Page 10 of One Weekend in London

I bite the inside of my cheek before giving myself a much-needed mental shake as my sanity further erodes. I need to get out of here before I lose it completely.

“It’s… Well, I think it’s time I l-leave.” For the second time in as many minutes, my voice is shakier and much less convincing than I’d like it to be. Get it together. Squaring my shoulders, I clear my throat. “It was nice meeting you.” An awkward laugh escapes me. “Actually, that’s a lie. This whole thing has been a nightmare.”

His eyes narrow, and I mentally pivot.

“Not the meeting you part, I mean,” I quickly add, trying to erase any rudeness I may have accidentally tossed his way. “That hasn’t been a nightmare. At all. Clearly, I don’t know you or anything, but as far as I can tell, you’re pretty perfect and…”

Oh. My. God! What did I just say?

I seriously need to hush.

Swallowing once more, I fight to push down the embarrassment that’s trying its best to suffocate me. If Weston or Eli were here, they’d be rolling on the floor laughing.

Quite literally.

“Honestly?” With a shaky hand, I rake my fingers through my hair, pushing it back from my face. “I’m just ready to put tonight in the rearview.”

His gaze doesn’t waver.

It pierces me with an intensity I fear can see straight through me, reaching parts where my deepest insecurities lie. I shift my weight between my feet, fidgeting in place. But I freeze once more when he speaks, the lone word startling me.

“Stay.”

It’s not a request. It’s a softly spoken demand that excites me way more than it should as he nods behind me to the bar.

“Have a drink with me.”

My mind races, fully torn between the desire to flee and the urge to stay. To explore the strange, magnetic pull toward this man who stepped in to defend me, even when no one else did.

I open my mouth to respond, but don’t get the chance. Not before he speaks again, clearly determined to sweep me right off my feet.

At least, that’s what I tell myself.

“You’re safe with me, Sadie Winslow.”

I can’t stop the wobble of my chin any more than I can stop the beat of my swelling heart. For a moment, just a single one, I allow myself to revel in my knight in shining armor’s promised safety, in the presence of this stranger who, in such a short time, has stirred emotions my ex-fiancé never once evoked.

But all too quickly, reality comes crashing back.

Outside of my cousins and Papaw, experience has taught me men are all the same. Treacherous. It’s only been three months since betrayal left my heart in tatters, and Maxwell stomped out every shred of trust I had with those fancy, designer cowboy boots he always loved so much.

Just as his father did to his mother.

And his grandfather to Cornelia.

I’m being reckless and not nearly cautious enough. Busy trying to pull myself together and fix what’s been broken, I shouldn’t even be entertaining the thought of spending time with another man. Let alone one like Rhys, who exudes danger as much as he does allure.

Panic immediately sets in.

Like a rolling, ice-covered wave, it works to extinguish the warmth his words had kindled. I can’t do this. Not now, and definitely not with him. Anxiety peaking, I hold my breath and shuffle sideways, squeezing past him, my body brushing against his in a way that sets my nerves alight.

“This...” My voice is a whisper, barely audible. “I can’t.”

His expression morphs slightly, shifting with a flicker of something, confusion maybe, crossing his stern features. Questions dance in his eyes, searching for answers I won’t give.

“I’m sorry.” Mustering every ounce of resolve I have, I inhale quickly and take a retreating step. “I wish I could stay, but…” I shake my head, the words I want to say becoming lodged in my throat. “Nevermind, I just need to go.”

Without waiting for his response, I make a break for it, racing out of the lounge and through the hotel’s lobby before exiting through the main entrance, my heart pounding in my ears and my skin tingling from our brief contact.

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