The Playboy's Fugitive Bride (46 page)

BOOK: The Playboy's Fugitive Bride

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The man abruptly released her. Then he bent down and retrieved her bags that had fallen to the floor. He straightened up and handed them to her.

So it wasn’t thunder, Tashi thought, as she tilted her head back to gaze into a pair of the bluest, most intimate eyes she had ever seen.

Her heart did a double take and something hot sizzled through her stomach. More adrenaline rushed through her as she took a good look at him—from his long wavy black hair to the tips of his black loafers. He wore designer jeans and a blue shirt. Or maybe they wore his tall, hard frame.

Tashi suddenly noticed the carriage at his feet. A little girl, who looked about two-years old, was fast asleep inside it. Tashi took a long, deep breath as her panic subdued. He couldn’t be one of the mob’s men. He didn’t look the type. They wouldn’t be running around after her with a baby in tow. And how would they have found her, anyway?

“I’m—I’m sorry,” she stuttered. “I really should look where I’m going.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said in a deep, rumbling voice. “I’m the one who sneaked up on you. I hope I didn’t hurt you.” He gave her body a bold raking gaze, then his soft blue eyes came back to her face, and that something hot sizzled through Tashi’s center again.

Their eyes locked.

“No. I’m fine.” Tashi licked her lips that had suddenly become arid-dry. She tugged her eyes from his, only to stare at his wide and generous mouth with lips that reminded her of blooming rosebuds. They were so pink.

She studied his face with peculiar interest. It was passionate, beautiful, and irresistible, down to the narrow, hollow grove etched into the taut bronze skin under his straight nose. His features were sculptured so perfectly, so symmetrically, that he was almost too beautiful for a man.
Italian
? Tashi took another look at the beautiful, brown-skinned, baby-girl sleeping in the carriage.

He’s married
! Not that it really mattered. She wasn’t looking for a husband. Heck, she wasn’t even looking for a man. Well, she was, but she didn’t know who that man was. She didn’t know if he was supposed to be single or married, old or young, black or white, rich or poor, skinny or stout, short or tall, bald or… All she knew was that his name began with an A. She didn’t even know if the A stood for a first or last name. “I—I have to go,” she stated in an awkward, tremulous voice.

He opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but instead, he just gave her a piercing look that made her heart turn over in response.

Close encounter of the Magnetic Kind, Tashi thought on a raspy breath as she hurried away. What a man? God, she didn’t realize they made them like that. His appeal was extremely unsettling. She’d never been this affected by a man before. It was scary and exciting at the same time.

When she reached the sidewalk, Tashi looked back at the diner to find him standing at the front, looking at her. He smiled, held up his hand, and waved. She smiled and waved back. His smile turned to a charming grin and it was then that Tashi felt as if she’d seen him before, briefly. For some reason, she didn’t feel threatened, especially when one of the owners of the diner, who everyone called Miss Felicia, came up to give him a hug before bending over to kiss the baby. She was probably his mother-in-law.

No, Tashi thought walking away, this man wasn’t after her. Nevertheless, she decided not to head home, just in case he decided to follow her. She crossed the street and entered the supermarket. She’d just have to find something else to get her out of the house tomorrow. She didn’t have her shopping list with her, so it took her longer than expected to get her shopping done.

With two bags filled with groceries, and two filled with additions to her new wardrobe, she exited the doors of the automatic sliding door of the supermarket, and froze. He was standing near the entrance, talking on his cell, his back to her. He must have heard her gasp, because he turned around and immediately ended his conversation.

Real fear gripped her this time. Scottie had been charming and sweet, just like this man, but according to the FBI agent, he’d been hired to trap her and sell her into sexual slavery on another continent. Her bags slid from her hands. She heard glass crunching, then red moisture leaked around her sandals.
Blood
. The driver’s blood.

Her heart thundered and her stomach clenched.
Dear, God. No.
She started to run, but didn’t get far. Her eyes closed in defeat as he caught her and spun her around. “How did you find me?”

“Who are you running from? Why are you so paranoid?”

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m not following you. Miss Felicia asked me to get her something from the market. I swear, I’m not following you. I wouldn’t do that. Stalking is illegal in this town.” He smiled, and the afternoon sun illuminated his soft blue eyes.

Tashi’s breath came out hard and rapid. Of course. He wasn’t one of them. He was married. He had a little girl.

She felt so weak. She was so tired. Tired of hiding. She just wanted a life. She wanted to feel safe and secure, just for one moment. Tashi gave in to the flood of overwhelming emotions that had been building up for sixteen months. She was only human, after all. She fell weakly against the strong, hard chest. The hot tears ran in torrents down her cheeks, wetting his shirt. She felt his arms close around her like comforting bands of steel, and his long fingers tangle in her hair as he pressed her face possessively into his chest.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he whispered gently in a deep gruff voice. “It’s okay...”

They stood holding onto each other in the parking lot with curious people watching and the warm July sun beating down on them.

After a while, he put his hand under her chin and lifted her face to his. He silently gazed deep into her huge liquid eyes. He backtracked a few steps with her, bent down, picked up her backpack and shopping bags, and handed it to her. “Sorry your groceries are ruined. I’ll replace them,” he said, bending down to scoop up as much as he could of the food from the ground.

Tashi slid one strap of her backpack over her arm and bent down to help him. As they carried the mess over to the trashcan and deposited them inside, Tashi felt an uncanny warmth from his tenderness. His genuine concern for her—a stranger—was touching.

“If you come inside with me, I’ll replace your groceries,” he reiterated.

“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s my fault for being so paranoid.”

“At least let me reimburse you.” He reached into his pocket for his wallet.

“No. It wasn’t that much. I’m fine.” She hoped her camera was fine. It was expensive and she didn’t want to have to replace it.

He studied her closely as he replaced his wallet. “Are you in some kind of trouble?” His voice was deep and rich, and it made her feel safe.

Tashi needed that voice at nights as she lay in bed trembling and frightened, whispering that everything would be all right. She needed that voice to bring her out of the nightmares that continually plagued her sleep. She swallowed and shook her head, then pressed her hands against her temples. “No. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”

“It’s only noon,” he pointed out in a patient tone.

She tried to smile, but the corners of her mouth just trembled. “Where’s your little girl?” she asked. She envied the woman who had this kind, gentle, loving man to comfort and protect her. She wished she had someone like him to lean on. To trust.

“She’s with her grandmother,” he answered, offering her a smile that made her knees weak, not from fear or heartache this time. “Come back to the diner with me. Have a Smoothie and some apple pie. It’ll make you feel better. I promise.”

Tashi shook her head. “No, I just ate and I’m really full. I’m sorry for crying all over you. It’s just that when I say you staring at me, I panicked. I thought you were—” She stopped, and dropped her gaze.

“You thought I was someone else. The person you are running away from?”

“I’m not running from anyone.” Tashi’s defenses instantly returned. She didn’t know this man. He was nice, but he had his own family to take care of. If she were his wife, she wouldn’t appreciate him paying so much attention to another woman. A stranger at that. She stepped back and glanced up at him. “I have to go.” She hooked the other strap of her backpack over her other shoulder.

“Where? Where do you have to go?” he asked, the beginning of a new smile tipping the corners of his wide mouth.

“Bye.” She turned and walked away, clutching her two garment backs in her hand.

“I’m Adam. Do you live around here?” he called after her.

Tashi stopped in her tracks.
Adam
.
His name was Adam
.
A
. “Yes,” she said in a squeaky voice, not daring to turn around. It was too good to be true. He couldn’t be the man the FBI agent had told her to look up when she arrived in Granite Falls.
It couldn’t be
.

“What’s your name?”

“Tashi.”

OTHER WORKS BY ANA E ROSS

Billionaire Brides of Granite Falls Series:

The Doctor’s Secret Bride – Book One – May 2012

The Mogul’s Reluctant Bride – Book Two – May 2013

The Tycoon’s Temporary Bride – Book Four –2014