know.”
I raked a hand through my hair and looked up. I realized I’d been walking toward Morgan’s hotel. I also saw her. She was striding rather purposefully across the pavement to cut over to her resort. I also spotted a man following her, way too close to be accidental. The guy got closer and then grabbed her arm. I saw red. My vision just tunneled in on the spot where he had grabbed her roughly.
“Stay here,” I muttered to Karin, not even looking at her.
I took off, my long legs eating up the distance in no time. I barreled into him, knocking him back. He staggered and I caught him by the shirt, jerking him to his feet. Then I punched him right in the jaw and knocked him out cold. It felt good, the adrenaline pulsing in my veins the crack of bone I felt when my fist connected with his face. I flexed my hand, more pleased with myself than I cared to admit.
Karin had reached me by that point. She grabbed me by the arm, “Are you okay?” she asked, exasperated.
“Fine,” I bit out, and turned to check on Morgan, wanting to make sure she was okay, too. She was rubbing her wrist where he’d held her in his grip and was looking at me with a hurt and confused look in her pretty eyes.
Chapter 15
Morgan
Who in the hell was this woman with the kid? She was obviously close to him, touching him, worrying about him and if he was okay. Was this why he had blown me off? To hook up with some single mom, or worse. I was literally afraid to look at the baby’s face. If it looked like Billy, I would throw up. Right there on the street. I knew it.
I was shaking, still reeling from the man grabbing me, trying to assault me. I was embarrassed because I prided myself on being able to handle my own safety, and I’d misjudged this situation dangerously. I’d been thinking about Billy too much, even right before Ben grabbed me. It had been too late when I realized someone was following me. I wanted to cry. Tears clogged my throat, and not just from my near escape. From seeing Billy whisper to that woman and kiss her cheek tenderly and send her on her way.
After whipping out my phone and calling the cops, I stood around, looking suspiciously at the guy Billy had knocked out with one punch. I couldn’t help being a little impressed and very grateful he’d been there. He came over to me after he’d seen the woman off. He’d attended to her first. Checked on her well being, reassured her, kissed her cheek. I wanted to scream and howl and cry. I was sad and scared and shaky, and all I wanted to do was have him wrap his arms around me and hold me, take me home. I wanted to walk away from the scene of the crime, not deal with the police or tell my story. I didn’t want any of this. I just wanted to be back in that bed, my cheek on Billy’s bare chest, his heartbeat lulling me to sleep, safe and warm and happy. I cleared my throat to stop a sob that was ripped from me.
“Thank you,” I said coolly. “I shudder to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been there at the right time.”
“Are you okay?” he asked. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
He set his hands on my arms, rubbed up and down as if to warm me. “You need something to drink, something sugary. It’s good for shock. If the frozen lemonade was around here—"
“Don’t!” I said, cutting him off. I couldn’t bear to hear him talk about things we’d shared. I couldn’t bear to have him touch me, even though I didn’t want him to stop.
The cops showed up at that moment and started taking statements. I turned to the one in charge and told them what I knew and what Ben had done and said.
“Mr. O’Shea, who is an acquaintance of mine, happened along at the right moment and was able to get Ben to let go of me.” I held out my arm, which had angry red marks where he’d held me too roughly.
“How did he subdue your assailant?” the cop asked.
“He punched him one time in the side of his face like here,” I pointed to my own cheek. “And Ben just went down