him. “Thanks again. I can’t bear to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t come along.”
“I know. Are you sure you’re all right? I could run home with you.”
Alexis shook her head. Her eyes shone. He guessed tears were coming.
“I’ll be fine.” Gently squeezing his arm, she locked her gaze on him. “Thank you,” she said.
“Sure.” He couldn’t ignore the warm pleasure washing over him as she touched his bicep.
She released his arm. Turning abruptly she began running down the trail.
“See you at work,” Chris called to her.
She raised a hand in acknowledgment, but didn’t glance his direction.
Chris felt a slight stirring of hope from her warm touch. She’d made the contact voluntarily. Her soft hand on his arm made him wish he could hold her again. No. He wouldn’t attempt embracing her again. She didn’t respond like a normal female.
Why can’t anything ever go right when I’m with her?
He studied her retreating form. He knew most women would probably fall into their rescuer’s arms weeping with relief and admiration. Not Alexis. She was the most fiercely independent person he had ever encountered.
Chris shook his head, forcing his legs into motion. Matching his pace to hers, he trailed her at a respectable distance. He didn’t want her to know she was being followed, but he had to assure himself she got home safely.
ALEXIS SMILED WHEN SHE WALKED into her office later that morning. A small container of pepper spray and a stack of extra-large T-shirts were folded neatly on her desk. She could picture the man who filled out the shirts so perfectly, could still feel his muscular form surrounding her.
A short note rested on the shirts.
Alexis, I hope you’re doing all right. Please wear the shirts and think about what I said. I’m sorry if I offended you; I was just trying to help.
- Chris
P.S. The D.C. police picked up the suspect as he exited the woods. I already went and made positive I.D. They’ll need a statement from you and an I.D.
Alexis cringed as she thought of facing her attacker, but she wouldn’t shirk the duty. She didn’t want anyone else to go through the terror she experienced that morning. The thought of being held against her will sent chills down her spine.
Thank heavens the man had been apprehended. She would have to tell Chris thanks, when she felt up to facing him. She’d barely kept herself together
“Are you sure you’re okay?” He searched for signs of distress. “That must have been awful.”
“I’m all right.”
The brightness of her eyes made him wonder.
“I’ve had men bother me before. No one’s ever gone that far, though. I didn’t know how I would get away.”
Her body trembled. Chris reached out to steady her. His hand engulfed her small shoulder. Once he touched her warm skin, he couldn’t stop himself. Pulling her close, he rubbed her back. He relished the feel of her lithe form tucked into his embrace. She fit perfectly in his arms. Gently stroking her hair, he inhaled the soft scent of her shampoo.
“You’re okay. It’s over now,” he soothed.
Her body stiffened in his arms. Pulling away, she shook her head a couple of times. Chris resisted the urge to drag her back. He was confused. Why did she react that way when he was just trying to comfort her? At least that’s why he told himself he wanted to hold her.
“I’d better get going. I have to be ready for work in an hour,” she said.
They picked through the dense undergrowth, making their way toward the running path. Alexis tripped once. Chris was quick to steady her. She was just as quick to retrieve her arm from his hand. By the time they reached the path Chris was certain she wanted nothing to do with him.
Alexis studied a pine tree as she spoke to him. “Thanks again. I can’t bear to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t come along.”
“I know. Are you sure you’re all right? I could run home with you.”
Alexis shook her head. Her eyes shone. He guessed tears were coming.
“I’ll be fine.” Gently squeezing his arm, she locked her gaze on him. “Thank you,” she said.
“Sure.” He couldn’t ignore the warm pleasure washing over him as she touched his bicep.
She released his arm. Turning abruptly she began running down the trail.
“See you at work,” Chris called to her.
She raised a hand in acknowledgment, but didn’t glance his direction.
Chris felt a slight stirring of hope from her warm touch. She’d made the contact voluntarily. Her soft hand on his arm made him wish he could hold her again. No. He wouldn’t attempt embracing her again. She didn’t respond like a normal female.
Why can’t anything ever go right when I’m with her?
He studied her retreating form. He knew most women would probably fall into their rescuer’s arms weeping with relief and admiration. Not Alexis. She was the most fiercely independent person he had ever encountered.
Chris shook his head, forcing his legs into motion. Matching his pace to hers, he trailed her at a respectable distance. He didn’t want her to know she was being followed, but he had to assure himself she got home safely.
ALEXIS SMILED WHEN SHE WALKED into her office later that morning. A small container of pepper spray and a stack of extra-large T-shirts were folded neatly on her desk. She could picture the man who filled out the shirts so perfectly, could still feel his muscular form surrounding her.
A short note rested on the shirts.
Alexis, I hope you’re doing all right. Please wear the shirts and think about what I said. I’m sorry if I offended you; I was just trying to help.
- Chris
P.S. The D.C. police picked up the suspect as he exited the woods. I already went and made positive I.D. They’ll need a statement from you and an I.D.
Alexis cringed as she thought of facing her attacker, but she wouldn’t shirk the duty. She didn’t want anyone else to go through the terror she experienced that morning. The thought of being held against her will sent chills down her spine.
Thank heavens the man had been apprehended. She would have to tell Chris thanks, when she felt up to facing him. She’d barely kept herself together
Similar Books
