Stirring Attraction(6)

And he still hadn’t come home.

Not to her.

He’d taken a break from his outpatient rehab to meet his niece after she was born. But he’d only stayed for a few days. Lily had been so caught up in school that she hadn’t realized he was in town until he’d left again.

The traffic light turned green and she ran across the street, heading for the quiet park. The university students had mostly left for summer vacation. Plus, it was after nine in the morning on a Monday. Most of Forever’s locals were at work. She ran past a mother pushing a stroller toward the park’s swing set. In the distance, she could see another jogger.

Alone with Taylor Swift. . .

She picked up the pace, determined to push the extra calories clinging to her legs into exile. She had a date tonight with a man who wanted the same things out of life. Marriage. Children. A fellow teacher who wished to settle in Forever, not run away. Ted was the definition of “good man” even if he never tried to back her up against the wall and take her . . .

Stop comparing him to Dominic. Stop waiting for someone who has made it clear he is not coming back.

The playground disappeared from view. She followed the path through the trees. Glimpses of the university’s buildings were visible through the bright green leaves, but nothing more. Rounding the bend, she saw a flash of red.

A man. Tall. Broad. Wearing a sweatshirt in June. Who did that? It was hot today even for a summer day.

He drew closer. Running toward her as if he knew her and wanted to say hello. He was moving fast. He was wearing a ski mask. In June . . .

And then he was on top of her.

She hit the pavement and fell back. He came with her. And oh God, he was hitting her. Over and over. She heard screams and hoped the sounds came from someone who would help her. A hit to the jaw. A punch to the gut, this one stinging. And then . . .

Silence.

She’d been the one screaming, her voice high-­pitched and terrified. She’d been the one begging for help until the reality sank in. She was alone. In the trees. Out of sight.

“Please . . . stop,” she whimpered, struggling to break free. But she wasn’t strong enough.

“You ruined everything,” a deep voice growled.

She kept her arms over her head, protecting her face. But through the gap she saw dark brown eyes peering at her through the mask.

His pupils are huge. He sounds . . . familiar.

And he looks crazy.

Of course he was. Sane ­people didn’t attack strangers in the park. But who was he?

He hit her forearm and she closed her eyes. The pain distracted from trying to place him. Her arms stung as if she’d been covered in paper cuts. It didn’t matter who he was, she just needed him to stop hitting her, stop hurting her . . .

The weight lifted, but the pain remained. She reached for her side. It was wet from his punches.

No, that’s not right.

She lifted her palm and saw the blood. And she screamed, over and over, never stopping to breathe. Panic rushed in and held her captive. Her world was reduced to one word.

Help.

No one came. Fear took over, shifting her cries. Screw help. She didn’t need a white knight. She needed power, strength, and someone who gave a damn about her.

Dominic.

She called his name. Her voice bordered on hoarse. She inhaled and tried again, staring up at the trees. The branches shifted in the light breeze as if mocking her. Sunbeams slipped through the leaves.

He’s not coming.

Her ranger wouldn’t rush to her rescue . . .

But he wasn’t an army ranger anymore. He’d been injured, rehabbed, and released. And he still hadn’t come back to her.

So she’d moved on.

She shouldn’t be calling for Dominic. Her new boyfriend—­the man who promised a future filled with gentle kisses, romantic adventures, and children. If she made it out of this park . . .

Ted.

She called his name to the trees. The leaves shook, spilling pockets of sunlight on the path. Ted specialized in teaching elementary school kids to read. He was a good man, a kind person . . .

Her vision blurred and the leaves above her merged together. She needed help now. She rolled to her side and the pain shifted, but it didn’t increase. More wasn’t an option. She’d reached her threshold. There was agony and passing out. Those were her only choices

But before she tried to escape the pain, she needed to crawl into the open. She had to save herself. Dominic, Ted, the woman in the park—­they weren’t rushing to her rescue. She needed to pull herself into the open.

Slowly, she maneuvered onto her belly and raised her left arm. If she could crawl . . .

Dragging her bruised, battered, and possibly sliced forearm over the paved path, she pressed down and pulled her body forward. Her legs scrambled for purchase, but she couldn’t find her way onto all fours.