Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“Do you want some coffee? Tea?”
“No. Go and get changed,” he said.
Jade frowned. “You know, it’s not very polite to order someone around in their own apartment!”
He raised a brow.
She huffed and then shook her head.
Braxton took his time to glance around her apartment. He saw a small bookshelf in the far corner, with a few cookbooks as well as some crafting books. He noticed there were no fiction books or romance. He expected her to be a sucker for romance.
There was a television, but no DVD player, or any way of playing movies. He’d also noted that there were no DVDs lying around.
She had a sofa, a single chair, and a small coffee table. There were a couple of pictures. He figured most of them were of her parents, as they were the only two consistent people. According to his sources, her folks had passed eight years ago.
She was all alone.
And it showed.
Braxton understood it, and he relished in his own space, not having anyone. It made life a lot easier. There were no demands, no one to tie you down, nothing. It was a freedom.
He had a feeling Jade wasn’t alone by choice.
“What about hot chocolate?”
He spun around and saw Jade had showered and changed into a pair of pajamas. She was drying her hair.
“No.”
Jade sighed. “Then how do I thank you?”
“Simple. You keep your mouth shut. You never met me. You don’t know who I am. You got home and you don’t know how.”
“But—”
“No buts. That is exactly what happened. Got it.”
“Got it.” She pursed her lips. “Is there a chance that someone is going to come and ask me questions?”
“No. Now, go to bed. I fed you. I’ll grab you some water.”
“I’m not a child.”
“Then do as you’re told.” Braxton was losing patience with her.
The longer he was here, the more dangerous it would be for her.
She stomped her foot and went back into her bedroom, which is where he wanted her.
He grabbed a glass of water and entered her room. There was nowhere for him to sit, so he put the water on the bedside table and moved to stand in the corner.
“You know, I don’t know your name,” she said.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“You don’t need to know my name.”
“But I’d like to know the name of the man who saved my life.” She had climbed into bed and pulled the blankets up toward her chin. She was turned on her side, facing him.
Braxton was tempted to put some pressure on certain points, which would guarantee she would go to sleep. He wouldn’t do it, though.
The reason he had stayed behind was so she slept, peacefully, and that he was sure there was no problem. He didn’t even know why he cared. The moment he left, he wasn’t coming back.
“We don’t get what we want out of life.”
“Seriously. I bet you get everything you want,” she said.
“No, I don’t.”
“Is there anything you do want?” she asked.
“No.”
She frowned. “Well, whoever you are, I want to thank you for coming down that alley, and for … saving me, and stopping what he was going to do.”
“Be glad you screamed,” he said.
Jade sighed.
“Go to sleep.”
He saw she wanted to argue, but he didn’t know what stopped her. Her lips had opened as if she was going to, but then she shook her head and settled down. She kept staring in his general direction, but then, slowly, he watched as she fell asleep.
Chapter Three
Several Weeks Later
Jade couldn’t stop thinking about the man who had saved her life. He was driving her crazy, and she knew he hadn’t done it on purpose. It wasn’t like he had gone out of his way to be … memorable. Far from it. He’d been mean and rude, and he’d treated her like a child. Yet, she couldn’t get him out of her head.
The following day at work, Lucille had wanted to know what happened. Jade didn’t like lying, but she also didn’t want to divulge and risk getting her mystery man into trouble, so she lied. She said that she’d fallen and hit her head, and it was no big deal.
Jade had checked beneath the bandage and had even changed it. She figured they were the kind of stiches that dissolved. He hadn’t given her any instructions to go to the hospital. So, she cleaned it, and kept it covered until it didn’t seem to need it.
Her bangs were able to cover it the past couple of days.
Business was slow at the moment. Everyone was waiting for several cosmetic brands to unleash their new season, so she stood in the shop, keeping everything looking clean. One or two customers stopped by. Regulars that had a set routine.
They were nice to her, said good morning, asked if she was okay. She had been shocked that the first week with the bandage, it had gotten a little too much attention. She just kept saying she tripped and it was a nasty fall.