Page 45 of His to Keep
Lana and the stranger were forced together by hordes of thirsty people, face to face, but even though he was good looking, she just wasn’t interested. Let’s face it, he wasn’t in Marcus McGrath’s league, not even in the same stratosphere.
“I’m hoping that’s not your boyfriend buying those drinks?” he asked, gazing down at her.
Lana giggled awkwardly. “No, he’s my mate.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, tall dark and handsome planted his lips to hers. The taste of beer and cigarette smoke seeped into her mouth, hitting her nostrils.
Ripples of terror scattered across her chest, gripping her lungs, squeezing tightly. That familiar smell, the one aroma that reminded her of Carl Reed was back.
The music swirled while her fists clenched. Mustering an inner strength, she gave him a forceful shove.How dare he kiss her without permission? How dare any man kiss her.
Pleading for a solitary breath to fill her tight lungs, she struggled to stand. The shooting pains in her ribcage ricocheted into her gut causing a gush of bile to burn her throat.
“It wasn’t that bad, for fuck sake,” he sneered.
A warmth spread across her back as the friendly arms of Freddy enveloped her, his hand gently stroked her hair.
“Lana. I’m here. It’s okay,” he said softly into her ear.
“What’s wrong with her? It was only a kiss.” His lips slashed into a thin white line.
Freddy straightened and slid in front of Lana.
“Back off, dickwad. Did you ask her permission before sticking your ugly lips on her?”
The guys face reddened and his knuckles whitened around his beer bottle. Lana tugged at Freddy’s jacket, a silent plea for him to back off. The stranger could pulverise him with one punch and there was no way she could deal with more violence.
“Run along home and play with your toys. You guys clearly aren’t ready to play with the adults,” he snapped.
Freddy turned back and focused on Lana as she gasped for air while a thundering pulse filled her skull.
“C’mon, honey, let’s get you home.”
“S…Sorry F…F…Freddy,” she stuttered.
Her heart crashed inside her chest, trying its hardest to break free.
“Oh, honey, it’s okay. Just think about Italy. The warm sun, fine food, tasty wine and plenty of time to relax. A holiday is just what doctor Freddy prescribes.”
Her breathing began to regulate, but her mind was racing with memories of the hideous ordeal with Carl. Anger slid through her veins like a venomous snake.
She was fed up being the victim and fed up with men thinking they could rule her body, her mind...and her heart.
20
Carl ordered the driver to stop at the street corner.
His newly appointed house was only a short walk from the local shops. Paul had organised a new house for Carl, under a pseudo name and was efficient enough to find one in the same area as his old one.
The car pulled up outside the small deli. The same little corner shop that Carl frequented on a regular basis. It started off as a place to purchase his favourite cheeses and thin slices of prosciutto, until a particular shop assistant sprinkled him with possibilities.
She had caught his attention like a defenceless little bird with wide innocent eyes and a puffed out chest. She was a far contrast from Lana with her sinful curves, wicked tight dress and cherry red lips but behind the young eyes lurked a desire to please, and that look had flashed freely when he had gifted her with a roguish smile.
The shop assistant repositioned a log of pastrami in the refrigerated glass counter. She wore a large hessian apron and her honey coloured hair twisted on her crown with a fine net covering lose strands.
Carl stood by the potted chutneys, beside towering mahogany shelves that were stacked with olives and jars of pulses. He studied her fine neck and dimpled chin.
The potent smell of mature cheddar filled the warm air and made him think back to Paris, when he treated his traitor wife for their wedding anniversary.
