Page 1 of Trouble

1

Audrey

I’ve generally always seenmyself as on the right path, job-wise, but if there was ever a time I’d regretted my choice of career, it wastoday.

“Sonuvabitch!”

My screech echoed across Potters Fields Park, making a cluster of pigeons take flight. I windmilled desperately to avoid face-planting into the deep puddle on the pavement that I’d attempted—and failed—to jump across in my three-inchheels.

My feet skidded out, but I managed to right myself at the last second—and heard the distinctsnapof my right heel breaking underneath me, followed by a splash as I stepped heavily into the water, soaking my foot to theankle.

Yup, today I would have traded my years of university and corporate ladder-climbing for a nice, trainer-wearing shop floor job. Bet I could have made the jump if I hadn’t been forced to climb into these ridiculousstilts!

I limped out of the puddle, aware that my broken heel and defeated disposition made me resemble the hunchback of Notre Dame. The fifty-page report from my briefcase had gone flying across the path. A couple of pages wereinthe damn puddle, and the rest seemed busy soaking up the wet London grime covering thepavement.

I gave them a miserable look. Apparently I wouldn’t just be late for my morning meeting now—I’d also be presenting the clients with waterloggedpaperwork.

Smashing.

“You all right there,love?”

I jolted at the amused, masculine voice that sounded right behindme.

“Yes, I’m fuckingfantastic,”I hissed at whoever thought it was a great idea to do a drive-by mocking. Instead of giving the perpetrator any more of my attention, I tried to limp a step to the side to grab at my fleeing report and managed to stumble on my broken heel and re-soak my foot in the puddle onceagain.

“Jesusfuck!”

“Hang on, I’ve got you,” the same voice said, this time with a full laugh. A male figure bent from behind me, easily snatching up several pages. When he took a couple more steps down the path to gather the rest of my flighty report, I saw he was wearing jog pants, trainers and a tight vest that showed off wide shoulders and strongarms.

Clearly a health nut.Great.

“Here you go,” he said as he turned around, holding out the smudged pages to me. “Not sure they’re all salvageable,though.”

I opened my mouth to thank him, but as my fingertips grazed over his warm hand, I looked up into his face—and promptly lost all ability to control mytongue.

“Huh… ank… s.” I was vaguely aware that the noise I’d produced didn’t much resemble human speech, but most of my focus was pulled toward hiseyes.

They were a startling, silvery gray, but what captured my attention so completely wasn’t the color—it was the warm mirth dancing in them, pulling at me like a magnet. His gaze was so completely filled withlife,it made the rest of the world seem dull and mute bycomparison.

He had a chiseled jaw and the kind of facial features a runway model would kill for, crowned by a shock of red hair, but mainly I just couldn’t stop staring at those amazingeyes.

“Happy to help.” The slight sardonic note to his voice made it clear he was fully aware of my open-mouthed staring. It was enough to finally break the spell, and I flushed beet-red when I realized what I’d beendoing.

“S-sorry, I should get going,” I muttered, pulling away from him. The distance gave me a new view of his broad shoulders and—holy hell, he was definitely in good shape, the way those pecs and abs practically strained against his vest.Wow,men hadn’t looked likethatwhen I’d last dated, that’s forsure…

“See something you like,love?”

I took a step further back, mortified at the wry grin on his full lips. He’d clearly caught my gaze sweeping up and down hisbody.

I squeaked out a weird little sound that was supposed to be ‘thanks for the help’ but sounded more like a trapped mouse, and spun around toflee.

Only I’d forgotten about my broken heel, and the next second, I was flailing wildly in a desperate attempt at not face-planting on thepavement.

“Whoa, steady there.” Large hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me safely upright and turning me backaround.

The redhead sank down in a crouch in front of me and pulled out what looked distinctly like a zip-tie from his pocket. “Give me your foot,darling.”

Too mortified to do anything but obey, I did what he asked while attempting to keep my balance on oneleg.

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