Page 2 of Solid as Steele
“You’re hurting me,” she eked out as his arm pressed the breath from her body.
His eyes flew open, and he lurched back, releasing his hold. “Sorry. Oh, man. Sorry.”
She scrambled away from him and rubbed her throat. “You should be. You’re on my porch, and I just wanted to be sure you’re okay.”
“Yeah, right. I know.” He looked around, dark eyes piercing yet confused. “Where? Who?”
She should be afraid of him after that move, but his confusion turned to panic, and she felt sorry for him.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“I’m…” His words fell off. “I don’t…I mean, I can’t remember.” His gaze swept the area, panic lodged in every shift of his eyes. “What in the world is going on here? Who are you? Where are we?”
Was he for real or faking? She would go along with him for now and watch for anything that said she couldn’t trust him. “I’m Mackenzie Steele, and this is my vacation rental in John Day, Oregon.”
“Vacation? Oh, man, I ruined your vacation by landing here and tossing you around, didn’t I? Sorry. I would never hurt a woman. Guess I overreacted. All I know is I woke up with a hand on my shoulder. I felt threatened for some reason.”
He ran a hand through his hair and winced. “Hair’s sticky.”
“Blood. You’re injured.”
“I…”—he blinked long lashes and looked down—“I can’t remember hardly anything. Just flashes really. Waking up at the base of a small butte surrounded by miles of nothing. I didn’t have a phone or anything in my pockets. No watch. Nothing. So I started hiking. Took me most of the night, but I saw your lights. Got this far and must’ve collapsed.” He frowned. “Sorry I scared you.”
“It’s okay,” she said, but it really wasn’t. She’d never been manhandled like that, and it would take some time to get over it and trust him.
What was she saying? She would ask him to move on and there would be no need to trust him.
But wait. Was that fair? He needed medical attention, and she couldn’t send him packing. At least not without some food. Water. A look at his injuries.
“Let me get you some water.” She jumped to her feet and took a wide berth around him to enter the small two bedroom cabin. The rustic interior and rugged stone fireplace that she’d found incredibly charming last night held no appeal right now.
The view now only reminded her of her vulnerability, and she had to be careful if she wanted to stay alive. Very careful.
She was running from him, this Mackenzie Steele. Of course she was. A gorgeous woman with glossy blond hair, big eyes, and a toned body. She had to be careful around strangers. Especially strange men. Dangerous men.
Men like him.
His gut cramped. He wasn’t the guy she must be thinking he was. Or was he?No.That he knew for certain. Sure, he didn’t know his name or any details of his life. Not even the reason for his injury, but hedidknow he would never hurt a woman on purpose. Never. Knew that deep in his core.
And yet, he had. Grabbed her like a sack of potatoes and flung her to the floor. Slamming his arm into her neck. Would his rough handling leave a bruise? Leave evidence of his behavior?
God, please, no.
Well, there you go.He’d prayed. That was something else to go on. He must believe in God for a prayer to pop into his head. A comforting thought for sure. The first one since she touched him. Or maybe the second one. She comforted him too, even while those big eyes were filled with panic.
Another thing he knew?
This woman—this curvaceous beauty—was carrying. He’d caught the bulge of her holster through her sweatshirt. Didn’t fit with her very feminine appearance. Not at all.
Listen to him. Profiling her like that. Stereotyping. What did he know? Nothing right now.
Dread inched up his throat in rancid bile. He swallowed it down. He had to ignore these thoughts. Make a plan. Take action.
What was his next step?
The door opened. She stepped out carrying a bottle of water and a plate holding a large bagel slathered in cream cheese. “I figured you would be hungry too.”
“Thank you.”
