Clicking the tab to her zipper faster, Alessia turned andgave him a suspicious look. "How did you find me, anyway?" Doing herbest to change the subject.
A knowing look passed in his eyes before he shrugged. “Thisis a small town, all I had to do was ask one person if they had seen a youngwoman with the camping bag around.”
“How did you know I was in town and not on the road?” Shepressed.
“Your footprints.”
She frowned in confusion. “My footprints?”
He simply stared at her for a moment as if he was weighingthe seriousness of her question. Alessia knew by the gleam in his eyes, beforehe even answered, that he was going to ridicule her somehow.
“I’m genuinely surprised you made it even one night out inthose woods.”
Heat rushed through her, and Alessia could feel her face andneck flush. Standing up with jerky movements, she snatched the straps of herheavy bag
“You know what?!” She turned to face him as she hoisted thebag in place on her shoulders, not missing the spark of excitement in his eyes.“You’re an asshole.”
“An asshole who saved your life.” Still sitting on the log,he stretched his legs out purposely as he made himself comfortable. “Or did youforget that fact?”
Hot pinpricks of tears dotted behind her eyes in shame athis words. Alessia wanted to scream and yell at him, to do anything but standthere. Turning on her heel, she turned back in the direction of the town.
“You can stay with me.”
Whatever she was expecting him to say, that wasn't it.Surprised, she turned back around to see him now standing with his hands in hispockets, looking directly at her.
Opening her mouth to speak, he cut her off as he steppedforward.
"Before you say anything that will make me rescind myoffer, let me point out I'm only offering temporary room and board." Oneeyebrow arched in emphasis at the temporary status of his offer. Taking anotherstep forward, the man stopped a few feet in front of her, forcing her to tilther head back to look up at him. "You can stay until you figure out alogical next step, but in the meantime, I'll be putting you to work."
“Work?” She repeated questioningly, narrowing her eyessuspiciously at the offer.
His eyes only glittered brightly with dark humor as he gaveher a smirk. “Oh yeah, you didn’t think I would let you stay for free, did you?I have got shit loads of projects an extra pair of hands would be perfect for.”
"And when you say projects, you mean handymanwork?" Alessia tried to think of the last time she did anything remotelyhandy that required tools.
He gave her a considering looked at her doubtful response."Yeah, exactly. But don't worry, I'll teach you."
Still unsure, she shifted in the sand, digging her bootsdeeper into the wet sand. "Why are you trying to help me?"
A strong gust of wind whipped around them. Closing her eyes,Alessia could feel the tiny stinging particles of sand hit her face.
“I honestly don’t know,” she heard him answer deeply.
Opening her eyes, she felt the heavy pressure in her chestas she considered his offer. Taking in his naturally stern face, she let hereyes drift from his wide shoulders down his tall form. There wasn’t much shecould make out from his heavy work clothes, but she knew the man in front ofher was quite strong. The confident and powerful way he carried himself toldher plainly that underneath his wild veneer, there was a dangerous and capableman lurking underneath.
She didn’t want to, but she needed to ask. “You won’t…” Itwas hard to even say it as she stared at his harsh face. “You won’t expect meto…to sleep with you…will you?”
The look of surprise quickly transformed into one ofdisgust. Looking beyond her, he shook his head. "This world is suchtrash," the statement felt like a statement more to himself than anything.Looking back down to her, he gave her an even stare. "No, I don't expector want that. You'll be working during the day, and you will sleep in the loftat night—untouched."
Nodding, Alessia let the words sink in. Hundreds ofquestions and worries bounced around in her head.
Gathering her courage, she took a leap of faith and stuckout her hand. “My name is Alessia, Alessia Conners.”
For a few seconds, he just stared at her outstretched handbefore eventually taking it in his. Warm and rough, his hand enveloped hers inhis firmly as he shook it once, sealing the agreement between them.
“Jax Beranek.”
Chapter 6
