Page 39 of Reckless Temptation

But without knowing what I was doing, I lost critical time sleuthing the reason my car wouldn’t start.

I need to call someone.Resting my hands on the frame of the car, I hung my head and hated that I’d be delayed—and stranded—like this. I loathed that Tiffany could hate me this much to ruin my chances of success.

Just when I wished I could give up, the sound of some men walking by reached me. They were laughing and talking, all of them tall, big, and rough-looking.

It didn’t matter that I avoided making eye contact. They saw me, approaching instantly.

“What’s wrong, sweet thing?” one asked.

Another whistled, rubbing his jaw as he eyed me like he’d devour me and spit me out afterward.

“You need a hand?” someone else asked with too much of a sleazy tone.

“No thanks, gentlemen,” I replied, determined not to show them that they were intimidating me. I was a single young woman stranded and on her own. Nothing about this setup made me feel confident, but I hoped that replying directly, and politely, would deter them.

It didn’t.

“You all alone out here?” one asked.

Fuck.

“You look like you need some help,” the other said, rubbing his hands together as he counted on an inappropriate reward for offering me assistance.

“No thanks,” I said again, getting more and more nervous as they circled me. I was caged in, and with my phone battery dying any second now, I’d be screwed. My heart raced. My hands got clammy. I never wanted to judge anyone by appearance alone. I always tried to be open-minded. But these brutes were huge, and a man only looked at a woman like that when they wanted to prey on the weak.

Please, please don’t hurt me…

I swallowed hard as the roar of a motorcycle sounded down the alley that led to this corner of the parking lot. Distracted by the noise, I turned my head to see Nick rolling his bike to a stop in the alley.

Stupidly, my heart raced even faster. Dizzy with hope, I wanted so badly to relax and know that he would help me.

I had no idea why he was here. Other than his habit of stalking me, nothing would bring him here.

All that registered was that I wasn’t alone. Not anymore. Not with my bully, my enemy, here.

He didn’t lower his sunglasses, glaring at me so expressionlessly.

As one second passed into another and he didn’t move, I lost faith that he’d help me at all.

Of course, he wouldn’t.

He wanted me to be miserable, not safe. He’d stepped in to help that defenseless stranger near campus, but when it came tomysafety, he wasn’t interested.

Before I could call out to him, he revved the engine and sped off.

He saw me surrounded by these gangsters.

He witnessed me in trouble.

And he left.

I really was stranded, and I hated myself for wishing Nick could care about me at all.

14

NICK

What the fuck?

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