Tormented by Jani Kay, Lauren McKellar Read Free Book Online

luckily I gripped the door handle to stop myself from keeling over. Why was it that when he actually listened I hated it even more?
    “I guess I’m not worth saving, huh? Just as I thought. You talk a good game, Eva.”
    Shit.
    He turned to walk away.
    Shit, shit, shit.
    Pressing the elevator button, he leaned against the wall with his back to me, his shoulders slumped forward and his head down.
    What was I to do? If I had all the answers I’d be the Dali Lama and not plain Eva Ryder.
    It’s better if he leaves. It’s what I want, right?
    With trembling hands, I fished for my front door key and tried to insert it into the keyhole. My vision had gone blurry from the tears that had welled up, and I blinked fast so I could see more clearly. Instead, my keys dropped from my hands and landed on the concrete floor with a heavy thud. I took a step forward to retrieve them, but in my haste, I tripped over, and this time I landed on my ass.
    How fucking embarrassing.
    Not to mention that it hurt like hell. I tried to get up before Harrison noticed, but I didn’t have the strength. Instead, I buried my face in my hands and just sat there, letting the tears pour down my cheeks.
    Harrison swung around and closed the distance between us. “Baby! Are you okay?”
    Um . . . no, I’m not. Not even close.
    I just cried harder. This wasn’t how I wanted this day to end. I was strong, independent, confident, yet I couldn’t control the flow of tears.
    “I’m going to take you inside, okay?” His voice was low and gruff.
    Strong arms lifted me off the ground, and I leaned into his chest. God, it felt so, so, so damn good. His heartbeat was nearly as fast as mine, and I couldn’t help the small smile that broke through.
    My breath hitched. “Okay,” I said in a shaky voice.
    The sense of relief that washed over me in that moment when I just gave myself to Harrison and let him take over stunned me. In the strangest of ways, it was liberating to not always want to be in control and to just allow a man to take care of me.
    Harrison inserted the key and opened the door without any of the trouble I seemed to have experienced. Maybe I was just too tired and drank too much red wine so that the smallest thing had become difficult and overwhelming.
    He carried me inside and straight to my bedroom. He inspected the grazed palms I’d used to break my fall and then gently brought them to his lips one by one and kissed them.
    “I know it hurts, but you’ll live,” he said, his eyes warm and kind.
    That look completely undid me. Gruff and moody Harrison I could deal with. But when he showed his caring side, I did what I always did and threw caution to the wind.
    “Thank you.”
    He swallowed hard and just nodded. “I think I remember where you keep the first-aid kit. We need to disinfect that graze.” His voice was laced with concern. I loved that he took control of the situation.
    Luckily I hadn’t packed that away yet. He left the bedroom and I could hear him open and close kitchen cabinet doors as he searched for the kit. A few minutes later, he returned to the room with a glass of ice water and the kit.
    I like this Harrison.
    Thoughtful. Caring. Sweet.
    Words I didn’t normally associate with the tough cop image he fought so hard to preserve. Harrison was an expert at hiding his softer side from the outside world.
    Ice cubes tinkled against the glass as he placed it on the nightstand and came to sit on the edge of the bed while opening the small plastic container with the big red cross on it.

Chapter 9 — Harrison
    “W ow, there are a shitload of boxes everywhere. You seem to be ready for the big move.” I made small talk in the hope that Eva would feel more comfortable with me being there and taking care of her.
    “Yeah, isn’t it strange? I haven’t tripped over a single box yet.”
    Chuckling at the irony, I took her hands in mine. Luckily she wasn’t bleeding, so I wiped her palms with an antiseptic solution I’d