Page 3 of A Little Bit Wild

He’s looking at me with concern, and I clear my throat again.

“I—” To both of our horror, I start to cry.

Run out of here and never look back! Mybrain screams at me, but before I can take a step, I’m in his arms.

“It’s alright, darling. Whatever you’re scared of, I’ll take care of it. You’re going to be fine. I promise,” he whispers, and I find myself leaning against him.

I haven’t had anyone to lean on or comfort me since I buried my mother a month ago. I didn’t even realize I needed it, but being in this hot stranger’s muscular arms feels so right.

“I’m not in danger or anything,” I mumble when he pulls back. “I’m sorry, this is dumb. I shouldn’t be here.”

“Why don’t you let me be the one to decide that,” he says, pulling out one of the chairs at the conference table for me.

I plop down, still trying to dry my eyes, as he takes the chair next to me.

“I’m Kye,” he says, holding out his hand.

It’s huge, with calluses dotted along the ridge of his palm and on his fingers.

“Aria,” I tell him.

I force myself to place my hand in his, and I’m not surprised when goosebumps and shivers race up my arm. He doesn’t say anything or react as I let him shake our hands for both of us.

“What’s going on, darling?”

“I need a friend.”

Why?!? Why is that what my brain tells my mouth to say?

“Oh my god,” I groan, sinking down in my chair.

I’m close to sliding off and crawling under the table. I can live here now until I die of embarrassment.

“Easy,” Kye says, his blue eyes sparkling as he chuckles and reaches out to tug me back up into the chair fully. “I’ll be your friend, darling.”

“I shouldn’t have said it like that. I’m just not sure that a security company offers what I’m looking for. I don’t know who would, though,” I ramble, and he nods.

“What are you looking for?” He asks, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to say you.

Luckily for me, my brain-to-mouth filter seems to be back on and I keep that to myself.

“My mom just passed away.”

“Aria, I’m so sorry,” he says, and I can see from the look in his eyes that he means it.

“Thanks. She was… really amazing. She was my best friend and my complete opposite. She wasn’t afraid of anything, and I’m afraid of everything,” I admit with a smile.

He smiles back at me, and I notice a dimple in his cheek.

Oh, come on, Universe! How is that fair? He already has all the muscles, those freaking beautiful blue eyes, and perfect, straight white teeth, and now you have to add dimples to the mix? He wasn’t perfect enough without them.

I stare down at my old jeans and thin t-shirt that says Yale across the front. It’s been washed so many times that the e has basically disappeared, leaving Yal behind. Meanwhile, he’s in black jeans and a tight green polo that makes his muscles look bigger.

“She wanted me to take a chance, do something wild and out of character. That was her last wish for me,” I say, trying to stay focused on why I’m here and not the male model sitting a foot away from me.

“Okay, and you want someone to arrange security for that?” He asks, and I shake my head.

“I don’t want to do anything crazy alone.”

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