Page 5 of Hayes
“You are.”
“I just don’t want to fuck a playboy.”
My grin softens as I pause a moment, taking a step back.
“Giving up so easily?” she smirks.
“I’d never give up on you.” My voice drops in pitch, and my lips straighten out.
“Then you’re a fool.”
“Come with me.” I hold out my hand to her.
“Why would I ever come with you?”
Suddenly, voices begin echoing through the hallway, and I know I’m about out of time. I’m going to have to up my appeal to get her to leave with me.
Usually, I just bat my eyes and grin, and women are putty in my hands. If that doesn’t work, I cook for them. Women can’t resist a man who can cook. And if that doesn’t work, I tell them about my Prince Albert piercing on my cock that none of them have been able to resist taking a ride on.
I don’t have time for any of that. And I’m not sure any of my usual tricks would work with Ruby.
Her pupils dilate as she glances behind me, and I finally get a small clue about her. I see a way to get her to leave with me.
“You’re hiding from someone, and I have a car parked at the entrance that I can help you escape in.”
The voices grow closer.
She grits her teeth together, like it pains her to make this decision.
“Fine,” she says.
I grab her hand and push her out the front door. Her fingers intertwine with mine in the most natural way, like the missing piece of my puzzle. She fits me perfectly.
Fuck, I can’t fall for her. Ruby is the last person I should start a relationship with. She’s just my mark, nothing more.
We make it twenty feet down the path when the doors behind us open, and voices carry outside. My car is more than a hundred feet in front of us. Her hand grows clammy in mine, and she begins to shake.
“We’re not going to make it to your car,” she says.
My brows pinch together, and we walk faster. I was wrong. Clearly, whoever she’s hiding from is a bigger threat than I first realized.
“We’re almost there,” I say, trying to reassure her.
Her eyes are wild as she searches in the darkness for safety. She doesn’t realize that by holding my hand, she’s as safe as she could possibly be. I feel an instant need to protect this woman—even from myself.
If the person she’s running from were to fire a bullet at her, I’d take it for her. I don’t know why. I don’t know what my fascination is with her, but I’m hers. I can barely even remember my mission. I no longer care to fuck her to piss off her soon-to-be husband or father. Or to get information from her. All I want is her for myself.
“We aren’t going to make it,” she whispers, her voice trembling.
My eyes narrow at her as I start to break out into a run. I didn’t take her as a woman that would give up so easily or be so terrified of anyone. She has a shield around her that I mistook for resilience. I thought she’s been hardened to the realities of the world, but this woman is desperately afraid of something or someone.
Suddenly, she halts to a stop, yanking my arm back.
My eyes widen, and my jaw falls open to tell her we can make it.
Looking at her now, there’s the determination back in all of her features that I saw before.
“Please.” Her teeth rake over her bottom lip.
