Bad Boy (An Indecent Proposal) - J.C. Reed Page 0,47

was to get a good look at your pursuer to signal them that you’d remember their face, and aren’t easy prey.

To my relief, the guy barely looked at me as he walked past, then turned a corner. My glance followed him as he disappeared around the corner.

I let out a long breath and leaned against the wall, my phone pressed tightly against my chest. My breathing slowed down a little, but my heart didn’t stop hammering.

Why the fuck did I think it was Chase? As if he’d follow after me when I had made myself clear that I wanted nothing to do with him.

“Stupid,” I muttered and pushed the phone back into my bag. A glance at my watch showed that I had been walking for an hour.

Where was the frigging hotel?

That’s when I noticed the crowd of five guys heading in my direction. Worse yet, I caught their curious glances, two of them even checking me out. Someone made a remark, and they all laughed.

My heart started to pick up in speed again, and my entire body tensed.

Should I keep on walking or turn around?

I had no idea.

One of them shouted, “Hola bonita.”

I froze to the spot, and my uneasiness turned into panic. Before I could decide what to do, a hand touched my waist, and I jumped, a scream lodged in my throat.

I turned and stared right into Chase’s face.

His expression was one of worry, his posture tense. I knew I should be mad, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but shoot him a hesitant smile as immense relief washed over me.

He bent forward and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, until his lips brushed my ear.

“Keep on walking,” he whispered. His grip around my waist tightened just a little bit, but there was nothing sexual about the gesture.

His tension was palpable.

I nodded and resumed my walk, keeping my head low.

The moment we past the crowd I turned to him and hissed, “Are you following me?”

“Only to ensure your safety.” He didn’t even try to deny it.

“Why do you care?” I asked.

“Believe it or not, I don’t want you to get hurt. And you’re walking in the wrong direction.” He pointed behind him. “The hotel’s that way.”

Of course I had been walking in the wrong direction. I groaned inwardly. I should have called a taxi a long time ago.

“Where’s your driver?” I asked and peered around me even though there was no sight of the limousine.

“I sent him home. Do you want me to call him?”

The thought of spending more time in a confined space made my heart race—and not exactly in a bad way.

Judging from the slow smirk on his face he knew it.

Why the fuck did I have to ask?

“No. Forget it.” I shielded my eyes against the hot sun and turned away from him.

“Let me take you home, Laurie,” Chase said softly, misinterpreting my words. “As soon as you’re inside the lobby, I’ll leave you alone. I promise.”

I sighed. “It’s not that.” I turned back to regard him. “I’m actually glad you’re here.”

He frowned. “You are?”

“Believe it or not, I am,” I said, echoing his expression from earlier. It was true. I was in a foreign country with absolutely no knowledge of the culture and barely any command of the language.

“Doesn’t mean I forgive you, though. What you did is—”

“Despicable. I know. And I couldn’t agree more.”

“But I’m really glad you’re here. I kind of felt followed. And—” I wriggled my hands, suddenly unsure why I was telling him all that.

“By me?” he asked.

“No, by a guy in a blue shirt.”

We reached the market—people spilling in and out, chatting, carrying bags. I had never seen such a commotion in my entire life. I wasn’t scared of crowds, but my nerves were frayed.

“Have you been inside?” he asked, pointing toward the market.

I cocked my head, regarding him amused. “Well, you tell me. You followed me for a good hour.”

“Did I?” Chase asked. I looked up, surprised at his question. “I’m afraid I didn’t notice. I was too transfixed.”

And there it was again.

The humor in his voice.

The sparkle in his eyes.

To my absolute disbelief, my heart started to flutter again.

“On what?” My eyes narrowed.

“Want me to be honest?” His eyes moved down my body and lingered on my ass a bit too long.

My body temperature rose a few degrees and my breathing came labored.

He had been transfixed by my ass?

Oh, God.

“No,” I mumbled. “Don’t say it.”

“In a marriage you