chapter 2

“Miss, are you alright?” A gentle hand settled onto my upper right arm.

The contact made me jump and brought my attention back to the man standing in front of me. What had I done? Had I really just grabbed a stranger off the street and kissed them? Had someone really just broken into my house and chased me? My mind was a mess trying to figure it out.

“Miss?”

I shook my head and looked up at him. My voice cracked as I attempted to form words that made sense. “My house was broken into. They were chasing me. I didn’t have chance to grab my phone, I didn’t know what to do.”

Realisation hit me over what had happened and what I had done to this poor man stood in front of me. “Oh, my goodness, I am so sorry.” I started to ramble.

He placed both hands on my upper arms, the contact was gentle and grounding.

“What’s your name?” He asked softly.

“Leah, Leah Garrison.”

“Leah, my name is Logan Carter.” He paused, watching me carefully. “You said your house was broken into?”

I nodded as the adrenalin was leaving my body; the shakes started to set in, and weakness soon followed.

“Did they hurt you?”

I shook my head as tears filled my eyes.

“Alright, let’s get you to the police station.”

It was only at that moment that I noticed we were a few feet away from the car. I staggered as we started to walk. Nerves drew high within me again. I hovered by the door unsure what to do. His hand came round me and opened the door. His smile was grounding my nerves, but uncertainty remained within me.

“Here,” I watched as he placed his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a mobile phone. “Keep this to settle your nerves.”

Could my face be so easily read? He handed me his phone with the emergency services number already plugged in onto the screen. I gladly accepted it and climbed into his car. I shakily fastened my belt while he got into the driver's side. I was still struggling with the shakes too much to be able to connect my belt, when he settled in. He took the belt from my hand softly and buckled it. The hum of the engine settled me a little more. I watched him carefully as he pressed a button on the steering wheel.

“Sir, how may I help you?” There was a soft voice that appeared from the speakers.

“Jack, can you let the local station know that I am on my way in, please.”

“Of course, sir. Is everything alright?”

“Yes, a young lady needed some help. Can you also have them page Amelia Clarke and ensure she is there when we arrive, please?”

“Of course, sir.”

The call disconnected and I felt somewhat relaxed. I fumbled with his phone in my lap and turned the screen off, placing it down in the center console.

“Thank you.” My voice cracked.

I looked down and knitted my fingers together into my lap.

“You’re safe Leah.” His voice was low and soft.

I looked over at him; a smile was dancing at the corner of his lips. He glanced at me as we pulled up at a red light and flashed me a soft, reassuring smile. I relaxed, looking back down at my hands in my lap.

“Can I ask you something?” He asked.

I nodded, refusing to look at him.

“You were broken into, you ran for, one could say possibly your life, you see me in the street and your first thought was – is he single?” I could hear a crack in his voice like he was trying to stifle a small laugh.

I shook my head. My voice cracked once more, “My head was swirling; I knew they were still chasing me. An idea came to mind, but I didn’t have time to stop and explain everything, I didn’t have time to ask you to save me. I just acted but I needed...” I took a breath.

“You needed to know if I was single so I wouldn’t push you away immediately and give you away?”

I nodded, blushed, and was ashamed. My eyes never left my lap.

“I understand,” there was a reassuring undertone on his voice, “Just so you know, I am single.”

My head snapped up, looking at him; he flashed a big smile at me.

“I’m sorry this has happened to you, Leah.”