Page 33 of Done Waiting

Whatever Ben says makes her even angrier. “You know what? Do whatever you need to do. I’ll be fine on my own. It was the night of my dad’s funeral.”

Ouch. That was a good one, Maddie.

She lowers the phone, stabbing her finger into the screen, cursing. Turning on her heel, she stomps to her car.

I sit up straight as I see the baseball cap guy watching her through the window. His eyes are trained on her as he gets up, throws his trash away, and then hurries out the door of the coffee shop.

Oh, fuck no.

I’m out of my truck and running across the road to the parking lot without even locking my vehicle. As I round the corner, Maddie’s voice trembles from fear and anger. “What the hell are you doing? Leave me alone.”

“I heard you fighting with that guy. He obviously isn’t treating you right. Why don’t you give me—”

He doesn’t get a chance to say anything else as I spin him around, causing him to release his grip on Maddie’s arm. Then I punch the bastard in the face, holding onto his shirt so he doesn’t fall. Punching him in the stomach, his body goes slack, but can’t go anywhere because of my grip. Bringing my knee up,I ram it in his chest, releasing my hold on him. He crumbles to the pavement like a sack of potatoes.

Breathing heavily, I look up at her. She’s rubbing her wrist where he gripped her. She looks from him to me, her face pale.

In two steps I’m in front of her, my hands on her face, turning her head slightly as my stare bores into hers. “Did he hurt you?”

She winces, then moves her hand away from her wrist. I shake, seeing red, and start to turn around, planning to kill that motherfucker for hurting her.

“No,” she grips my forearms, her pleading voice drawing my attention back to her. “I’m fine. Really.” She forces a smile on her lips.

My eyes narrow, fire flowing through my veins, ready to spark into an inferno. “You don’t look fucking fine,” I growl.

She heaves out a breath, her gaze dropping to my chest. “Um…” She blinks a few times, heaving out a breath. “I just need a minute. That was just so unexpected.”

There’s a buzzing noise inside my ears as I stare at her, waiting until she makes eye contact. I lower my voice, trying to remove the venom from it. I’m only scaring her more, and that’s not what she needs.

“I’m sorry that jackass grabbed you like that. Some men are assholes, Maddie.”

“Some men, huh?” Her lips tilt in a slightly flirtatious smile, hitting me square in the groin region.

Jesus, she’s enticing.I wink. “Maybe all men are assholes. Just to varying degrees.”

She laughs, then grows serious, her eyes darting back and forth between mine. “How did you know my name?”

“I knowa lotabout you, baby girl.” I smile at her, knowing there’s no way my words aren’t creepy. “More than you realize.”

She swallows hard, her lips parting slightly.

Goddamn. I want to kiss her so fucking badly.

But I can’t. She’s been traumatized enough tonight. “Let me walk you to your car, baby girl. Then you can lock your doors and I can follow you home.”

She looks uneasy until I nod my head toward the jackass lying on the pavement. When she nods, I release my hands from her face.

Grabbing her small hand, I clasp it within my larger one, feeling how cold it is. “You’re cold.”

She shrugs. “It’s a little chilly out here.”

Releasing her hand, I shrug out of my jacket. “Here. Put this on.”

She looks surprised as I hand it to her, looking at it, then up at me. I shake it gently at her, a smile on my face. “This will warm you up.” I coax her gently.

The smile she gives me nearly makes me drop to my knees. “Thank you.”

Waiting until she slides her backpack from her shoulders, I hold my jacket, helping her put it on. As she zips it, I pull her silky locks from beneath the coat so they fall in a golden halo around her.

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