Page 2 of Duty and Desire

And Noah…well, he and I never spoke until recently. Not that we actually talk now since I can’t seem to form many words when I’m in his presence.

“Babe.”

Noah’s deep voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I focus on him.How did he reach me so quickly?

I tip my head way back to meet his gaze since the top of my head barely reaches the middle of his chest, even in my heels. Given the current circumstances, my first thought should not be how attractive I find him, but it is.

He’s not classically handsome, not in the slightest. He doesn’t have a thick head of hair but is bald instead—by choice, is my guess. His jaw is a little too hard, the beard covering it making it look even more so, and his eyes are far too knowing. Then, there’s his size. He’s at least three times bigger than most men, not just in height but also in width, and he looks like he could pick someone up and break them in half with ease.

Maybe that’s why I’m so attracted to him. He’s not what I’m used to.

“What are you doing here?” He drops his eyes to my hands when I don’t answer, and I do the same, realizing that I’m clutching the toilet paper and beer to my chest.

“The guys stole her car, pointed a gun at her, and she’s been out of it since,” the attendant tells Noah before I can get my mouth to work. His eyes narrow.

“Pardon?” he asks quietly.

“Yep, pointed a gun right at her, then got in her car and took off.”

“They pointed a gun at you?” Noah’s gaze meets mine, and I honestly don’t know what to do with the look on his face, but I can see I need to answer very carefully.

“It was for like…a second. Then they took off,” I tell him quietly, and he looks me over.

“Did they hurt you?”

“No,” I assure him as a muscle in his jaw twitches. The walkie on his chest comes to life, and a woman relays some information, along with an address.

“Fuck,” he bites out, his jaw clenched. “I gotta go.” His gaze locks with mine. “Do you have your phone?”

“It was in my car.”

“I’ll call your brother and tell him to come pick you up.”

I shake my head, knowing I don’t want that. I’ve already burdened Aiden enough with my crap. He’s the one I called when I left Conner. And he’s been nice enough, despite our lack of relationship, to let me stay at the house he’s not been living in since he moved in with May. I don’t want him to have to come and get me from a gas station fifteen minutes from his house at seven at night. “I still have my credit card. I can get a cab.”

Noah leans into me, and my breath catches. “I’m calling your brother. I would take you home myself, but I gotta get your car back.” He starts to turn and walk away, and I panic, latching on to his arm.

“Wait, you’re going after them?”

“Yeah, babe.” His eyes drop to my hand on his biceps, and I quickly let him go.

“They have a gun.”

“I know.” He smiles, the expression beautiful but somewhat scary. “Wait inside for Aiden,” he orders. Then, without another word, he turns and heads back to his cruiser and gets behind the wheel. I feel my stomach bottom out as the lights and sirens come on. I wouldn’t say I’ve never been afraid before, but real fear courses through my veins as he drives away.

“So, I’m gonna need you to pay for the toilet paper and beer,” the attendant tells me, and I slowly turn my head his way. “Unless you don’t want the beer.”

“I don’t,” I mumble. He dips his chin, then turns to head into the gas station. With no choice, I follow him inside to pay for the package of toilet paper I do not need while I wait for my brother to come and rescue me once again.

CHAPTER 2

BROKE AND BROKEN

Bridgett

As I’m sitting cross-legged on my couch with my laptop on a pillow next to me, I scroll through a list of vehicles available at a local dealership that offers zero down since I have no money but need a car and quickly.

Last night, Aiden came to pick me up after Noah called him, just like he said he would. And while we were in the car on the way to my place, Noah called him again to let him know my car had been totaled. The guys who robbed the gas station rolled it while being chased down a country road by the police. Thankfully, no one was hurt, including them, but they were banged up enough not to run any farther and were both arrested.