Page 37 of Coming Home

“I’m sorry I wasted my time thinking you were something you’re not… a nice guy. Lose my number and never speak to me again. If you don’t, Noah will be the least of your worries.”

Duncan opened and then closed his mouth. Shaking his head, he turned and walked by them. Noah’s gaze followed each step until he disappeared down the street.

He turned, his forehead creased with worry. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

His gaze zeroed in on her bicep, where Duncan’s handprint was already fading. “Are you sure?”

Was she? Had this all just happened? One minute, she was enjoying pastries in a bakery and the next moment, Duncan grabbed her. Then Noah charged in just like that knight that Duncan sneered he was. The reverberations of what just happened quelled the anger boiling in her.

She swallowed that anger down. “I’m fine. Are you?”

He sloshed a long breath, and the tension in his shoulders seemed to dissolve. “Yes.”

“Okay. I’m leaving. Bye.” She pivoted and strode down the street toward the alley that led to the small parking lot behind the Wine Down, where she’d parked her Jeep.

With each step, the swallowed anger built like a volcano ready to explode.What the actual fuck!?She balled her fists, stomping into the parking lot.

“Nat!” he called, running after her. “Where are you going?”

“Home.” Her tone was curt.

“Wait.” He caught up, stepping between her and the Jeep. With a gentleness so starkly different from what she’d just witnessed, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “You’re not okay. Let’s talk, please.”

“I didn’t need you to rescue me!”

“He touched you. He?—”

She threw up her arms, pushing away his hands. “You don’t think I’ve dealt with grabby assholes before? You weren’t there when some frat guy grabbed my ass in college. I handled that all by myself.” She motioned to herself. “I was the one who slapped him and dumped a beer over his head. You weren’t there when I dealt with jerks in my residency program who thought they could intimidate me but soon found themselves eating my badass dust as I surpassed them in our program. I can take care of myself.”

Eyes raised to the sky; he sucked in a steadying breath before looking back at her. “I know, but hetouchedyou.”

“Damn it, Noah!” she exclaimed, kicking a crushed soda can on the ground. “I’m tired of being the little sister everyone feels they need to protect.”

“I don’t see you asmylittle sister.”

“Bullshit,” she huffed and pulled her keys out of her pocket.

“I don’t.”

“Sure.” Her tone mocked.

“I don’t see you like that.”

“Prove it,” she said, her steel-gray gaze slammed into his.

“Okay.” It was uttered like a dare. Charged determination shaded his eyes.

Graceful as a jungle cat, powerful and primal, he moved closer. She stepped back. He followed. With each tandem step, electricity buzzed between them.

Disbelief flooded her veins, quickening her pulse.Is this happening?

Her back hit the building’s cement wall. “What are you doing?” she asked, a slight breathy tremble in her voice.

“Proving it.” His hand raised to her hairline, tracing down to her cheek. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.” It was barely audible over the drumbeat of her heart.

---