“What the hell happened? Are you okay?”
“Rocky? W-what are you…” She looked over his broad shoulder to the bank’s entrance as if the answer to her stuttering question would somehow be there.
“Answer the question, sweetheart. Are you okay?”
Sweetheart?
“I-I’m…”
She struggled to find an appropriate way to describe all she was feeling.
I’m fine. Still in shock. Happy as hell to see you, though I’m not even sure why since I barely know you. And I’m currently working damn hard not to let the ghosts from my past take over.
The truth was, Raegan was feeling all those things and more. But rather than disclose something she’d almost certainly regret later, she chose to let her voice slowly trail away into nothing.
Rocky’s stare searched hers a moment longer before it landed on her slightly throbbing cheek. She could hear his sharp intake of air and knew she was probably already bruising. A muscle in the side of his strong, square jaw bulged, and when his Adam’s apple bobbed, the man’s hard swallow was more than a little audible.
“He hurt you.”
“Jerk caught me with his elbow while we were fighting for control of his gun.” She gave a shrug of her shoulder as if it were no big deal.
Given all that she’d survived in the past, a cheap shot to the face was at the very bottom of the list.
Rocky’s eyes widened, and he started to lift a hand, almost as if he were thinking of reaching for her. When he stopped himself, Raegan's disappointment nearly brought her to tears.
She had no idea why this man affected her in such an intense, profound way. Or how a guy she’d only just met could feel like such an anchor in the midst of a turbulent storm.
But with the next beat of her heart, she felt herself leaning in and wrapping her arms around Rocky’s narrowed waist. Laying her uninjured cheek against his hard, sculpted chest, she clung to him as if he were her lifeline.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” The admission fell from her lips as a whisper.
The sentiment was crazy and confusing, and she couldn’t even begin to understand its basis for being the truth. So for now, Raegan didn’t bother trying.
The man’s strong arms wrapped around her in the warmest, most comforting embrace. And for the first time since spotting the gun the robber had been carrying, Raegan finally felt as if she could breathe.
Safe.
The word filled her mind as if it were gospel. Which, of course, made absolutely no sense. She hardly knew this man, for crying out loud. And yet…
“Hey.” Rocky pulled back far too soon. With the gentlest of touches, he reached up, carefully feathering the back of his knuckles along her tender cheek. “You sure you’re okay?”
The fluttering beats of her heart made it nearly impossible to keep her lungs moving.
So much for being able to breathe.
Raegan’s jerky nod probably wasn’t her greatest ally, but it was the best she could come up with. Mostly because a wave of uncontrollable tremors was suddenly filling her entire system.
It’s the adrenaline. Just ride it out, and you’ll be fine.
As if reading her mind, Rocky’s tone was soft and gentle as he told her, “The shaking will stop soon. It’s just the adrenaline dump.”
Rather than tell him she was familiar with the phenomenon, Raegan stared up into those steely blue eyes and asked, “H-how did you even g-get in here?”
“Remember when I said my team works closely with local law enforcement?”
Oh, right. That.
“B-but h-how did you even know about what happened?”