Page 4 of Hot As Ice

“Your knight in shining armor,” he replies, sounding amused.

“Let me go now, please.”

He lets me go and I slowly turn around. My mouth drops as I see Hunter Cruise staring back at me, a smirk on his lips. “You alright, princess?”

“You left hours ago,” I say in shock.

“Yeah.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I was driving by on my way home when I saw the fucker assaulting you.” He puts his hands in his pockets, smirk still firmly on his face.

“Oh.” I wipe my tears away with the back of my hand.

“You’re safe, princess. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not a princess.” His smug smirk annoys me, temporarily making me forget about my earlier terror. I look behind me to see Joe sprawled on the ground, unconscious.

“Well, you look like a princess.” Hunter reaches out and grabs a strand of my hair, rubbing it between his fingers. I step out of his reach.

He drops his hand. “You need a ride home?”

“No. I have my car.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.” I don’t want to get in a car with him, even if he did rescue me. My body is still trembling, but I’m sure I can make the short drive back to my apartment.

“Later, princess.”

I walk toward my car, feeling his eyes on me the entire time. The tremors rocking my body are dying down, but I sit in my car for a few minutes, just breathing. Finally, I start the car and slowly pull out of the parking lot. Hunter stands there by his expensive-looking car. He raises a hand as I drive by, but I ignore him.

Back in my apartment, my roommate Becca is watching a movie in the dark.

I give a quick hello then head to the bathroom. Tonight’s traumatizing incident plays on a loop in my head as I wash my face and brush my teeth. That creep Joe. How could he? I can’t believe he assaulted me, and I shudder to think what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been rescued.

I shake my head. I don’t want to think of it as a rescue, but it was. My “knight in shining armor” coming through just in the nick of time. It was pure dumb luck that he’d driven by the diner again. I feel like I owe him now. Big time.

Trying to calm my racing mind, I redirect my thoughts to what might happen next. I can’t go back to work at the diner. Should I try to press charges against Joe? Go to the police? My neck is red from where he was choking me. I wonder if I’ll have bruises tomorrow. Is that enough evidence?

As stupid as it sounds, I just want to forget what happened and move on.

But as my head finally hits the pillow and my eyes drift closed, all I can see in my mind is Hunter’s gorgeous face.

two

stevie

I NEVER THANKED Hunter last night.

It’s the very first thought I have the next morning.

I didn’t thank my rescuer. If anything, I was rather rude.

My second thought is that now I’m firmly in his debt.

My third thought is, I hope I never see Joe again as long as I live.

I snuggle deeper under my covers, wishing the assault never happened, but thankful someone was there to help me. I have to track Hunter down and thank him properly. He pretty much saved my life.

There is no greater debt you can owe someone.