The Color of Hope (The Color of Heaven Series) by Julianne MacLean

ran to follow Rick, who was holding the car door open for me.

Chapter Thirty-four
    “ Y OU SURE YOU ’ RE okay?” Rick asked as he shifted into first gear and took us away from the dark alley. His eyes raked over me with concern. “Did he hurt you?”
    “I’m fine,” I replied, but my whole body was trembling. “How did you find me?”
    “Diana sent me out to pick you up. She was worried.”
    “How did you know where I was?”
    “You texted the name of the club. It’s lucky I came along when I did. I saw him pull you into the alley.”
    I buried my face in my hands. “Oh, God, I can’t believe that just happened. What would have happened if you hadn’t come along?”
    He touched my shoulder. “I’m sure you would have kicked his ass.”
    I glanced up, and let out a sob that was half laughter.
    He checked the rear view mirror and shifted into a higher gear. I noticed his knuckles were bloodied.
    “Thank you,” I softly said, and tipped my head back on the seat.
    We drove for a few minutes in silence.
    “You should call Diana,” he suggested. “Tell her you’re okay, and I’m driving you home.”
    I wasn’t up to having a conversation about what just happened, because I was embarrassed by it. I was sure nothing like this would ever happen to Diana. She would know better. Or maybe guys just sensed that she was a woman who deserved to be treated with respect.
    “I’ll text her,” I replied, and reached into my purse for my phone.
    Hi Sis. Thanks for sending Rick. He picked me up and he’s driving me home now.
    She immediately texted me back.
    Oh good. Call me later.
    Okay.
    When we reached my apartment, Rick found a parking spot out front. My hands were still trembling, however, and I was slow to get a grip on the door handle.
    “Let me help you.” Rick got out and circled around to my side, opened my door, and supported me by the elbow as I set my feet on the ground.
    My knees felt like quivering blobs of jelly when I tried to stand.
    “I’ll come inside with you,” he said. “Where are your keys?”
    I handed him my purse and he found them for me.
    We walked up the stairs in silence. He unlocked my apartment door and flicked on the lights. I went straight to the sofa and collapsed onto it.
    While I toed off my heels, he glanced around at the faded paint and scuff marks on the walls, the stained carpet, and the small, dated kitchen that hadn’t had an upgrade since the eighties. “So this is where you live,” he said.
    I leaned back. “Yeah. My decorator’s on vacation. So is my cleaning lady.”
    He nodded with amusement. “Can I get you a glass of water? A cup of tea?”
    “Tea would be great.” I pointed. “There’s a kettle on the counter, and the cookie jar has teabags in it.”
    While he stood at the sink and filled the kettle, I tried to relax, but it wasn’t easy. I laid my hand on my cheek where I’d been slapped. It still burned.
    “I should have seen that coming,” I said, shaking my head at the stupidity of heading down the street alone. “My date was a jerk from the first minute. All he talked about were all the wild parties he used to go to in college.”
    After plugging in the kettle, Rick turned to face me. He leaned back and curled his hands around the edge of the kitchen counter. “I’m sorry that happened, Nadia. You didn’t deserve it. No woman deserves that.”
    “No, I suppose not. But I still don’t understand why Bob thought he could just pimp me out for a night.” I gazed at Rick imploringly. “Do I give off slut signals or something?”
    His eyebrows lifted, and he pushed away from the counter to move closer, into the living room. He sat down on the ottoman across from me and rested his elbows on his knees. “No, you don’t.”
    I looked down at the borrowed dress I wore. “Maybe not tonight, because Diana dressed me up, but I think the lawyers at work see me differently. They assume, because I just answer phones and wear cheap outfits, that