Page 9 of Forbidden Harmony

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Addison’s scream was muffled against her attacker’schest. She tried to squirm away, pounding frantically on her captor’s hard chest.

“It’s okay,” he said.

She froze. The voice was familiar. Sheraised her head and stared up at the man holding her.

“Hello, Sunshine,” Preacher said in a lowvoice.

Relief flooded through her. It made herknees weak and she sagged against him as he stroked her hair back from herface, his touch surprisingly gentle.

“Please help me,” she whispered.

He smiled reassuringly at her and turnedher in his arms until her spine was against his chest. He kept his arm aroundher waist, his big hand gripping her hip possessively. She clung to his forearm,staring up at his face as he said, “Good evening, assholes.”

“Get lost,” the leader said. “This don’tconcern you.”

Preacher laughed. “You’re bugging my womanand it doesn’t concern me?”

“We didn’t know she was yours.” One of theother men tugged on the leader’s arm. “C’mon, Gary. It’s time to leave.”

“Yeah, Gary,” Preacher said. “It’s time toleave.”

Gary pulled his arm free. “No way she’swith you. Not a woman like her.”

Addison didn’t object when Preacher nuzzledhis face into her hair. She leaned against him and tried to look like shebelonged to him as he said, “The woman’s mine. Leave. I won’t ask you again.”

“There’s four of us and only one of you,”Gary said.

“Fucking Christ, Gary. Do you have agoddamn death wish? Look at that guy,” his friend said. “Let’s go.”

“You fucking pussy,” Gary said. “He can’ttake all of us.”

“Yeah, he fucking can,” the third man said.“You’re just too drunk to fucking realize it.”

Gary glared at his friends. They werealready starting to back away and he stared at them with another look ofdisgust before muttering, “pussies” under his breath again. He turned and followedthem to a large black truck.

As the four of them climbed in and startedthe engine, Addison continued to cling to Preacher’s forearm. His hand wassmoothing up and down her hip and when Gary and the others roared out of theparking lot in a cloud of exhaust and dust, she jerked wildly.

“It’s fine, Sunshine. Let’s get you backinside,” Preacher said.

He released her and took a step back. He grabbedher hand when she swayed a little and she held it in a death grip. “My shoes.I – I need my shoes.”

He led her to where her shoes were, and shewatched numbly as he bent and helped her slip into her heels. He grinned up ather. “There you go, Cinderella.”

She tried to laugh but all that came out ofher was a weird coughing, hiccupping noise. Stupidly, tears were threatening,and she blinked them back grimly as Preacher stood and reached for her handagain. It was lost in his big one and she stared at their linked hands as hewalked her slowly back to the pub.

When he reached for the door, she shook herhead and dropped his hand. She backed up until she felt the cold brick wallagainst her back as the tattoo artist stared silently at her.

“I – I just need a minute,” she gasped.

Her head was spinning, and she felt sick toher stomach. If Preacher hadn’t been outside, if he hadn’t come to her rescue…

Her stomach roiled and she bent over,clutching at her stomach and willing herself not to vomit. If she threw up onPreacher’s boots, she’d die of shame. His warm hand gripped the back of herneck as he bent down and said, “Take deep breaths, Sunshine.”

She was feeling faint and there was atightness to her chest that made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.

“Deep breaths,” Preacher said again. Thecommand in his voice oddly enough got her lungs working again and she gulped inair as his hand kneaded her neck.

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