Page 114 of Piece You Saved

He cocks his head. “Jane…”

I back up some more. Lucky for me, I don’t trip over a root or a stone and go down. Unlucky for me, my back hits a tree, which stops me. “It’s just a bruise. That’s all.”

His smile fades as he slowly approaches. “I won’t hurt you.”

I stare at him. “That isn’t what I’m afraid of.”

I don’t mean to whisper the words, but they slip out anyway, too late for me to snatch them back and swallow them down. He doesn’t comment on my slip up as he continues toward me.

When he’s inches away, he presses the gun into my palm, and I just keep on watching him. This time, his touch doesn’t linger. He tucks the gun into my right hand and releases me as soon as he’s done it.

“May I, Jane?” His hands grip the bottom of my shirt.

I stare at him a little longer. “You’re checking my bruise?” I confirm. “That’s all?”

His expression is unreadable. “Is that all you wanted me to do?”

“Yes.”

No.

Another searching look. Another almost smile, and he lifts my shirt as he lowers his gaze to my belly.

After bunching the white cotton in one hand to hold the shirt up no higher than he needs to see my bruise, he probes my bruised belly carefully. Some places are sore enough to make me wince, but in others, all I feel is his hot touch.

“Seems to be healing okay.”

“Yeah?” I whisper.

He’s wearing that same cologne he wore at the hospital. The slightly woodsy scent is stronger now, and there’s a new note in it. Citrusy, like a sweet orange.

His gaze returns to mine as he releases my shirt, letting it sink to my waist. I’d swear he was breathing faster than he was a moment ago. Or maybe it’s in my head? Why don’t I want it to be in my head?

It’s just in your head. Stop thinking about it.

“Yeah,” he echoes.

He’s thinking of kissing me. I don’t know how I can be as sure of something as I am about this. I just am.

“Jane,” he whispers as his fingers brush my right hip.

His eyes dip to my lips, and I lick them. His gaze darkens as his head lowers.

What’s more terrifying isn’t that he wants to kiss me. It’s that I want him to.

I shouldn’t.

He isn’t mine to kiss, and I’m not his either.

I slip around him.

With my heart still beating loudly in my head, I work to control my breathing. “I need to practice.”

Going inside so I can stay as far away as I can from Harley would be the best thing to do. One look into my face, and Aden and Kade would know exactly what nearly happened here. Something I can’t let happen.Ever.

I click off the safety and do everything I can to ignore the man behind me who wants to kiss me as I lift my gun to the tree in the distance.

I fire.

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