Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
He attacked that guy for you.
He’d come to my rescue just like X had on those nights I’d needed him.
He knew where I was…
I froze.
Could it be him?
You told both you were at the movies.
But I couldn’t remember ever giving the name of the cinema because I’d been drowning in panic like an idiot. That’s why X isn’t here. That’s why he—
He’s not here because he said you’d never see him again…remember?
I swayed.
“Sailor?” Zander stepped into me, his green gaze darting over mine as if worried I was about to pass out. “Are you alright? Do you need to sit down?”
I stumbled away, my heart resuming its panicked flurry. I couldn’t get my bearings. Couldn’t stop the yearning for one man all while another had saved me.
Anger rose, wanting to strike at all these annoying, confusing, stupid feelings.
I wanted to fight again.
I rather liked fighting back. I’d held my own despite my size difference. Perhaps I’d enrol in a self-defence course and take my rage out on the very man who’d stalked me, then abandoned me.
Cupping my shoulders with gentle fingers, Zander studied me. “Speak to me, Sailor. You’re scaring me a little. Are you sure you’re okay?”
My skin burned where he touched me, delivering the same prickly electricity that X gave.
My gaze caught on his mouth.
My stomach clenched.
If he was X, would he kiss me the same as he did in my kitchen? Would he shove me against a car and devour me just like he’d trapped me against the wall and worshipped me?
Kiss him and find out.
The thought blazed like a comet.
I flinched at the thought of being so bold.
My eyes fell on his mouth again—
But the flashing lights of a police cruiser pulled into the car park.
And Zander tripped away without another word.
* 40 *
Zander
Bruised Knuckles Were Worth It
“THANK YOU, DR NORTH, MISS ROSE. WE’LL be in touch if we require more information.”
I nodded at the two police officers who’d arrested Chad Harris and taken our statements. They’d eyed Chad’s bruises and peered at me, noticing my sore hands, but Sailor had jumped in and taken most of the blame.
I would’ve happily admitted I’d beaten him up and barely managed to stop myself from killing him, but it was probably a good thing she’d stopped me.
A doctor with a criminal record was not ideal.
Luckily, one of the officers recognised me from an evening when I’d stitched up his hand in the ER. I vaguely remembered him being stabbed by a housewife with a steak knife.
Apparently, the eighteen-year-old who’d tried to rob Sailor had formed a nasty habit for methamphetamines and had been targeting single theatre goers for a while.
I’d barely looked at Sailor while we went through the process of explaining. I withheld information on how I’d found her and claimed I’d been in the right place at the right time. I’d ignored the throbbing in my knuckles from ploughing my fists into his face and didn’t worry about the day after tomorrow when I had to be back in surgery. Hopefully, the swelling would’ve gone down by then, and I could use my hands for complicated cutting and stitching. If not…I’d have to reschedule.
Colin is going to have a field day with this.
Lost in my thoughts as the police officers nodded politely at Sailor, I didn’t move until the flashing lights of their cruiser drove away, taking Chad Harris with them.
Silence fell over the car park.
Faint thunder rumbled on the horizon, the atmosphere dense with the promise of summer rain.
I needed to get Sailor home before we got drenched. I needed to figure out a believable lie as to why I was here and how badly Lily would blow my cover when she told Sailor that I’d called with rude demands to know where she was.
I’d done a lot of unexplainable things tonight, but if I’d been just two minutes later…Christ, I couldn’t think about what might’ve happened.
But there I went…thinking about it.
About the way Sailor had been on the ground, crawling away from a guy intent on hurting her. Yet another motherfucking asshole who thought they could hurt her. My chest seized. I staggered backward, landing against a car.
“Zander?” Sailor rushed to my side, her hand landing on my arm braced across my chest. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
Her concern for me. Her caring for me. It was too much. I couldn’t do it.
My knees threatened to buckle.
Who was I kidding that I could keep X a secret for the rest of my life? I’d crack. I’d never been good at hiding stuff and my cover was most likely blown anyway, but…the way she watched me? The soft gratefulness in her blue eyes. The utmost trust on her pretty pixie face. It was so different to her initial reaction. Before the police arrived, she’d looked almost angry with me. Her gaze locked on my mouth as if she was about to either punch me or kiss me.