Page 13 of Our Sweet Destiny
“But I could have handled it.” She knew she couldn’t have, but the idea of being a damsel in distress again—twice in two days—was too much. She wasn’t weak, and she didn’t need saving—even if Rex Braden made the perfect, handsome knight in shining armor.
“You couldn’t and you didn’t,” he said.
He smelled like warmth and alcohol. His eyes narrowed, and she felt a tug down low. Suddenly, she was leaning forward. Oh no, she was going to kiss him. No, she couldn’t do that. He’d all but thrown her in her car earlier in the day and sent her away. She had to get away before she did something stupid. She flung open the truck door.
“I don’t need saving!” She stumbled from the truck and stood in the dark, clutching her purse. She swiped at her tears as sobs rose from her chest. How the heck could she forget him if he kept showing up and saving her?What the heck am I doing?
She heard his door slam, and he stalked toward her, slow and determined. His legs were slightly bowed, his arms arced out from his sides from the sheer volume of his biceps. Jade pressed her lips closed tight.
“I’m not leaving you here,” he said in a deep, sexy voice. He might as well have said,I want to take your clothes off and lick you all over.
He took another step closer, and she watched the muscles in his chest, straining against his shirt, rising and falling with each breath.
“Please get in the truck, Jade,” he said.
I don’t trust myself.She shook her head.
Rex let out a loud breath and ran his hand through his thick hair. Jade ached to do the same, to slip her fingers beneath his hair and ease the tension at the base of his skull, to tame the inflamed muscles on his neck.
“Jade, Bradens don’t leave women in dangerous situations. Get in.” His tone was firm, his eyes pleading.
She shook her head again.
“I’m not going to ask again.”
There was the anger. Jade crossed her arms. If she set foot in that truck, she would not be able to keep herself from reaching over and doing heaven knows what that she’d regret in the morning when she was sober. Her father’s words rang too clearly to ignore:You know better than to do anything to embarrass this family.
“I can call Riley to come get me,” she said.
“I’m right here. She’s twenty minutes away and probably asleep by now.”
“So what? She’d come.” She sounded like a petulant child when what she really wanted to say was,Don’t call Riley. I want to go with you.Her father’s warning held her back.
He stepped even closer. His exhalations became her inhalations as he lowered his face so close to hers she could see the pupils of his eyes deepening. Jade’s heartbeat thundered in her ears, blocking out the noise of the traffic. Her cheeks became warm, and she closed her eyes, thinking he might kiss her. Suddenly she was draped over his shoulder, his muscles digging into her stomach.
“What are you doing?” She pounded his back, her small fists barely making a dent as he opened the truck door with one hand and tossed her onto the seat with a firm command.
“Don’t move.”
