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“Home.”
The thought of losing her just moments after he’d found her was a real physical pain. It hurt his heart, his head, and hisarms that ached to hold her.
But like before, she was quick. Within several fast paces, she’d let herself into the foyer of the apartment block.
“Wait.” He rushed after her.
Turning, she looked at him through the closed glass door. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
He set his hand on the glass, palm flat and fingers spread. “Please, wait. I need to talk to you.”
For a moment, he wondered if she would oblige, but then she slipped from view.
“Damn it.” Should he break through the door to get to her? No. That would scare her, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
Shoving his hand through his hair, he turned and kicked a stone across the pavement. “I don’t even know her name.” The stone bounced, then came to land beside a drain cover. A square patch of amber light suddenly illuminated it.
A third-floor light had been switched on. Could it be her?
Ivor studied the building opposite. Shrouded in darkness, it appeared to be offices with a tiled pitched roof. That would do just fine for him to learn a little bit more about his mate.
Chapter Two
Nisha double-checked the lock on her door and then flung her purse and jacket to one side. She needed a glass of wine—stat.
Trembling, she reached for a mug and sloshed in a few inches of merlot from an open bottle. As she gulped back three mouthfuls, the men’s voices still rang in her ears.
“We only want to talk, sexy.”
“Sexy, yeah right. Sexy bitch who needs cock.”
“Make that three cocks.”
They’d been following her for several minutes as she’d walked home from Davina’s house. The two girls had stayed up late, talking through Nisha’s dilemma, but no progress had been made. The lateness of the hour had meant the streets were deserted as she’d hurried home. Well, almost deserted.
Her heart raced at the memory of glancing over her shoulder and seeing the three tall men, drunk, she reckoned, and dressed in dark clothing. The moment she’d felt their presence, she’d known they intended to harm her.
And their words proved that.
“Bastards,” she muttered, finishing the wine and pouring more. But truth was, she’d had a lucky escape. If that big man—whoever he was—hadn’t suddenly appeared, God only knew what would be happening to her right now.
With a shudder, she walked to her living room window and stared out at the now-quiet street. He’d gone. Gone as quickly as he’d appeared. She’d never seen him before, and although he’d shocked her at his sudden arrival, he’d also instantly given her a sense of being protected. He hadn’t meant her harm. She knew that somewhere deep in her soul.
Frowning, she studied the spot down below where he’d stood and out-stared her attackers. Yes, that was what he’d done.There hadn’t been an ounce of fear or hesitation in him despite being outnumbered. He’d simply stared at them with his wide shoulders tense and his feet hip width apart.
“His eyes are on fire.”
That was what one of the guys had said. What on earth had he meant by that? It was a crazy thing to say. Perhaps they were even drunker than she’d thought. His eyes had been perfectly normal when she’d looked at them. Well, a bit more than normal, or average, because he was a great-looking bloke from what she could make out through the shadows. Square jawline, straight nose, and narrowed eyes with heavy brows. Just her type even if his clothes were unfashionable.
Not that having a type made any difference to Nisha. Her fate, or rather her future husband, had been mapped out for her.
Rishi Arran was to be her husband. A man she’d met just twice. A man she’d be bound to for all of time in only two days.
She gripped the mug harder, tension holding her hostage whenever she thought of her approaching wedding day. It was to be a big Hindu affair in Sophia Park with relatives from far and wide joining in the celebrations.
Davina had suggested many options to call a halt to plans. Run away. Fake a kidnap. Declare herself a nun. All of which at this stage were looking like reasonable possibilities.
Finishing her wine, Nisha stared up at the stars. Surely the universe had more in store for her than this. A life with a man she hadn’t chosen. A life that would be a treadmill of children, obeying her mother-in-law, and putting up with whatever kind of husband he turned out to be.
