Page 5 of Her Outlaw Prisoner
“Yes,” she says quickly, stepping back.
He motions for me to stand, and I do, towering over her as I push to my feet. I don’t miss the way her breath hitches as I pass by.
I stop just before I reach the door. Turn my head slightly.
“See you soon, Eleanor.”
She doesn’t respond, but I can feel her eyes on me as I walk out.
And for the first time in five years, I have something new to think about. Something exhilarating.
Chapter Two
Ellie
I knew working at a prison wouldn’t be easy. I mean, it’s home to all sorts of criminals, the most hardened men in the country. I was ready for surprises. But nothing could have prepared me for Ronan Callahan.
Even now, long after he walked out of the infirmary, I can still feel him…the weight of his gaze, the way his rough voice sent chills across my skin, the raw intensity in his eyes.
I should be scared.
Instead, my hands are shaking for an entirely different reason as I clean up the tray of supplies, my fingers brushing against the used gauze that holds traces of his blood. I take a slow breath, willing my heart to settle. It doesn’t.
His eyes were the first thing I noticed. Icy blue, but not cold. More like fire trapped beneath ice…burning just beneath the surface. He barely spoke, but when he did, his words carried authority, like he’s used to people listening.
And I did listen.
I listened to him, and I hung on every word like a fool.
See you soon, Eleanor.
Heat floods my cheeks at the memory. Nobody has called me Eleanor since my dad passed away when I was little. Hearing Ronan call me that name triggered distant memories of when life used to be so much simpler. And happier…
But more than that, hearing him say my name makes me feel a sense of awareness that I’ve never felt before in my life. There’s something about the way he saysEleanor…like it holds some secret meaning that only he knows.
Heat pools between my legs as the sound of his voice echoes in my head. I swallow hard, pushing the memory away.
I should not be thinking about him like this.
He’s an inmate. A convicted criminal. A man who probably has nothing to lose.
And yet…
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to shake the strange, unwelcome pull inside me. It’s just adrenaline. Just nerves from my first real encounter with an inmate. It doesn’t mean anything.Right?
“You must be the new nurse?”
I jump, nearly knocking over the tray of supplies. I look up to see an older woman in a uniform similar to mine, standing in front of me with a small smile. She looks to be in her mid thirties, maybe late…
“Yes. Yes, I am,” I say, clearing my throat awkwardly. “My name is Ellie.”
She nods, her smile widening just a fraction. “Nice to meet you, Ellie. I’m Gina.” She scans my face, her expression unreadable. “You okay?”
I nod quickly, forcing a smile. “Yeah. Just…just cleaning up.”
She eyes me like she doesn’t quite believe me, but she doesn’t push. “First day can be overwhelming. You’ll get used to it.”
I doubt that.
