What an asshole. Why did I walk away when she opened up like that? I’d wanted to know what was inside that head of hers since I met her, and I walked away when she started talking. “What a fucking asshole.”

I stepped under the spray of the water and rinsed the soap off. I couldn’t get involved. She said her dad was dead, but it was too much like a story I heard before about a controlling dad and his innocent daughter. I couldn’t go down that road again.

Every time I thought about Laney I’d find myself wondering if she was happy with Bryce, the fiancé I kidnapped her from. I couldn’t have been with her even if they weren’t together anymore since I was the reason their relationship ended. She never would’ve forgiven me.

I placed my face under the shower and wished I could’ve drowned. I didn’t understand why the doctors saved me. I didn’t understand why I was allowed to live. I was a horrible person who had done an unthinkable thing. I didn’t deserve a life since I’d changed hers.

It was an exhausting day, and the only thing I wanted was sleep. I didn’t bother to get dressed again after the shower. I wrapped a towel around my waist and grabbed my clothes before heading up to bed.

I opened the apartment door and saw Maggie facing the mini fridge, drinking a beer. “You’re already dehydrated. Why didn’t you get water?”

“Because we drank all the water.” She turned and sucked in a deep breath when she saw I was only in a towel. “I, uh, need to get more tomorrow.”

“I have an idea. Why don’t we fill the fridge with water and forget the beer?”

“I like beer. Did you want one?” She wouldn’t take her eyes off my scars. “What happened to you?”

“It’s okay. I deserved it.” My hand dropped the clothes I was holding to catch the beer she tossed my way.

“Damn. I was hoping the other hand would’ve let go to catch it.” She took a drink before smiling and tilting her head.

I walked over to her with the beer I caught and placed it on top of the fridge. She stepped backward with each step I took toward her until her back was against the fridge. I got within two inches and looked her up and down.

“Anytime you want to see what’s under the towel, all you have to do is ask.” I ignored the stench of the alcohol and bent down to her eye level. “Lose the beer and your clothes, and I’ll show you a workout you won’t soon forget.”

“Who’s to say you’ve got anything I want under that towel? I know what I bring to the table. I’m not so sure about you.”

I looked over her body again with a closer inspection and allowed my erection to grow. It wasn’t that I could control it anyway, but I didn’t usually encourage it unless I was going to use it. I had a different use for it that night.

“Don’t worry about it. What I’d bring to the table is more than enough to get the job done. It might even be too much.”

“Is that so?”

I held both hands palms up and shrugged as if to show uncertainty, but when she realized my hands let go of the towel, she looked down. The towel hung on my erection, giving her more than enough proof that I was far from a disappointment.

I stepped back a few steps and smiled while watching her eyes grow bigger as it sank in. I held the towel long enough to bend down and pick up my clothes but let go and walked to my room with the towel swaying in front of me. I didn’t need to turn around to know she was looking at my ass. If I turned around and saw the want in her eyes, I would’ve taken her right there. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t get involved. What I needed to do was get rid of the fucking beer.

* * *

I sat up and looked around as my heart beat out of my chest. It was another nightmare. They happened a lot when I was recovering from the gunshot wounds, but those nightmares were a replay of what happened. The nightmares I was having for the past few days were about not saving Laney. I didn’t pull her behind me in time.

My breath was shaky as I tried to pull more and more oxygen into my body. I needed to calm my heart. I knew Laney was safe. I knew I saved her. What I didn’t know was if she was happy. It wasn’t any of my business. I had no right to know what her life was like. No matter what the outcome was, I altered it.

It didn’t sound as if Maggie was having a better wake up time than me when I heard her yell, “Shit!”

I grabbed my pants at the foot of the bed and pulled them on before checking on Maggie. I gave her enough of a show the night before. I smiled remembering how she looked at the towel. If she hadn’t been drinking, I might have lost the towel completely. Maybe the beer should’ve been kept around as a buffer.

I stepped into the hallway and heard more cussing coming from her room. I shook my head and opened her door. “What’s your problem?”

She dropped her bra and crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t you ever knock?”

I smiled, crossed my arms, and leaned in the doorway. “I usually do, but you were creating such a scene in here I thought you needed help.” I looked down to her bra on the floor and pointed at it while I looked back up to her and smiled. “Do you need help with that?”

“No, what I need you to do is leave. I’m late for my appointment at the bank.”

“Oh, don’t let me stop you.” I rolled my hand toward her. “Carry on. I’m sorry I missed the lower half of the show.”

“You know,” she let out a humorless chuckle, “I really don’t have time for this shit.” She dropped her arms, bent over and picked up her bra, leaving her breasts uncovered.

I swallowed. I was glad I left my pants unfastened because my erection needed the room. I was too stunned to respond and too turned on to look away.

“I need to get to the bank, and I really hope this meeting goes well. If it doesn’t, then I’m screwed.” She stopped talking long enough to put her bra on and grab her shirt. “I’m nervous enough about this that I don’t need you making me feel more self-conscious than I already do. I’m already terrified I’ll say the wrong thing and fuck it up.”

She pulled the shirt over her head, and I took the opportunity to step directly in front of her. She was startled when she pulled the shirt down and saw me standing there. I looked over her body and lingered on her breasts.

“You have nothing to be self-conscious about. You are an amazing woman with a killer body.” I bent down and whispered, “If I had a towel right now, I’d show you just how beautiful I think your body is.”

She put her hands on my hips right above my jeans and whispered back, “Really?”

I looked down as she looked up, and it was all I could do to not kiss her. The doubt in her eyes needed to be squashed, but I couldn’t be the one to do it. “Finish getting ready.” I swallowed and stepped back. “I’ll take you to the bank.”

She looked down and nodded. I wasn’t rejecting her, even though she seemed to feel I was. I was saving her from me. She’d learn that in time. She’d find her perfect man. I was far from perfect. I turned to get dressed. And, to think about puppies and kids. I had to get rid of my erection, and there was no time to get rid of it the preferred way.

* * *

Maggie was pacing by the truck when I got outside. “I should’ve just taken Bev’s car.”

“I’ll get you there. You have plenty of time.”

“I’m just so nervous.” She got into the truck and fastened her seat belt before I got over to my side.

I got in and started the truck before fastening my own. “I understand this is a big deal, but are you asking for a loan? I know it isn’t any of my business, but I’m not sure what you’re so nervous about. You said you get paid today.”

“Yes, I do. I’m just nervous about how much I’ll get paid.”

I eased out into traffic. “What do you mean? Your pay fluctuates?”

“It’s a long and boring story that involves my father, so I don’t think you want to hear it.”

I looked at her. “I’m sorry about last night. I’m not very good about opening up and getting personal.”

“No, but you’re very good at opening doors and getting personal that way.”

I couldn’t stop the smile. “I am sorry about that. I had just woken up, and I wasn’t thinking. I heard you cussing and wanted to see what the problem was. But believe me, there was no problem.” I flashed a smile her way and laughed when she slapped me.

“I guess it’s only fair since I’ve seen you without a shirt or pants.”

“Yeah, feel free to even things up and go without pants.”

She laughed and hit me again. “Not on your life.”

“I’ll die a sad, sad man.” I pointed to the light ahead. “Is this where I turn?”

“Yeah, and then go a few more miles before you take a right. I’ll let you know.”

I made the turn and glanced her way. “I know it’s personal, but I’m curious. Are you trying to take out a loan?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.” She wiped her hands on her jeans and tilted her head back. “When my father died, I was his sole beneficiary. His current wife was pissed, but he left her money based on years of marriage. It hadn’t been quite a year yet. I got the money she was dreaming of.

“But as I said last night, he controlled everything. So, I get a certain amount of money each month to make sure I’m taken care of, but I can’t have a penny more until I can prove I need it.”

“What happens if you don’t want to get married or can’t have children?”

“An attorney told me that I could contest it and try to get a judge to release the funds, but I would have to prove my case. I wouldn’t be able to just walk in there and say I don’t wanna.” She shrugged. “I don’t want to say that. I may want to get married and have kids one day, and it really is enough to take care of me every month. I don’t need the money all at once.”

“So, why are you nervous today?”

“I’ve asked to increase the amount. I can do that if I can prove I have need for the funds. There are provisions built in such as medical emergencies that would release funds automatically as needed, but if there’s something that I want, I have to get approval.”

“That’s why you borrowed Bev’s car and went to the bank. You were asking for an increase.”

“I actually went to an attorney. He works in an office above the bank.”

I glanced her way a couple of times. “Wait, is there a medical emergency?”

“Turn right up here.” She looked at me after I turned. “No, there’s no medical emergency. I just want to get more money to get the work done on the gym, and I want to make sure I have enough to pay you for the amazing help you’ve given me.”

I reached over and took her hand. “No matter what they say to you in there, it’ll be okay. We’ll make it work.”

She squeezed my hand and covered it with her other. “Thank you, but I really need this to go well. I have the money. I just need access to it.”

I squeezed her hand back. I knew exactly what that felt like. Tim had my money stashed somewhere. I felt like a bum taking handouts from strangers. The last thing I wanted to do was go back home, but it was the only way I was going to get my money back. When I was finished helping Maggie, I had to go home and take care of Tim once and for all.

I pulled into the bank and parked the truck. “I’ll wait for you out here.”

“No, you should come in. I want the attorney to meet you. His name is Walt Rollings, but he isn’t as old as he sounds.” She let out a nervous laugh when she got out of the truck.

I wasn’t comfortable walking into a personal matter like that, but she needed someone with her. She needed support. Unfortunately for her, I was all she had at that moment. I turned the truck off and got out as I looked at my watch. “See? We’re five minutes early. Want to make out?”

She smiled as her cheeks pinked again. “That isn’t helping.”

“I don’t know. It would help me.” I smiled.