A Midsummer Night's Demon(8)

Another flash of emotion crossed his face. Was he jealous? Angry? Lyn wished he’d stop hiding his emotions. Trying to catch them was getting exhausting.

“Did he pick you up or did you meet him?”

“He picked me up at my townhouse.”

Ky nodded. “What name did he give you?”

“Juan Herrero.” Tears burned her eyes, clouding her vision.

A rude snort of derision exited from his throat. “You know that is Spanish for John Smith?”

She nodded her head. “I speak Spanish. I know.” Her tone was sharp. “And don’t you dare say it. I feel foolish enough without you telling me how dumb it was to meet a guy from the internet named John Smith. I don’t know what made me do it.” Her anger threatened to push the tears from her eyes.

“You know you could have been killed,” he chastised softly, shaking his head back and forth.

She curled into herself, drawing her knees tighter against her chest. Her tears burst their dam, to run down her cheeks in twin rivers that wet the sheet tucked around her knees. Stupid—that was the best word to describe her. Her knight was right, she could have been killed. Was almost killed. Had he not come to her rescue, she would be lying dead in that parking garage.

Her body shook with her sobs. Lyn looked up at Ky through her tears, and found him staring at her. His eyes softened, his weight shifted nervously between his feet.

The man sat on the bed, the mattress sinking under his weight. He took her chin in his hand, forced her to meet his eyes. “I shouldn’t have made that comment about you getting yourself killed. Sometimes my internal filter doesn’t work. I apologize, Lyn.” He paused. She saw the sincerity of his apology in his eyes. “It is my fault, honey. If I had been quicker you would not have gotten hurt.”

She attempted to shake her head in protest, but his grip forestalled her. “You did nothing wrong. You saved me. If you hadn’t been there…” Another sob shook her body, keeping her from completing the sentence.

Ky gathered her into his arms. “Shhh. Please don’t cry.”

He drew her onto his lap, tucking her head against his shoulder. A sensation of comfort and reassurance cocooned around her to sooth her like a warm balm.

“Lyn, you have to stop crying, honey. My heart can’t take it.”

Her breath hitched in her lungs. He lifted her as if she weighed no more than a child and rocked her, holding her to him in a tender embrace as if he cared for her. But she knew better. Love at first sight did not exist.

Did it?

His concern did seem genuine. And the way he said honey sounded more like an endearment than a general term.

She pushed the train of thought aside, refusing to allow her mind to continue down that track. She needed to get a grip. It must be the trauma from last night.

She needed someone to lean on, and this handsome man, who had rescued her, happened to be here to cling to. She knew the term for that—hero worship.

As much as she would like to stay here and hide away from her problems, she couldn’t. She had to go out and face her fears. And no handsome stud muffin was going to stop her, no matter how protected and safe he made her feel. She wanted some space, some time away from him, so she could get perspective.

“I need a shower.” She pushed out of the comfort of his arms.

Ky stood, helping her to her feet. “Sure. The bathroom is through that door. I’ll bring you some clean towels.”

Lyn wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffled. “Do you happen to have something I could wear?”

A small, mischievous grin lifted the corners of his mouth as his gaze burned over her body. “I’m sure I can find something.”

Lyn watched him leave the room, appreciating the way his jeans hugged the curves of his backside. She sighed. He was gorgeous and sweet. He appeared to care about her. He was…too good to be true.

She’d allowed one man to snare her in his charismatic lies, and it had almost gotten her killed. She mentally kicked herself for nearly allowing it to happen again.

Ky Robinson might be handsome, but she didn’t know him.

And she would not make the same mistake twice.

After a quick shower, I’m out of here.





Chapter Three

Ky reached for a bath towel knowing he would never be able to let her leave his home. He chose one of his favorite T-shirts for her to wear. It would be big, probably fall to her knees to drape over her body in a most delicious way. He imagined her in the bathroom, his shirt clinging to her wet body, hair dripping down her back. Shit! His libido awakened once more, which seemed to happen every time he thought about her.