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Henry
Freshly showered and feeling invigorated after spending the last 90 minutes at Waterfront Fitness, the upscale gym located in Brick Marketplace, Henry strode quickly down the sidewalk. He treated his workout regimen as if it were the Holy Grail. Lifting had become his drug, an escape that he began out of necessity. Being an overweight teenager with acne-prone skin, he’d grown tired of being bullied. Knowing that a fad diet wouldn’t work, Henry had gone to the boarding school’s library and borrowed a book on nutrition, which he read in its entirety that same night. The next day he’d returned to the library and borrowed another book. By graduation, he’d read each of the books in the massive collection.
Throughout his senior year, Henry had seriously considered combining his love of physical fitness with his passion for art. His vision was to pursue a degree in physical therapy with a minor in art therapy for children. Once he’d completed college, he’d then open a professionally staffed training center for children with special needs. The center would focus on their rehabilitation while helping them find their own creative outlets on their journey to wellness. Of course, when Henry had told his father his idea, Diego had balked. He’d given Henry no alternative but to earn his master’s degree in architecture. His father had Henry’s future already planned out for him—to take over the family business.
Suddenly, his focus was drawn to the large glass windowpane of the Literary Ladies’ Book Nook and Café. From behind the glass Victoria Hathaway stood fussing with a stack of books on display. Henry slowed his gait, reminding himself to breathe as his focus became riveted on Victoria Hathaway. Realizing he was acting like a green schoolboy, he moved on. Reluctantly, he lowered onto the driver’s seat once he’d reached his sports car parked only a few spaces away from the bookshop. Unable to tear his gaze away from the sexy bookseller, he fumbled with the ignition. The sports car roared to life.
Suddenly, the bookshop’s lights dimmed. Victoria stood at the entrance door and reached to turn the open/closed sign.
Like a voyeur, Henry leered from his position behind the steering wheel. His cock twitched. His full attention focused on Victoria’s feminine silhouette. Turning off the car’s ignition, he waited for her to exit.
Bundled in layers of pink, Victoria stepped onto the sidewalk. She withdrew a key from the lock and rattled the doorknob multiple times. A bit obsessive compulsive, Henry concluded while continuing to spy. Nonchalantly, she proceeded down the sidewalk and, apparently, didn’t plan on driving away in any of the parked cars she passed.
Henry clenched his jaw. Didn’t Victoria Hathaway realize she flirted with danger by walking alone at night? Anyone who possessed perverse intentions could hide among the plethora of dark alcoves that ran adjacent to the cobblestone streets. Evil lurked under the veil of night. Experience had proven this to him firsthand when his fiancée, Isobel, had been murdered the one night she walked home alone after class.
Henry brooded, uttering a curse under his breath. He pushed the driver’s side door open and unfolded his 6'5" body from the seat. Since she wasn’t going to look after her own safety, he’d have to do it for her.
Trudging over the slippery cobblestones, Henry prayed like hell that Victoria didn’t notice him. Wind gales howled violently, muffling the sound of ice crackling beneath his footsteps. Henry pulled on the collar of his coat, shielding himself from the whistling wind, its brutality nearly sucking the breath from his lungs.
Tendrils of gold wafted around Victoria’s face, sticking to the sides of her cheeks. A massive gust of wind blew her hat from her head. She turned to retrieve it, the edges of her matching pink scarf billowing wildly into the freezing atmosphere.
Shit!
Her hazel eyes widened. Lips parted, her scream was silenced by the hiss of the wind.
“Let me get that for you,” Henry said, stepping from the shadows.
Before he’d come up with a reasonable explanation as to why he was following her, Victoria turned and bolted down the street.
Son of a bitch!
Henry snatched up her hat and ran after her.
Breathing heavily, Victoria glanced over her shoulder, her foot sliding over the icy cement. The stumble briefly slowed her gait as he caught up with her. “Leave me alone!”
He grabbed the edge of her sleeve, halting her progress, and pulled her toward him.
Victoria wiggled spastically against Henry’s chest. “Help! Somebody! Help!” she screeched, the high pitch nearly deafening him.
Instinctively, Henry clamped his hand over her mouth, hoping like hell nobody peeked out their windows and called 911. “I’m not going to hurt you,” Henry breathed against her ear, catching a whiff of her perfume. Feminine and enticing, the fragrance ignited a spark of ecstasy to course through him. He ran his nose along her chin, inhaling deeply of the silken curls. “I’m going to remove my hand now.” Slowly, he inched his fingers away from her mouth. “Please. Just don’t yell.”
“Get away from me,” Victoria said and stomped on the top of his foot.
“What the hell did you do that for?” he huffed.
Victoria spun around, about to abscond for the second time.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Henry limped in front of her, using his body to block her escape. “Please don’t be afraid.”
Chest heaving, Victoria glared up at him, her lips drawn into a thin line. “Why are you following me?”
“I saw you locking up your store. When I noticed you were walking alone, I wanted to be sure you made it safely to your destination.”
Fear flashed through her eyes. “You’re watching me?” Panic resounded in her voice, her eyes darting around the darkened street.
Dammit! I sound like a perverted stalker. Great. Just fucking great.
There was no way for Henry to explain himself without sounding like a psycho. “Do you realize you could be attacked? Thank God you ran into me and not some rapist or murderer.”
Victoria took a step toward him, her horrified expression dissolving into fury. “You’ve got some nerve.”
Henry stared down at her. “Well, it’s a good thing I do. You certainly don’t give a fuck about your own safety. Someone has to.” Henry thrust the hat before her. “Here. Take this.”
She ripped it from his outstretched hand and tugged the hat low over her ears. “What difference does it make to you?”
His cock hardened, her temper turning him on.
“Wipe that smirk off your face.”
An image of her naked body spread open for him, his head dipped between what he was sure to be soft, creamy thighs flashed through his mind. He was thirsty for a drink of her sweet honey. “Make me,” Henry challenged, his voice husky.
“Don’t mess with me, Henrique Santana,” Victoria warned. “I hardly think I will thank God for the man who is trying to evict me from my home. Not to mention, someone who has threatened to close my business. “You—” she shoved her finger to his chest—“aren’t in any position to lecture me on my protection.”
“Ouch! Why’d you go and poke me in the chest?”
Her eyes narrowed, one toe tapping rapidly as she fisted her gloved fingers against her side. “I’m glad it hurt. You deserved it.”
How he’d enjoy taming the unruly vixen. Henry let out a long breath, trying to rid himself of his lustful thoughts. “Look, I’m not harassing you, babe. I’m simply making sure you make it home alive.”
“You. Arrogant. Jackass.” She threw her hands in the air. “My name is Victoria, not babe.” Balancing on her tiptoes, she craned her head back and squinted up toward his face. One finger flexed, poised to strike.
“I stand corrected.” Henry captured her finger between his palm and gently lowered it away from his chest. “I meant no disrespect. Please accept my sincere apology if what I said came across that way, Victoria.”
With her eyes narrowed into small slits, she reminded him of a Sphynx, a breed of cat he’d always found intriguing.
“Stop trying to take my home from me. That would be a good place to start.”
Your claws are out, Goldilocks. If she wanted to play cat and mouse, he’d be happy to oblige. “I’ll tell you what.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Oh...please do tell.”
He chuckled, “Patience, Ms. Hathaway.”
“It’s hard to be patient when you’re about to freeze to death. I have better things to do with my time than be harassed by an idiot such as yourself.”
“As I said before, I am not here to harass you. Anytime you want to leave, you’re free to do so.”
She pivoted away from him. “Bye,” she said and started to retreat down the sidewalk.
Henry caught up with her in two steps. “Hold up. Where are you going?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, Mr. Santana, but I’m going home.”
“You’re walking home in this weather?”
“Yup,” Victoria said, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her coat. “It’s a known fact that your metabolism burns faster when you are walking in the cold.”
It’s also asinine. The harsh wind beat against Henry’s face, his eyes watering. “If you agree to have dinner with me, I’ll discuss the construction project with you. Perhaps we’ll come up with an agreement that will prove to be mutually beneficial.”
“I doubt it,” Victoria snapped, staring straight ahead.
“You never know. Won’t you kick yourself later if you haven’t done everything in your power to try to stop my company from building on your land?” Henry flashed his most alluring smile. “It’s just business, Ms. Hathaway,” he said.
From the corner of his eye, Henry noted the conflict of emotions etched over her lovely face. Plump, moist lips that he longed to taste opened as if to speak but, instead, made an inaudible sound before she quickly pressed them back together. After several minutes, she questioned, “You’ll really consider what I have to say?”
If that’s what it takes to spend more time with you. Henry smiled; he had her right where he wanted her. “Yes,” he answered. “Besides, I’ve no idea where we are. You’ll be my beacon of light.”
“Not so smart now, are you, Mr. Santana?” she said. “You should have thought of that before you decided to stalk me.”
“I’m not stalking you. I’m looking after your well-being.”
“My well-being was perfectly healthy until you came along.” She turned to glare at him. “For your information, we’re now on Farewell Street. You should be familiar with it as your company is trying to take over the street. I ought to leave you here. It seems rather appropriate.”
Henry held his breath. He’d been so wrapped up in following Victoria that he’d neglected to make a note of landmarks. There’d been so many twists and turns, so many dark, narrow streets. If she didn’t acquiesce to help him, he’d have to rely on his cell phone for navigation.
“Fine,” she said after several agonizingly long minutes. “Where did you park?”