Held Hostage at Whiskey Gulch by Elle James

Author:Elle James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-11-24T19:36:40+00:00

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IRISH’S GAZE FOLLOWED Tessa until she disappeared down the hallway. It had taken every ounce of determination not to kiss her, when every fiber of his being wanted to. The woman needed a protector. Not a man taking advantage of her distress. She’d been physically and emotionally abused by her ex. She didn’t need a man confusing her while she was still working through her issues.

He went to work on cleaning the dishes and putting food away. When he was done, he stepped outside the house and stared up at the stars.

This was the perfect night to take a woman out on a date. A clear, Texas night with an infinite amount of stars. And the ones he would stare at the most would be the ones reflected in her eyes.

Maybe after this was over, after her attacker was caught, he might ask Tessa out on a real date. He’d take it slowly, make sure she was comfortable and that she knew without a doubt that he would never hurt her like her ex-husband had. Until then, he’d be strictly hands-off. He made a pass around the house, checking that everything was secure on the outside, even testing the back door to make sure that it was locked before he came back through the main entrance.

He paused in front of her bedroom door.

“Tessa?” When she didn’t answer, he pushed the door open. A light burned on her nightstand and she lay against the sheets, her cheek resting in the palm of her hand. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing deeply. She was asleep.

Irish returned to the living room, sat on the couch and then stretched out, laying his head on the pillow. He hadn’t felt too exhausted, but as soon as he closed his eyes, he was out.

He wasn’t sure how long he slept, but a soft sound woke him in the middle of the night. It sounded suspiciously like someone sobbing. And then it stopped. He lay there for a moment, waiting for it to start again so that he could figure out where it was coming from.

A moment later Tessa appeared in her doorway, carrying her pillow and a blanket.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She shook her head.

He patted the couch beside him. “Come here.”

She limped across the living room and sat on the edge of the cushion.

“Bad dream?”

Again, she nodded. “I was back in the willow trees. Instead of a man attacking me, the willow branches wrapped around me.” She shivered. “They pulled me in, suffocating me.”

“Sounds creepy,” Irish said. He turned on his side and scooted as far back as he could against the couch cushions. “You’re welcome to join me.” He lifted his head while she positioned her pillow next to his and then they both laid down. Her back to him. Her hand resting beneath her cheek.

“I’m not asking you to kiss me,” she said. “But would you put your arm around me? I feel safer when you do.”

He draped his arm across her middle and pulled her close.

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