I swallow, inhale, and hold my breath as he looms over me.
He might be wearing a suit, but his strength isn’t concealed. He’s a muscular beast of a man. My mouth falls a little lax on my exhale, my mind unable to comprehend such formidable power. He looks frightening, yet those cobalt eyes hold a softness within them as he stares down at me, his brown hair limp and falling across his forehead. “Who are you?” His deep, rough voice penetrates my skin.
I remain mute, just staring, my mind working hard to try to tell me whether I should be scared.
“Who. Are. You?” he demands, sounding menacing.
“I was walking home from work,” I rush to explain. “And heard…” My words fade when I realize I don’t know the name of the woman in my arms.
“Penny,” he prompts, nodding toward the woman. “Her name is Penny.”
I swallow nervously, unable to stop my eyes from scanning the pile of muscle and power standing over me. He knows this woman? “I heard Penny. She sounded distressed.”
His head cocks in question. “And you came to help?”
I frown a little. “Yes.”
His stare starts to burn my skin, so intense it makes me want to look away before I turn to dust. He is positively terrifying, yet some primal instinct tells me I’m in no danger. And neither is Penny. The other man, however, most definitely is.
The guy standing over me flicks his gaze to his associate briefly before it lands on Penny for a second, obviously checking her, and then settles back on me. The deep warmth that rests under my skin makes me feel uneasy. He’s a handsome man. I can see it past the harshness of his expression—his bristly jaw tight, his huge body tense. But, God, anyone would have to be certifiably nuts to mess with him. I can’t help taking in as much of him as I can, and there’s a lot of him. It’s all inappropriately impressive. I wonder where my fear and terror have gone. It’s him. His presence, his voice. The second he showed up, I was no longer scared, and that’s just plain weird, since he’s freakishly big and actually quite frightening. But his eyes contradict his terrifying persona.
And then I find myself settling even more when I see the most minuscule curve at the edge of his straight lips. It’s not an evil smile; I’m all too familiar with those. It’s an amused smile, revealing a dimple that’s too cute for him.
Looking back to his associate, he nods, a silent instruction, and the guy holding the pimp in a choke hold starts pushing him on, forcing his arm up his back and kicking his feet to get him moving, ignoring the pleas for mercy. “What are you going to do to him?” I blurt, watching as he’s shoved down the alleyway to constant screams of panic—panic that intensifies when a truck pulls up. He’s thrown into the back, the door shuts calmly, and the truck is pulling away a second later.
I turn my attention back to the giant before me, finding he’s not moved one inch. He doesn’t answer me. “Here.” He offers me his hand.
I clamp my lips together and hold my breath, instinctively bracing for contact. It’s beyond me, but when I reach forward and he swoops in to claim my hand, I feel an immediate boom in my chest. He gives me an almost dirty look, one laced with annoyance, as his hand squeezes around mine. I’m on my feet in a second, feeling light-headed. Intoxicated. Totally unstable. What the fucking hell is that?
He quickly pulls his hand free, and I take a few steps back as he watches me putting distance between us, looking deep in thought. “What?” I ask, if only to break the suddenly uncomfortable silence.
“Your hands are so warm,” he says quietly, looking down at them. “And it’s so cold tonight.”
“Did I burn you?” I ask on a nervous laugh, and he frowns, once again ignoring my question as he turns toward the other suited man, who’s back and collecting Penny up from the ground, cradling her in his arms and carrying her to the Bentley.
“Get her back to the Playground,” the guy before me orders brusquely.
“She’s concussed,” I blurt. I have no idea what the Playground is, but I realize that it’s not a hospital.
He moves forward a step, almost threateningly. I don’t move, finding the strength I need to stand my ground, and he’s surprised, judging by the slight tilt of his head. “Concussed? How do you know that?”
“I’m a nurse,” I explain. “She needs to go to a hospital.”
“You’re a nurse?”
I nod, and intrigue springs into his eyes. “She needs medical attention. I was calling for an ambulance before he…” My intended words disappear. I can’t finish.
His lips twist, abhorrence rampant in his expression, taking a fraction of his good looks away. The sight, though actually very scary, fills me with reassurance, even more than his formidable presence. “No hospital,” he declares, leaving no room for argument, stepping forward again.
No hospital? That’s crazy. I don’t care how big he is, or how frightening he appears. That woman needs treatment. “I’m afraid I have to insist,” I say firmly, breaking free of his iron stare to see his associate lowering Penny carefully into the back seat of the Bentley. “I don’t mind accompanying her if your presence will be a problem or spark unwanted questions.” I’m not stupid. I don’t know this man, but everything is telling me that people prying into the circumstances of Penny’s injuries wouldn’t be gratefully received. Or people prying into him, for that matter.
“What makes you think that?” His voice is deep and low. It’s rough but silky, threatening but soothing, and his cobalt eyes seem to dance as I stare at him. He’s getting a little thrill from my approach. He likes me challenging his authority.
“Instinct.”
His lips quirk a touch, that dimple forming again, his eyebrows rising in amusement. His humor irritates me now, and I muster up some fortitude and step forward, showing him my determination. The look of shock on his face fascinates me. He’s surprised that I’m standing up to him. Frankly, I am, too. “She needs a hospital.”
His dimple deepens. “What’s your name, girl?”
“Izzy.” I don’t hesitate to tell him, and I have no clue why. “Izzy White.”
“Izzy White. I’m Theo. Theo Kane.” I fall victim to his eyes again, staring in wonder. There’s a certain prettiness beyond the hardness of his face, making him appear younger than I initially thought, yet his presence is that of a far more mature man.
He steps forward, offering his hand. I stare at it and roll my shoulders to rid myself of the tremor of apprehension. “Take it, Izzy.”
I do, immediately, and he tugs me forward, my front coming dangerously close to his. He gulps, his hand beginning to shake, and he pulls away but doesn’t release his grip, like he’s having a fight with himself over whether or not to let me go. I look up at him in question, seeing that battle in his eyes. This close, I get to truly appreciate his height, my level vision falling just below his throat. Jesus, he’s a mountain.
Constricting his hand around mine, he takes another tiny step forward, almost as if he’s approaching me with caution. His persona and behavior could be interpreted as intimidating, but I feel nothing but intrigue. He’s studying me closely. The sharp stubble of his jaw is perfectly even, his lips parted just a fraction. “You have soft hands,” he murmurs quietly. “Warm and soft. I like the feel of them.”
Oh my God.
I look away, completely stunned. “She needs professional care,” I say mindlessly, feeling his grip flex around mine. I try to pull away, but he laughs in the face of my strength, keeping a firm hold of me. “I strongly urge you to take her to the hospital. It’s the best place for her.”
“You don’t think I can care for her?”
“Forgive me, but you don’t look like the type to have any medical knowledge.”
“But you do,” he replies gently, seeming to take no offense, his hand shifting a little in mine, roaming and feeling through my fingers. “So you’ll come with me.”
“What?” I blurt, my eyes darting upward. Is he crazy?
“Your concern for P
enny is touching,” he goes on. It’s now him trying to pull free from my grasp, but nerves have suddenly made my grip tighten. His jaw stiffens, and he yanks himself free with a hiss. My arm drops to my side as I stare up at a face that is hovering on the line between irresistible and dangerous. “I’ll ensure everything you need is waiting for you when we arrive.”
“I’m not a doctor,” I point out. “I’m a nurse. My medical knowledge isn’t as broad as a doctor’s.”
“I have faith in you.” Theo gestures toward the big, impressive Bentley, watching as I follow his extended arm. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you, Izzy,” he says on a mere whisper, turning those big hands over and showing me his palms. “That I promise you.”
I have no reason to believe him, and despite sensing that he’s no danger to me, I know I should be wise. And it wouldn’t be wise for me to get in that car with these two huge men. I shake my head and step back. “Please, won’t you just take her to a hospital?”
On a sigh, he reaches back under his suit jacket, pulling something out. “I can’t do that.” He holds something out to me, and I look down to see what.
A gun.
“Oh my God,” I murmur, clumsily stepping back, my composure long gone. “Okay, I’ll come.” I hold up my hands.
“Hey, calm down,” he says, way too gently, considering he has a gun aimed at me. What does he expect? But then reason finds me, and I peek at the weapon in his hand. He’s not holding it. It’s simply lying in his palm. “It’s for you.” He steps forward and takes my hand, putting the gun in my grip. “An insurance policy.”
The weight surprises me, and I look up at him, confused. “What?”
“If you feel like you’re in danger, go right on ahead and shoot me.” He smiles that cute smile again, and I’m forced to look away. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”
With his apology, I immediately fall under the spell of the contradicting softness and hardness of his stare. He won’t hurt me. Or Penny. I know the signs of a man who throws his weight around. I bet Theo throws his weight around all right, but not with women.
I swallow and straighten my shoulders, handing back his gun. “I don’t think I’ll need this.”
He cocks his head in interest as he accepts. “Why?”
“Because I have my own,” I joke and roll my eyes, and he gives me that roguish smile again. Damn that smile. It shouldn’t suit him. “Where do you live?” I ask, wondering who Penny is to him.
“You don’t need to worry about an address.” He slips his hand onto my shoulder, and I jump under his hold, fire racing through my veins. It’s making my head spin. “You’ll come with me, and I’ll have my driver take you home once you’ve seen to Penny.” His grip flexes, his big hand practically blanketing my entire shoulder. The odd warmth that melts deeply into me as I move toward the car is confounding, and I can’t think past the whoosh of blood pumping in my ears. Who the hell is this giant?
Chapter 2
I tell myself Penny’s well-being is the only reason I’m currently sunken into a plush leather seat heading God only knows where, but I’m lying. Theo has reduced me to an idiot. I must be stark raving mad. He tried to give me a gun to shoot him if I deemed it necessary. A bloody gun! But he also showed up and stopped that slimeball from…
A cold shiver travels through me as I gently pull up Penny’s eyelid to check her pupils before assessing the gash on her eyebrow. It’s stopped bleeding but will definitely require a few stitches. I feel momentarily guilty for being thankful for having Penny to focus on, because he’s still watching me, and it’s making my heart boom relentlessly.
“You’re nervous again.” Theo breaks into my thoughts with his cool statement, and my hands stutter in their motions. Yes, I’m nervous, but not for the reasons I should be. “Do you really think I’ll hurt you? Wasn’t my offer to arm you enough reassurance?”
“You won’t hurt me,” I confirm without hesitation, forcing myself away from Penny and resting back in my seat. His long legs are bent at the knees, his big torso reclined, relaxed, and his thick arm is resting neatly on the ledge beside his seat. It’s dark, but he’s as clear to me as he would be at the height of day. He commands attention. Demands respect. Screams power. Jesus, he’s as intimidating as a man could possibly be. I shift in my seat, wanting to glance away but unable to break the lock of our stares. “And I trust my instinct,” I add on a swallowed breath.
Theo shifts a little, too, bringing his index finger to his lips and thoughtfully brushing the length of it across his cupid’s bow. “And what is your instinct telling you, Izzy?”
“That hurting women isn’t your style.” I leave out everything that I think could be his style. It might take me a while, and I don’t think insulting this man would be a wise move.
“Your instinct is right. I won’t tolerate violence when it comes to women.”
My shoulders must visibly drop in relief, because his head cocks, and I’m suddenly aware that I’ve unwittingly given him a little piece of who I am. “That’s good,” I say quietly.
“And where does this instinct in you come from?”
I tense in my seat, looking away from him to gather myself. And when I return my attention to him, he’s smiling a little. This smile is a sympathetic one, and it carves away a fraction of the hardness that cuts his handsome face, making him even more handsome. He’s so damn handsome.
Theo must sense there will be no answer from me, so he looks over to Penny, his soft smile falling. The hardness of his features returns. “She’s the daughter of an old friend,” he says quietly, and I follow his gaze to the unconscious woman beside me. Her blond hair is matted with blood around her ear, her face washed out and pale. “She went off the rails when her dad died. Disappeared. I’ve been trying to find her.” His chest puffs out a little on a cold laugh. “Twenty-one years old and selling her body.” He hums, sounding thoughtful, and maybe a little sad. It brings my attention back to him, just as he brings his back to me.
“I’m sorry,” I offer, seeing genuine sorrow past the steel exterior of the muscle-ridden man. “Were you close to her father?”
“You could say that.” He clears his throat and looks out the window, a sign that the conversation ends there. “Home.”
I have to force the gasp of surprise back down my throat. Huge iron gates are creaking open, slowly revealing a mansion of epic proportions. The structure is glowing subtly in the distance, lit up by floodlights dotted around the grounds. “Holy shit,” I breathe, losing the battle to hold back my astonishment. “You live here?” I could probably fit our whole apartment under the canopied driveway on the front of the house.
“I live here, I work here…” The door opens, courtesy of an old man with silver hair and round metal-rimmed spectacles, who is clearly waiting for our arrival. “…play here.”
I dart a wide-eyed look to Theo, finding him studying me again. This time, I have to look away. Play? The door on the other side of the car opens, and another man leans in and takes Penny in his arms carefully—the other huge unit of a man from the alley. His blond hair falls over his eyes as he reaches for her, his smooth jaw tight, the nostrils of his straight nose flaring. He’s not quite as big as Theo, but he still looks like a force to be reckoned with, if a little prettier.
“After you.” Theo gestures for me to get out, and I do, my neck craning as I unbend my body, looking around. The huge double doors before me are wide open and the concrete pillars on either side, flanking the grand entrance, are guarded by another two big men. Suited men, both mean-looking, who nod as we pass. I try not to look too awed when we enter, as I take in the grandeur of Theo’s home. A double staircase curves up both sides of the extensive entrance hall, stretching to a galleried landing that circles the space, a massive chandelier suspended from the high ceiling, the crystals dripping down nearly meeting the floor where I’m standing.
The man holding Penny starts taking the stairs up the left side, and I swing around when I hear t
he doors behind me close, finding the two big men who were guarding them now on the inside with us. Then a lady appears holding a tray that has a tumbler of dark liquid positioned dead center. She comes to a stop a good six feet away from Theo, the tray held out, presented to him, forcing Theo to approach in order to reach his drink.
“Do you always get such an elaborate welcome home?” I ask with a nervous laugh.
He smiles, shrugging off his jacket and handing it to the lady before taking the glass and raising it to his lips. The loss of his jacket makes my breath catch in my throat, the white material of his shirt licking every inch of his huge torso—a torso that I can see is sharp, hard, and defined. I look up, my eyes following the path of his glass to his lips. I step back and reach in my bag, needing to escape the hold of those eyes before they render me incapable of anything except trying to comprehend his sheer presence. “I have very attentive staff,” he says, placing his empty on the tray. “Would you like a drink?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” I rummage through my bag to find my phone, not that I know what I’ll do once I lay my hands on it. I have no one to call, since Jess is still at work. I just need something to distract myself. My hands freeze in their searching, and the sound of a smashing phone in my head reminds me that my mobile is no more. I could laugh. I’m in a strange house, with lots of strange, large men, and I have no phone. Smart move, Izzy. Really smart.
“Lost something?” Theo asks, sliding his hands into his pockets.
I straighten up and raise my chin. “Yes, my gun.”
His eyes sparkle, and he holds up his hands in surrender.
I sigh on a disbelieving shake of my head. “I should see to Penny and go.”
“Of course.” He kicks his feet into action and passes me. “I’ll show you the way.”
Breathing some steadiness into myself, I start to follow, focusing on anything around me except the towering frame of the man a few steps ahead—the elaborate art hanging on the walls, the striped carpet with gold stair bars in the crook of each step, the intricately corniced ceiling.
Gentleman Sinner Page 2
