Page 12 of Irresistibly Wicked

“I do not, and even if I did, that’s my money. I work my ass off for it.” She didn’t mean to raise her voice and tried to take it down a notch. “Brian, I know you. You need help. Please let me help you.”

“You knew me, but you don’t know shit anymore.” He stalked angrily toward her, breathing hard, his eyes blazing. “You think you’re better than me.”

“I do not, and you know it. I’m worried about you. I hate seeing you like this!”

“Then fucking leave. I don’t need you, and you sure as fuck don’t need me,” he hollered, inches from her face, and for the first time in their lives, she was fearful of what her best friend had become.

Several hard knocks on the front door had them both turning toward the sound.

“This better not be one of your druggie friends,” she said, heading for the door.

“Fuck off.” He plowed past her and tugged the door open, blocking Shauna from seeing around him as he sneered, “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Zander Wicked. I’m with Cape Renovations.”

What the…? She moved to see past Brian, and her heart nearly stopped. What was he doing there?

Zander’s gaze shifted to her, moving assessingly over her with as much surprise as concern written all over his too-handsome face.

She realized he’d heard them arguing, and embarrassment washed over her.

Zander turned back to Brian, his jaw clenched, and said, “Claire Burrows said she spoke to Brian and let him know I was coming to fix a few things. Is that you?”

“Shit. I forgot.” Brian grumbled, “She can handle it,” and stormed out the door, knocking into Zander’s shoulder.

Zander’s hands fisted, his chest expanding with a deep inhalation as he watched Brian climb into his car and said, “Is he okay to drive?”

“Yes. He’s just angry. It’s no big deal.” Lies came too easily when it came to covering for Brian, and she hated herself and resented him more with each one.

As Brian peeled away from the curb, Zander turned those blue eyes on her again with a serious expression, but he spoke with a softer tone. “It sure seemed like it was a big deal. Are you okay? I knocked a few times.”

“Mm-hm. I’m fine,” she said, lighter than she felt, trying to play it off like it really was no big deal. But now she felt awkward and embarrassed, because of yesterday and now this. “So, I guess you’re here to fix the leaks?”

“Yeah. Listen, I’m sorry about startling you yesterday. I know this is going to sound crazy, but when I heard you singing, it sounded familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”

Shit. Can today get any more difficult? She wasn’t sure if she should tell him the truth. She didn’t want him to know she’d visited him in the hospital, so she said, “Sort of. I’m the one who pulled you out of your burning car the day of your accident. I was at the intersection when it happened, and I stayed with you until the first responders got there.”

He crossed his arms, studying her. “You pulled me out of a burning car? By yourself?” he asked with disbelief.

“I’m stronger than I look, and I’m an EMT, so I knew what to do.”

“Damn. I thought you were an angel,” he said more to himself than to her. “Did you sing to me?”

Briefly lowering her eyes in embarrassment, she said, “Maybe.”

“You really are my angel.” The smile taking over his face was unfairly captivating. “What did you sing?”

“You’re asking a lot of questions. Do you really want to know?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

He was so earnest, she almost laughed. “I sang ‘Keep Holding On’ by Avril Lavigne. It’s kind of my go-to song when I need strength. You were in pretty bad shape, and I thought it might help you. I should have said something yesterday, but you caught me off guard. The last time I saw you, you were out of it, and suddenly you’re standing there, full of life. I didn’t know what to say.”

“‘Hello’ is usually a good place to start,” he said smoothly. “What’s your name, Angel?”

The way he called her Angel felt as intimate as a touch. No wonder he was the town crush. He was disarmingly charming, and she was enjoying it. “Shauna.”

“Shauna…?” He cocked a brow.