Just One Touch (Slow Burn #5)(16)

         
       
        

"How did I get here?" she asked in a small voice. "Where am I?"

"You're safe," he said firmly. "As to how you got here, we found my SUV in a wooded area with you passed out in the backseat. You've been out for hours and you were an easy target there, parked in the open, unconscious. Anyone could have found you and taken you. I'm just thankful as hell that I found you first."

"Why?" she whispered.

Her response enraged him. It took everything he had not to explode on the spot. Jesus, but this woman evidently was so used to no one giving one fuck about her that she was genuinely perplexed as to why someone would actually want to help her. That someone would care.

"You saved me," he growled. "You put yourself at great risk to save someone you didn't even know, and there was no way in hell I was going to leave you to whatever those fuckers who are after you have planned for you."

Tears filled her eyes and she hastily looked away so he wouldn't see her distress. Taking a chance, he gently cupped her chin and turned her back to face him.

"What's wrong, honey? Why are you crying?"

"Because they'll never let me go," she said in a resigned voice. "They'll never stop looking for me, never give up, and anyone in their way they'll dispose of, just like they tried to do to you."

"Lucky for me, then, that I had my own little guardian angel to save me."

"You should get as far away from me as you can," she said with utter gravity. "No one who helps me is safe."

He growled and she jumped, eyeing him nervously. He moved closer to her and then cradled her cheeks with both his hands, his palms engulfing her small face.

"You aren't getting rid of me, baby. Now, there are other things we need to talk about and we don't have much time. I need some answers from you so I can keep you safe."

"The less you know about me, the safer you'll be," she said in a low voice.

"Fuck that. Let's get something straight right now. You aren't protecting me. I'm protecting you."

He could swear he saw relief flicker in her eyes just before it was replaced by fear. He'd remove it permanently if it was the last thing he did.

"What's your name, honey?" he asked gently.

She blinked in surprise.

"I can't keep calling you 'baby' or 'honey' forever."

She blushed, and he found it adorable.

"No one has ever called me anything sweet before," she said wistfully.

"I didn't say I'd stop calling you honey or baby or a number of other endearments, but I do need to know your name because no one else is going to call you those other things but me," he growled. 

Surprise flashed in her eyes and then she blushed again, and it took all his restraint not to kiss her.

"J-Jenna," she stammered.

"Last name?"

To his surprise, shame crawled across her face and she turned away, tears sparkling on her lashes. What the fuck?

"I don't know," she whispered. "I was just Jenna. Not important enough to have a last name."

Again, what the fuck?

"Jenna is a pretty name. It suits you. Perfect name for a beautiful woman."

She turned back to meet his gaze, her expression hopeful. Jesus, was she so accustomed to rejection that she expected it at every turn? Did she not realize how sweet and heart-stoppingly beautiful she was? Stupid question. Of course she didn't. This was a woman who'd never been assured of her self-worth. A woman who felt she had no worth. He wanted to put his fist through the wall.

"What's your name?" she asked shyly.

"Isaac. Isaac Washington. At your service, ma'am," he said with a charming grin.

She smiled and holy fuck, what a smile she had. He made a vow then and there to coax them out of her as often as he could, because something told him she didn't smile a lot, nor did she have a whole hell of a lot to smile about.

Then he became serious. "Jenna, I need to ask you some questions and we don't have a lot of time, because I'm moving you to a safe house in the next hour. And I know you'll have some questions before you blindly trust me. I get that."

She stiffened, and apprehension once more sparked in her eyes.

"Please don't be afraid, honey. Not of me. Never of me."

"I'm afraid for you," she burst out.

Isaac sighed. "Okay, before we get into what I really wanted to discuss, I think it's a better idea to tell you who and what I am so that your fears will be eased."

She looked puzzled.

"I work for a security company. Personal protection. We're the best, Jenna, and that's not an idle boast. Our job is to protect people and we're damn good at it. So you don't need to be worried about me or any of the men who will take part in protecting you."