hadn’t stopped him…
Storm clenched his jaw against the anger rising up inside him. Anger directed more at himself than at her. No matter how bold she’d been in coming here, he should have known she wasn’t prepared for what had happened. She was just a child, a scared, frightened child. And instead of sending her packing out the door, he’d taken advantage of her naiveté.
“I warned you,” he said, unable to keep the accusation from his voice. Remorse made his tone bitter. “I told you you weren’t ready.”
“Not for this. I didn’t know—” Her voice broke as she looked up at him. Moist tears filled her big green eyes. Her chin trembled as she struggled for composure. “I hadn’t expected—”
“To be treated like a woman?” The corner of his mouth lifted into a sardonic grin. “What did you expect when you came here to my hotel room, Jasmine? That I’d be a gentle man? That I’d treat you like a prom queen? With kid gloves and genteel manners?”
Her face flushed a deep rosy hue.
“I’m not one of your wet-behind-the-ear suitors.” His cynical smile faded. “Or did you forget? I’m an Indian. Honor isn’t supposed to be high on my list of qualities, is it?”
Before she could answer, he moved to step around her, heading for the door. As he brushed past, she flinched, shrinking away from him. Storm’s heart tightened at the fear he saw in her eyes.
Not allowing himself to reconsider, he threw open the door and turned to face her. “I warned you I wasn’t to be trusted,” he said, the words harsh even to his own ears. “Now run, Jasmine. Run before I change my mind and take what you were so willing to offer.”
Blinking back tears of shame and embarrassment, she refused to look at him. Instead, with her eyes downcast, she stumbled to the door and escaped into the night.
For a long moment he stood in the doorway and listened to the rapid click of her heels as she ran down the walkway from his room. He listened until the distant taps faded to a dull and painful memory. Then he closed the door and leaned against its solid strength.
Shutting his eyes, he sighed wearily. He’d made such a mess of things. From the very beginning, Jasmine had been nothing but honest about her feelings toward him. Instead of returning the favor, he’d used those feelings against her. He’d been too afraid to face his own emotions. Too afraid to admit that he might be attracted to her.
Like a bully, he’d used his size and brute strength to frighten her. As a result, he’d destroyed the self-confidence of a woman who’d shown him nothing but respect. Ironically, Jasmine was the only person in town who hadn’t treated him like a specter from the past.
His heart thumped a hollow beat against his chest. Opening his eyes, he glanced around the room, forcing himself to face the scene of his own crime. He frowned as he spotted something white on the floor in the middle of the mauve carpeting. He pushed himself away from the door.
It was Jasmine’s sweater.
Reluctantly, he picked it up and held it in his hands. The delicate material felt silky, cool to his touch, reminding him of Jasmine’s smooth skin. Burying his face in the sweater’s softness, he inhaled its sweet floral scent and felt as though he were still holding her close in his arms.
A sharp and jagged pain jigsawed through his heart as he realized what a fool he had been. Even now he couldn’t admit the truth, just how much he had wanted her to stay.
He hadn’t wanted to let her go.
Gravel spewed from the tires of Jasmine’s Jeep as she made the turn too quickly into the long driveway of the Big Sky Bed & Breakfast. Easing up on the gas pedal, she told herself to slow down. That no matter how much she wanted to she couldn’t run away from what had just happened.
Her head lights cut a narrow beam through the thick darkness. She shivered as cool, crisp air poured in through the open window. A complete and utter stillness filled the night, doing little to quiet the troubling thoughts echoing in her head.
There was no denying she’d made a fool of herself over a man. Not just any man, but Storm Hunter. A man who held her entire family in such disdain.
She gave a bitter sweet smile. Well, she’d certainly done little to change his opinion