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of hay like bags of sugar. He made it look effortless. She remembered seeing him doing that several times, and earlier last week, he’d done it with no shirt on. She felt the palpitations begin. The man was a god.
She looked away from him when he glanced up and gave her a wink. She locked gazes with Ghost, who had his Stetson down low, making him appear ready for a fight. His chest muscles were so big, wide, and fierce-looking, she knew they would feel like steel. Hell, she was so tense when he picked her up that she hadn’t even absorbed how big and strong he was.
His fingers clasped her chin and he tilted her head up toward him.
“You should have taken the ride we offered. Then you wouldn’t be all cut up and bleeding right now in my truck.”
She gasped and looked down where she sat and hoped she wasn’t getting dirt and blood on his leather seats. It was a pretty fancy truck if she ever saw one. His words affected her. He was angry and blaming her. Suddenly she felt scared, like maybe he was just being nice but really had no desire to help her. Maybe he was a prick or stuck-up because he was older and thought she wasn’t good enough for him? She didn’t know where these thoughts were coming from, or the feeling of being cheap and dirty. She had to stop her mind from going off like this. She worried about his comment and about the blood getting on the seats in the truck.
“I’m sorry. I’ll clean up the mess. With something.” She looked around her.
“Sit still. Don’t worry about the damn truck. We’re just glad you didn’t break anything or we’d never hear the end of it,” Ghost reprimanded her and she pulled her quivering bottom lip between her teeth and let out a shaky breath. He was so dominant and commanding. My God, what a monster of a man in size and attitude. So why did she feel her breasts tighten and her core quiver with an attraction to him?
Because she was stupid and naïve and apparently a glutton for punishment. He could be abusive and controlling to a woman. He seemed the type.
Wait, what the hell am I thinking? There is no type. God, I’m so fucked up in the head. I think every man, nice or mean, is a batterer and could hit me, hurt me—hell, rape me.
The tears filled her eyes and she pushed his hand away from her hip. “I’m fine.”
She looked at Laverty. She didn’t dare move and cringe, letting them know her back really hurt the worst. Ghost may grab her arm, turn her around abruptly, and blame her for getting all banged up. Oh God, stop thinking, Lois. Stop and just calm down.
“You should have never gotten hurt. We’ll never hear the end of this,” Laverty stated.
“What do you mean?” she asked Laverty as he applied some ointment to her elbow and then reached for the gauze.
“I mean our cousins, our brother, the damn sheriff—they would all be pissed we let you get hurt.”
“You didn’t let me get hurt. I lost my balance,” she whispered and then lowered her eyes. The truth was, she had been so damn nervous from them stopping to ask her if she wanted a ride that she wasn’t paying attention. Then those other guys stopped and asked directions and she had to tell them she didn’t know. They’d flirted and she’d ignored them, so they sped off. The look in Ghost’s eyes as he pulled up on the other side of the road took her breath away.
“You need to be more careful. Especially if you’re going to be riding that bike back and forth to the farm or wherever,” Laverty added, sounding so angry.
“I think the bike is busted,” Ghost said.
“Oh God, I hope not. I need to help your mom,” she said and moved forward only for Laverty to hold her still as he wrapped her elbow. She pulled back and her back hit the side of the truck. She gasped and pulled completely away from them and backed away.
“Lois?” Laverty questioned her. God, he was so good-looking and defined. He even had muscles on his face, jaw, and neck. He looked carved from steel.
“Are you hurt on your back, too?” Ghost asked her. She shook her head.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Don’t lie to me. If you’re hurt, let us see so we can fix ya up,” he commanded. She couldn’t turn around and let him behind her. God, she was scared. So scared of being alone with men this big and knowing they were soldiers and that they could hurt her, hell, take advantage of her or kill her. The tears stung her eyes. She shook her head.
“I want to go. I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine,” she said and pushed by them. She practically ran to her bike. It was a mess, but it wasn’t broken.
“Let us give you a ride back,” Laverty said, coming closer. She saw Ghost looking at her like she was some nutcase.
God, I can’t take this. Why do I have to be so scared of them? Why can’t I just relax and accept their help? Their cousins told me I was safe. Hell, the sheriff told me, too, numerous times. She bent down and then Laverty was there picking up the bike.
“You can’t ride this. Come on.” He lifted the bike up into the air as if it were light and he placed it into the back of the truck. She clasped her hands together and walked by the back when Ghost stopped her. He placed his hands on her hips.
“Let me see your back,” he said to her so firmly. Calmly, she froze in place. He was gorgeous, and older than her by a lot. He had brown hair and nice hazel eyes. His lips looked firm, and his expression did, too. The black Stetson added to the intimidation as well as his height and the feel of his large hands on her hips.
“You’re safe with us, now turn around, and don’t make me ask twice,” he said in an order. He was not a patient man that was for certain. She figured she better turn around or they would stay like this and battle it out all day. It was getting later and she needed to get back to the cottage.
“He won’t hurt you,” Laverty said and she slowly turned.
“It’s nothing, really,” she whispered. Then she felt his hand on her hip and another hand lift her shirt up in the back.
“Damn it,” he cursed.
