Page 61 of Only for the Moment
Brit’s eyes narrowed, his hands balling into fists. “Mind your own business, you pr—”
“No,” Jess said, amazed her voice could sound so steady when her insides were shaking apart. “No, everything isn’t all right. Please…”
The man didn’t hesitate to push his way into Brit’s space. Part of her fell a little bit in love on the spot.
“I think you should go,” he said. Without taking his eyes off Brit, he extended his hand to her. Jess forced herself forward, gaze stuck on that hand as if it held all the hope in the world—and at that moment, maybe it did. She laid her hand in his. Felt his calloused fingers wrap hersup tight. And fell the rest of the way in love.
From one corner of her eye she saw Brit reach for her. Skittering away, she tightened her hold on her savior’s hand.
She needn’t have bothered. The man was faster than Brit, catching her ex’s hand before it ever came close. Brit’s skin went white around the man’s grip. The air between them sizzled with tension. Jess held her breath.
“Let go,”Brit warned, “or you will regret it.”
“I don’t think so. Leave. Now.”
Like a mask falling over his face, the convivial Brit Holbrooke returned. He chuckled, stepped back, calm and cool. Only his eyes revealed the truth. “Of course.” Those eyes centered on Jess. “Perhaps we’ll run into each other again, Jess, catch up on things.”
Her heart leaped to bullet-train speed. “No.”
Her savior didn’tlook down, didn’t take his eyes off Brit, but she felt the rough trace of his thumb across the back of her hand. The touch gave her courage. It soothed her rattled edges.
Brit lifted a brow, telling her exactly what he thought of her response, met her savior’s eyes for one long moment, then turned away. It wasn’t until he’d climbed into a black SUV, backed out, and exited the parking lot thatwhat she’d done hit Jess. She bent forward, her free hand going to her stomach to still the nausea churning inside.
“Just breathe,” the man said. He switched hands, one regripping hers, the other sliding along her spine, up and down, hypnotizing her with his touch. When she felt like she wouldn’t rattle apart, she straightened, meeting the man’s dark gray gaze head-on.
“Thank you.”
The wordsweren’t anywhere near adequate, but they were all she had. Her savior didn’t seem to mind. He smiled, and a teasing glint lit his eyes. “Anytime. So…what’s your name?”
“Jess.” A laugh, tinged slightly with hysteria, escaped. “Jess Kingston, damsel in distress.”
“Conlan James.” He shook the hand he still held. “Knight in shining armor.”
“A trait I very much appreciate right now.”
Her heartdid a tap dance against her ribs, but for totally different reasons than it had five minutes ago. The reality of the moment hit hard. Here he was, her fantasy man, standing right next to her. Staring into her eyes. Touching her. A black bandanna covered his hair, baring his rugged face to her gaze. He wasn’t playboy beautiful like Brit, but the sexual appeal that dripped off him didn’t need refining.He was bigger than she’d expected, broader; the top of her head barely reached his stubble-darkened chin. His size, like his touch, soothed her, made her feel safe, protected. And wasn’t that a stupid,weakthing to think. Stupid Jess.
She should step back, let go of the heavy fingers wrapped around hers, but God, she didn’t want to. She could touch him forever.
The need was so intense that,for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. And then it passed and she realized she’d been holding her breath. He was still staring at her. “Sorry.”
Conlan’s hand slid away from hers, almost as if he was as reluctant to let her go as she was him. He cleared his throat. “Is this a regular problem?”
“Brit?” Was twice a problem? Did she really want this man to know how big a problem this was? “Oh, um,no. Not recently, no.” Her cheeks flashed hot. “No.”
Yeah, I think he’s got the “no” part.
He wasn’t looking at her like she’d sprouted wings, though, so hopefully she hadn’t made too much a fool of herself. “I should…probably go.” She gestured over her shoulder toward her car. “Don’t want to be late for work.”
She turned, but as she moved between her car and the next, that moment when Brithad spoken behind her flashed in her mind. Her steps faltered.
“You know…”
She turned back to Conlan.
He was digging in his back pocket. He pulled out a black leather wallet and flipped it open. From inside he retrieved a business card. He held it between his fingers, hesitating, then squared his shoulders. “Listen, I don’t know what your circumstances are, what’s going on, but I know whento listen to my instincts. Here.”
She took the card.JCL Security.The name and a local phone number were all that was listed. She glanced up at him.
