It didn’t work. There were too many.
And then the whole situation hit him. Where had she come from? Was she traveling alone? That was dangerous. Where was her chaperone? Her parents? She looked old enough to not need to be in the company of her parents, but still, she shouldn’t be traveling alone. Mayhap her parents were the cause of her bruises. That just angered him further.
“Are ye alone?” He had no right asking her that. The poor lass looked wary enough already. He didn’t need to add to that.
The blues of her eyes darkened, as her brows drew down. “Why do you ask? I do not think that is any business of yours, sir.” She said defensively, tilting her chin up in a sign of strength.
He admired her tenacity.
Gunn held his hands up. “I mean no offense. I just dinna come across many young women traveling alone.”
She straightened her shoulders. “I am more than capable of taking care of myself,” she said curtly.
In that moment, with the amount of conviction lacing her voice, she almost had him convinced. But not quite. Sensing that there was more to her story than the few things she’d said, he let it go. Although she was putting on a brave front, she seemed frightened. Wary of something.
Or mayhap someone.
Either way, he wanted her to feel that she was safe here, so he grabbed the key off the wall and motioned for her to follow him. He’d just met the lass. Pushing her for information would only scare her away. Something he didn’t want to do. The poor woman looked like she could really use a place to rest. If naught else, he wanted to be able to offer that small comfort to her.
As they ascended the stairs, he tried to make small conversation, but she didn’t engage.
He’d chosen the last room on the left for her. Unlocking the door, he pushed it open. “Here ye go.”
With one last glance over her shoulder, she entered the room and dropped her travel bag onto the bed. “May I have the key?”
“Of course,” he remained in the hall, but reached out to drop the key in her waiting palm. “If ye are hungry, I can have a plate brought up to ye. I dinna ken how far ye have traveled, but, and again, I mean no offense, but ye look like ye could use a good meal.”
Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, she shook her head. “Thank you. I am fine, though.”
He got the feeling she was aught but fine. “I will have Cook put something together and have it brought up. ’Tis on the house.”
She put her hands up. “No, I can’t let you do that.”
He admired her want to pay for everything. But she looked like she needed a respite, and he was happy to be the one to offer it. “’Tis included in the cost of the room. All meals are,” he quickly added. “So, in the morn, make sure to come down to break your fast. Cook is one of the best in town. Ye dinna want to miss her scones.”
Nodding, she ran her palms down her sides. “I thank you again. You are being much too kind.”
“If ye need aught else, please let me ken. I shall take care of it straightaway. Good night.” He closed the door and not a second later he heard the key being inserted and the lock engaging.
She was a bonnie lass, but there was a reason she was here. Her nerves were on high alert, both when she arrived and when she got to the room. He hoped that it wasn’t him that worried her.
Granted, he was a large man. A boxer. A fighter. He’d held the position of bouncer at many an establishment, including his own. But he would never hurt her, or any other woman.
She had him intrigued. There was mystery behind her eyes, and he wanted to unravel it.
*
Jocelyn Townsend didn’tbreathe a sigh of relief until she turned the key in the lock, solidifying her safety from anyone on the other side of the door.
The innkeeper seemed pleasant enough, handsome even, though his hulking stature gave her pause. He looked like he could snap her in half if he wanted to. She didn’t feel unsafe around him. Just the opposite actually.
For the first time in a long time, she felt safe.
The way the innkeeper carried himself—straight-shouldered, sure of himself—it reminded her of men she’d seen in the past that had served in the military. Mayhap he had as well.
Moving to the one window in the room, she checked the latch.
Locked.
