I couldn’t chance getting close to anyone. I wasn’t safe. I ground my molars, the all too familiar anger rising up. It was my dad’s fault I couldn’t get close to a woman. Damn violent prick ruined not only my mom but me, too.
But at least Mom was safe from that monster now.
“Hunter? Is everything okay?”
“Um yeah.” I cleared my throat, focusing my thoughts on the girl in my arms. She needed me to keep my shit together. Even though she didn’t know me, she was depending on me to protect her. I could do that. Hell, it was my mission in life to keep people safe. I had a lot to make up for. “Are you her shrink?”
“You seem distracted.”
“Nice deflection, Doc.” So she was a shrink.Great. What did I walk in on? “Am I holding a crazy chick? Or—”
“No. If you could just…help her, we’d be greatly indebted to you.”
Shrinks cracked me up, but I did have to give props to this one. To be on video chat at two in the morning, and she’d not yet admitted to being Angelina’s shrink—this lady was good. “Your name is Jenna?”
“Yes.”
“It’s fine. I’ll take care of her. What do you need me to do? We’re at floor 18.”
“Her key fob is in her—wait, she’d been holding it. No, she hadn’t. Those pants have a zip pocket on the lower back. It should be in there. Can you try and find it?”
“Okay, but if she wakes up and freaks out thinking I’m trying to cop a feel, you gotta back me up on this.”
“Let’s pray to God she doesn’t wake up, for her sake.”
“Sounds bad, Doc.”
“You’re a big guy, you can handle her. Hurry, in case she is nearing consciousness.”
“She’s not. Trust me, she’s totally out.”
“Lots of experience with unconscious girls? Maybe we should call an ambulance.” She laughed.
“Funny. I’m a bouncer.”
“Say no more.”
“Okay, here goes.” I eased her feet to the floor while I held her up in a one-armed hug.
I couldn’t help but notice how nicely her body formed to mine, soft and warm.Stay focused. A wave of her fresh scent wrapped around me again. Dang, I could get used to that smell. Her head shifted, and her forehead rested against my neck, nice and smooth. I slid my hand down her lower back until I felt a little bulge as her tight ass started to curve.
No. She did not have a nice ass!No. No. No.
“Find it?” Jenna’s voice distracted me from my totally inappropriate train of thought.
“Yeah.” I fumbled with the zipper, but finally got it open and plucked out the key fob as the elevator came to a gliding halt.
Her lifeless body shifted as I eased her back into my arms. Her head hung back, exposing her long, swanlike neck. Hair the color of champagne spilled over my arms.
The doors rolled open, and I carried my charge past my door. It was strange thinking this girl had lived next to me this past week, and I’d not heard a peep from her or seen her. Judging by her unconscious state right now, I could see why.
I swiped the key fob in front of the door handle, and I heard more than one lock sliding, which was weird as there was only one key fob pad above the handle.
“Okay. I’m in,” I said to Jenna as I pushed open the door.
A wave of fresh scent washed over me. I couldn’t place it, maybe because the grease clinging to my clothing was tainting it, but it might have been cucumber body spray. Or melon. Yes, something like melon. I was around chicks enough at the bar and at school to catch the scent.
I let the door swing shut, and I took in the space.