Page 3 of It Just Feels Right

CHAPTER 2

BAKER

She isthe most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

As soon as I walked into the building, I saw her, and I couldn’t look away. I know she’s the one I’m looking for, it’s a given with the ice she’s holding to her head, but it wouldn’t matter anyway because I’m not letting her out of my sight.

As I get closer, I see Chloe and Elias, one of Walker’s mercenaries, standing next to my girl. And yes, I haven’t even talked to her, I don’t know her name, heck, I don’t know anything about her, but I know she’s mine. Or she will be, anyway.

I stop next to Elias and position myself right in front of the injured woman. She’s looking up at me with her mouth hanging open. She’s affected by me, that much is obvious.

I lean down because I need to be closer to her. Bent over, I search her face. Without saying a word, I reach for the bag of ice in her hand and lift it from her head. She blinks up at me, speechless. I wince when I see the knot that’s already formed on her forehead. “Oh baby,” I grunt.

Her eyes widen, and I realize I called herbabyout loud. She looks down, and that’s not going to do. I like having her eyes on me. I put my hand at her chin and raise it gently until her eyes meet mine again. “Talk to me. Are you okay?”

I try to make sure I’m holding her gently even though anger is pumping through my veins. “Can you tell me if you’re okay?’

She nods, but I shake my head. “Words. I need to hear you say it.”

Chloe leans in. “Cassie, what’s up, girl? Tell him you’re okay. Oh God, is she in shock or something?”

Cassie… her name is Cassie. Something clicks, and I deflate for just a second. Surely not… this can’t be THE Cassie.

She shakes her head and looks at her friend. “No, I’m not in shock. I’m fine.”

Her hair falls across her face, and I clench my hands at my sides to stop from reaching for her and brushing it away. I want to be able to look at her face.

She smiles softly and finally looks at me again. “I’m okay. It was my fault.”

Elias grunts next to me, and it’s obvious he disagrees with her. I would be jealous, but everyone in town knows that Elias likes Chloe. “It wasn’t her fault.”

I don’t have to look at the other man. I already knew it wasn’t Cassie’s fault. Anyone could look at her and know it would never be her fault. She’s too sweet and too innocent looking. “Do you want to press charges?”

Her gasp tells me her answer before she mutters a word. She starts to ramble. “No. Definitely not. It was my—”

I growl at her, and it surprises us both. But I’m even more surprised when she reaches for me, touching my hand as if she wants to reassure me. “No, really. I mean, those men were not nice, and they were starting to fight. I hate fighting, and I thought I could stop them, but I know, I know. I should have minded my own business. But they were fighting over Chloe, and she was uncomfortable—”

This time it's not me that interrupts her, it’s Elias that puts his hands on Chloe’s shoulders and pulls her to him. “You should have come and got me.”

They start talking, but I tune them out and do what I’ve been wanting to do since I got here. I put both hands on Cassie’s shoulders. “What can I do for you?”

She doesn’t tense up. If anything, she leans into me. “I’m okay.”

I pull up a stool and sit down, putting her legs between mine. “Do you think you can get up?”

She nods her head, and then as if she remembered my request from earlier, she says, “Yeah, I really am fine.”

“Your pupils look okay. Any pain or nausea? Did you lose consciousness?”

She smiles and shakes her head. “I promise I’m okay. I’m more embarrassed than anything.”

I’m about to shake her off and tell her that she shouldn’t be embarrassed, but she giggles. “And what? Besides being a cop are you a doctor too?”

I scoot closer. I love that she feels she can joke with me. “No, I’m not a doctor, but I would love to getyou checked out by one. Just to make sure you’re okay.”

She firmly shakes her head side to side. “No, I don’t need a doctor. It’s a bruise and no big deal.”

I’m about to insist when she starts to shake her head. “Look, I’d really just like to go home.”

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