Page 4 of Johnny Gun

Young!

A child!

Johnny Gun panicked. Dear God above, she was a girl. How old? Sixteen? Seventeen?

Red-hot anger rose inside him. If his attraction was problematic before, it was sinful now. He wasn’t a pervert or a child molester.

“Hi, Johnny. My name’s Isolde.”

Naive and unaware of the devastating effect she had on him, her enchantment wrapped around Johnny G with the unbreakable hold of silk. He grew so desperate, he barked the first words that came to him,

“How old are you?”

Wide-eyed, she reared back at the sharpness in his tone. “Um, nineteen, almost twenty. Why?”

He blew out a breath, feeling slightly better. This was past statutory rape, but she was still much too young, especially for ahardened ass like him. He’d already crossed the thirty-year mark.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Her adorable eyebrows tightened, and he wanted to kick himself for upsetting her. He just didn’t know the best way to behave with her, or worse, with the passing of years, he’d forgotten how. Isolde was sweet and open. She hadn’t learned to deceive, hide her emotions, and play games. The women Johnny slept with had earned their stripes living a hard life and desired no complications. They came to him, got what they wanted, and left without leaving a trace. A perfect arrangement.

The best thing he could do for Isolde was to be a total dickhead and erase the glimmer of interest in her eyes, but how did he handle this balancing act without hurting her feelings?

In the end, he managed to smile and sound like an idiot at the same time.

“No…you didn’t. I, uh…just asked.”

“My dad said you could stay. Why don’t you spend the night?”

If only…

I can’t, beautiful Isolde. Because if I do, I’ll take you in my arms and make love to you until we both lose our minds…

Instead of revealing his emotions and the ferocious need in his heart, he shook his head. “I like my home and my own bed. I’m ready to go back.”

Her luscious, full lips pouted. “Why do I have this feeling that I’ll never see you again? Makes me sad. Is that a badthing?”

Bad?

Not Isolde.

Never her.

She could do no wrong.

The urge to soothe her nearly defeated his determination to leave. In a last attempt, he gave an indifferent shrug.

“No need to be sad. Who knows. Your dad is a Devils’ Spawn.There’s always a chance we’ll run into each other again.” Abruptly, he turned on the bike. The engine roared as he twisted the throttle.

Isolde blushed. Finally, his message had reached its destination.Conversation over. I’m going home.She stepped back, giving him all the space he wanted to maneuver out and escape her influence.

But the ache in his throat didn’t stop. His legs and arms still quivered. The truth was simple and agonizing: he’d found the love of his life in Isolde, but he was out of time. It was too late for someone like him and the age gap between them was impossible to bridge. Besides, what could he offer this angel except a much older man, tired and jaded? For her sake, he’d do the honorable thing and remove himself from her existence.

Giving a quick nod, he rode out to the highway without a backward glance.

CHAPTER ONE

Garden City, Georgia

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