by Arthurs, Nia
“Thanks.” His smile dimmed. “Have you talked to Mom?”
“Not recently.”
“She called me a few days ago. Said she hadn’t heard from you.”
Jewel glanced away. “Mom must have lost the address I gave her.”
“It’s okay, you know,” Juney whispered, his eyes revealing wisdom beyond his years. “I wanted to get away from her too. If you don’t want her around, I wouldn’t blame you.”
Jewel forced a smile. “Don’t be ridiculous. I love Mom.”
“Okay.” Juney stretched out the word as if she wasn’t convinced. “Well, I should get back to studying. Love you, sis.”
“Love you too.” Jewel signed off.
As soon as the screen went dark, she collapsed into the chair and let out a frustrated groan.
Her mother was a sore subject.
Miranda Blake gave birth to Jewel when she was only fifteen, barely a child herself. Jewel didn’t know who her father was. She doubted Miranda did either.
Her childhood had been riddled with darkness and hunger. She’d grown up resenting her mother. Now, she was thankful that Miranda had chosen to go through with the pregnancy, but that was the extent of her gratitude.
If she never saw that woman again, she’d be fine.
Jewel tugged at the hem of her over-sized sweatshirt and meandered to the cashier. The man raked his gaze over her, beady black eyes lingering on her sweatshirt.
“You alright, baby?” he asked, ringing up her total. “Isn’t it hot in that thing?”
Jewel shook her head and glanced at the windows to avoid looking at him. Waning sunlight slithered through the blinds and covered the floor with shadows. A man in a hoodie stood outside the door.
“That’ll be ten dollars,” the guy said. She handed over the money. He counted it slowly, his eyes unwavering and his smile growing by the minute.
Why wouldn’t he stop looking at her?
“You don’t talk much, do you?” He winked. “I like women like that.”
Was he hitting on her?
No, no, no.
She panicked and launched out of the store, thrusting the door open. The sunlight blinded her. Jewel stumbled to the sidewalk and bent over, struggling to catch her breath.
Footsteps pattered close.
A hand shoved her in the back.
Jewel took a dive, spilling to the hard concrete and landing hard on her arm. Her purse strap latched against her armpit as someone tugged on her bag.
“Hand over the purse, lady,” a man growled.
Her eyes widened as she stared up into the face of the guy with the hoodie. Jewel trembled and hurried to free herself of the bag that was hooked around her neck. She’d rather he take the purse than hurt her.
It was his loss. All she had in her wallet was a few dollar coins and a buss pass.
“Hey!” A deep voice yelled. “What’s going on here?”
The purse strap went taunt as the mugger froze. Another man stepped toward them. She couldn’t see his face, but he wore a blue shirt pulled tight across broad shoulders and blue jeans. He was so tall he blocked the sunlight.
A smoky voice raked her ears. “Miss, are you alright?”
Jewel glanced up and saw the mugger fleeing, black hoodie flapping against his back. She inhaled stiffly and looked into the face of her rescuer.
The sight of him made her lose her breath again.
His irises were a hazel-green. Thick, black brows slanted over narrowed eyes fringed by the longest lashes she’d ever seen. High cheekbones. A chiseled jaw. Short, brown hair brushed away from his forehead.
He was gorgeous.
But a dazzling face no longer blew Jewel away. She knew, more than anyone, that beauty could disguise a monster.
“Miss?”
She stiffened as his eyes slid over her with undisguised admiration. Pushing herself up to her feet, she ignored the hand he extended to her and brushed herself off.
The man smiled and a corner of his lips tilted higher than the other. It wasn’t a flaw so much as it was a physical quirk that made his attractive face even more interesting. “Should I call the police?”
“No,” she blurted. Realizing the word had exploded with too much force, she ducked her head and mumbled, “No cops.”
“Okay.” He threw his hands up.
“Thanks for your help,” Jewel mumbled. Turning, she started to run away.
“Wait.” The man reached out to touch her. Jewel shirked back and he let his fingers curl in the air before falling back to his side. In the same charming manner, he asked, “Are you sure you’re okay? You took a nasty spill.”
She jerked her chin down.
“I’m Finn.” He tilted his head. “And you are?”
She wrapped her arms around herself. More than anything, Jewel wanted to disappear from sight. Conversations weren’t her forte, but he had stepped in to save her from a thief.
“Jewel,” she said finally.
“Jewel.” He repeated her name, hazel eyes sparkling so hard she couldn’t even look straight at him. “Jewel, do you know where I could get a decent cup of coffee around here?”
Her mind flitted to Sweet Treats.
She cleared her throat and pointed up the street. “There’s a place not far from here.”
“Do you mind pointing the way? I can give you a ride. If we’re going in the same direction, I mean.” He quirked an eyebrow. If her heart wasn’t so twisted and gnarled it would have fluttered.
Jewel shook her head. “No, thanks.”
“I’ll walk with you then,” he said quickly.
Jewel shrugged and turned on her heels, starting out toward the bakery. Finn kept up with her easily, his long-legged strides eating up the pavement.
Jewel studied him from the corner of her eye. He was tall and broad-shouldered with a massive chest that could probably stop a Mac truck, but he was also friendly and warm. He seemed like the type of man who would never have noticed her if not for the mugging.
Not that she was particularly pleased to be in his line of sight now.
They walked in silence. For which she was grateful. After a few minutes, they neared the café.
“It’s here,” she said quietly, pointing to the building. Sweet Treats was painted pink and orange. The sight usually produced a rush of warmth, but Jewel was too nervous to be excited.
“After you.” Finn opened the door and tilted his head.
Jewel thanked him shyly and stepped into the cool interior of the bakery. The scent of brownies hit her and she relaxed, feeling in control now that she was on her own turf.
Sky shot out of the kitchen. “Just a minute!” Her gaze landed on the handsome man dwarfing her. “Hello.” Brown eyes flitted to Jewel. She saw the question in them before Sky asked, “Who is this?”
“I’m a friend of Jewel’s,” Finn said.
Jewel’s head whipped up.
He caught her glare and chuckled easily. “I mean that in the loosest sense of the word. We just met five minutes ago. Someone was trying to steal her purse and I stepped in.” He sidled to the counter. “Jewel told me I could get sensible coffee here.”
“That’s true.” Sky’s eyes softened as she tilted her head. “You thwarted a robbery, you said?”
“All in a day’s work, ma’am.”
Sky smirked.
Jewel rolled her eyes. Looked like Finn was working his charm on her too. She sighed and slid behind the counter to hide out in the kitchen. Before she could make her escape, Sky slammed the kitchen door shut and threw her hands wide, barring her way.
“Jewel,” she said in a slightly cajoling tone, “this guy just thwarted a robbery and walked you all the way back to the store.”
“I thanked him already,” Jo hissed.
“It’s fine.” Finn rubbed his jaw. “Honestly, I didn’t know Jewel worked here. All I wanted was some coffee.”
“I see.” Sky glanced at her and mouthed, “He’s so gorgeous!”
Jewel frowned. She’d noticed, but again, looks didn’t mean much in her books.
She saw no reason to stick around. Jewel had nothing to contribute to the conversation and she didn’t want to waste her time feeling uncomfortable around a man.
“I’ll go check the brownies,” Jewel mumbled.
Sky shot her a reprimanding look but nodded. “Fine.”
While Sky and Finn dove into a conversation, Jewel slipped into the kitchen and let the door bang shut behind her.
Finally. Silence.
She wilted against the counter and planted her palm on the cold surface. A stinging sensation flared in her hands and she glanced down, noting the tiny stones that had dug into her flesh. She must have scraped her hand when she fell.
Wincing, Jewel strode to the sink and let the cold water wash away the grime.
“Okay! See you then!” She heard Sky’s voice a moment before the door opened. Her boss slid in, her cheeks slightly flushed. “Whew. Is that guy even human?”
Jewel shrugged.
Sky moved toward her, brown eyes dancing. “So I talked to your handsome rescuer and, get this, he just moved her.”
“So?” Jewel frowned.
“So he doesn’t have any friends.” Sky grinned wildly. “Guess what I did.”
“What?”
“Guess!”
“Uh, you gave him a coupon?”
“No.”
Jewel’s heart twisted. She had a bad feeling about this.
“Okay, fine. I’ll tell you. I invited him to my wedding!” Sky squealed.
Jewel stiffened.
“Isn’t it great?”
“But you barely know him.”
“I know his name.” She counted off on her fingers. “And that he’s the type of man who’ll step in when he sees an injustice. Besides,” she winked, “you needed a wedding date.”
“Sky…”
“You’re welcome.” Her boss sashayed toward the oven, clearing stating that the discussion was over.
Jewel wheeled away, nostrils flaring and fingers digging into the rim of the counter. Sky was crazy to think she would ever date a man.
Especially one like Finn. She’d seen the control in his eyes, knew he was one snapped nerve away from going reckless. Men like him didn’t hear the word ‘no’ often. When they did, it was a challenge not a rejection.
Jewel had seen his kind before, had been branded by that selfishness.
Beautiful, but dangerous.
A man like Finn had ruined her.
* * *
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