Page 3 of Ruthless Salvation

“That’s what I wanted to ask you. That guy put his hands on you?” he asked in a low, even tone.

Had he asked me this sort of thing a week ago—or even earlier tonight—I would have assumed he was just protecting his employee. But now, after that look he’d given me, questions surfaced. Was he being more protective of me than the other girls? Had this sort of thing been happening without me realizing? And why the heck did the prospect stir up a swarm of butterflies in my tummy rather than unease?

Sure, he was beyond beautiful. He had a way of lighting my insides on fire with a few simple words … and zero intent. No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn’t come up with a time he’d ever shown the slightest interest in me. Not even the hint of a flirtation since the day I started. If anything, I would have said I irritated the tar out of him.

Early on, I convinced myself it was best this way because the last thing I needed was to get involved with a man like him. Or any man, for that matter. Besides, he was myboss. That was the biggest no-no in the book. I loved working at Moxy and didn’t want to jeopardize that by making things awkward.

So why did the world seem to tilt on its axis when he was near?

Because he looks out for you, even if only out of a sense of duty, and there was a time when you were desperate for that sort of security.

True, but if he hadn’t been motivated in a professional capacity, did that change things? Shouldn’t that douse the flames he ignited in me? I wasn’t sure how I should feel, so I did what I’d been doing for the last six months since starting at Moxy and pretended to be unaffected.

“You don’t have to make a scene,” I told him. “No reason to scare people off just for an entitled punk.”

“I’m well aware I don’thaveto do anything, and I’m pretty sure that’s not what I asked.” He took a slow, measured step forward, the intensity in the room flaring. “Did he put his hands on you?” Each word was controlled and concise yet brimming with chaos.

What the heck was going on?

I’d never seen Torin act so riled up. He was perpetually indifferent, at least on the surface. Even when he manhandled unruly customers, nothing ever seemed to test his tightly held control. He was so self-possessed and impassive that I’d even questioned whether my theory about an emotional undertow had been accurate. So what had changed? Or had this side of him always lurked in the shadows?

“Just once,” I answered quietly. “But Blaze is keeping an eye on him.”

“You talked to Blaze about it?”

“Yeah, I gave him a heads-up, just in case.”

I’d swear lightning flashed in his stormy eyes. Maybe I imagined it, but I definitely saw the flexing strain of his jaw muscles as he clenched his teeth. “Next time, you come directly to me.”

“I didn’t think there was any need to bother you and Keir.”

“How about you let me be the judge of that, yeah?”

I nodded, too dumbstruck for words.

“Words, Stormy. I need to hear them.”

“Yes. Next time, I’ll tell you.”

He grunted. “Now, you need something in here?”

“Oh … um, yeah.” I shook free of my daze and spun toward the shelves. “I was grabbing more napkins. There they are.” I spotted the blue and white box on the top shelf and quickly turned over a bucket at my feet to use as a step.

“I can get it—” He reached up for the box at the exact moment I stepped on the bucket.

“No, I can—”

We collided, knocking me off balance with a squeal. Torin’s arms clamped around my middle, pulling me back into him before I crashed to the ground.

“Fuck’s sake, woman,” he grumbled, setting my feet back on the floor.

Then we stood there, his arms still firmly around me, my back to his chest, neither of us so much as breathing. Time itself stood still, save for the pulsing music filtering through the walls.

I’d known my body was a traitor, responding to men I had no business wanting, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when I instinctively relaxed into his rock-hard body like honey on a hot biscuit.

I’d never been so close to him before.

If the feel of his strength around me hadn’t been intoxicating on its own, his smoky sandalwood scent was more than enough to muddle my thoughts.

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