Even though that was a total lie. I’ve never seen this guy a day in my life, and that’s saying a lot. I can remember anyone’s face. I’m humoring him so he can leave me alone.

  “I knew I was right,” he laughs. “Good to see you.”

  “Same.”

  Even though that was a total lie as well. It’s not good to see him, or his friend next to him. In fact, I wish they would leave. I get an uneasy feeling from them. They edge a bit closer to me, and I decide it’s time to go. I start walking away from the bus stop at a calm pace so they don’t think I’m trying to run. Looking straight ahead, I hasten my step.

  But I hear their footsteps in tow. Mine gain speed, and so does theirs. And before long, they begin chasing me. I hear their feet pounding the pavement in hot pursuit. They trail me for blocks. Suddenly, I don’t feel so cold anymore. I’m hot. My mind is running a million miles a minute. My adrenaline is in overdrive. I’ve never run this fast in my life. It feels like I’m flying instead of running. I just need to get away. I don’t know what the intentions of these men are. But I sure don’t want to find out. I keep looking forward. My eyes start to water from the cold and, possibly, the fear that I might die tonight.

  Despite my teary-eyed tunnel vision, I notice an opening to my right. It’s an alley on the side of an abandoned apartment building. I look back only briefly to see that I’ve put a good amount of distance between myself and the hoodlums. Hopefully, they can’t see me in the darkness. I bolt down the alley and keep running. I don’t know where I’m going, but my legs are not stopping. I look behind me again to make sure they’re not gaining on me. The second I turn back around, I run right into solid human chest. The impact nearly knocks me back.

  My eyes adjust to the mass that I just collided with, and I nearly faint.

  It’s Mike Eisenhower.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Rachel runs right into me. I hold her shoulders as she looks at me with paralyzed eyes. Tears run down her face. She lets out panicked, shivering breaths.

  “Mike?” she whimpers.

  “Rachel. What’s going on?”

  She swallows and looks behind her. “Th-there were two guys trying to chase me,” she cries. “I don’t know what they want, where they came from. I was—I was at the bus stop minding my business and they just approached me out of nowhere.”

  “You’re safe now. Okay?” I look in her eyes to assure her. “Hear me? I got you.”

  I hear the frantic pattering of feet in the distance and assume it’s Rachel’s pursuers. I pull her behind a dumpster and cover her mouth. She’s breathing hard and fast. We hide there until the guys pass. I hear them yelling that they “have to find her”. Not on my watch.

  I peek around the dumpster to make sure the coast is clear.

  “C’mon, Rachel. We’re good. My car’s around the corner.”

  I escort her to my Tesla. She’s visibly shaken but trying her hardest to keep it at bay.

  “Rachel, you’re fine now, I promise. Those guys are long gone. They aren’t gonna hurt you.”

  I open the door for her as she climbs inside. She sniffs back tears.

  “Rachel.” She resists at first. “Rachel,” I say again. “Look at me.”

  She turns her head in my direction and I can see the water building up in her eyes. I feel bad for her. I just want to hold her and tell her that everything’s going to be fine. But at present, she doesn’t look like she wants to be held.

  I walk around to the driver’s side and get in. “I’m right here,” I tell her. “Nothing’s gonna happen to you as long as I’m here.”

  Her lips separate. A sound comes out of them, but that’s it. Just a sound.

  I start up the car and drive away from the scene. She doesn’t say a word. I want to ask her where to so I’m not aimlessly driving around the city, but I’m scared the slightest question will rattle her.

  “Are you okay?” I ask her instead. That’s more appropriate.

  The expression she wears is answer enough. She’s distraught. Her face is like stone. She stares straight ahead at the road, only half-blinking every so often.

  “Where do you live, Rachel?”

  Silence. She swallows and looks out the window.

  “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before,” she finally says. “I grew up in the grungiest part of Philly, with some of the worst people, and no one has ever done this to me.”

  “Really?” I say.

  She clears her throat. “Yeah. In my thirty years of living in this city, no one’s ever chased me down the street before.”

  I sigh with sympathy. “Well, I’m really sorry this happened to you.”

  “What were they gonna do to me?” She looks at me with wondering eyes. “Rob me? Rape me? Kill me?”

  “I don’t know, Rachel. But whatever they were gonna do, they can’t do it now. Not when I’m around.”

  “I’m glad you were there,” she tells me. “If you weren’t . . . I don’t even wanna think about what might’ve happened.”

  “I hate to see cowards like them try to take advantage of a woman who’s by herself. Straight scum. And if I had seen them actually hurt you . . . I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

  She goes quiet again for a moment. We drive past another dilapidated building with an alley on its side.

  “You being there was like . . . perfect timing,” she says. “Almost uncanny when I think about it. Like if I had never run down the alley and kept going straight, they’d probably still be chasing me right now. Or I might be dead. Whichever comes first.”

  “Fate is a hell of a maiden, isn’t she?”

  She hums curiously and gazes out the window again. “She’s almost too on point. By the way, I live in the Glendale apartments over on Fifth and Baldwin.”

  “Ah, I know exactly where you are,” I say. “That’s definitely inner-city territory.”

  She snaps her eyes at me. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “No, no. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I’m just saying. I’m sorta familiar with that area.”

  She folds her arms. “Really? And what does a rich hotshot like yourself know about the hood?”

  I laugh. “I have family over that way, Rachel. Lotta cousins who I grew up with. Just because I’m a billionaire doesn’t mean I don’t rub shoulders with common folk.”

  “Common folk. Hmm. Only an elitist would say something like that,” she teases.

  The entire way to her place, she and I bicker about whether or not I’m of the uppity crowd. All in good humor, though.

  “Here we are. Your destination is on the right,” I say, imitating a GPS navigation voice.

  Rachel giggles. She seems much better from when she bumped into me.

  “Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate it.”

  “Oh, it’s the least I could do.” I point at her building. “Can I walk you to the door?”

  “You don’t have to, I’m okay.”

  “You sure?”

  She smiles. “Positive. Thank you, though. That’s really sweet. Well . . .” She looks at her apartment building, then back to me. “Good night.”

  She opens the door, but before she gets out, I grab her arm.

  “Hey, Rachel?”

  “Yeah?”

  “From this point on, I’m taking you home from work. No more catching the bus at night.”

  Her mouth struggles for a reply. “Mike, you really don’t have to—”

  “Aht. Not up for discussion. Can’t have this happen to you again. As a matter of fact—”

  I push a button on the side of the console and the glove compartment door pops open. I rummage through junk looking for something to write on; a napkin . . . no. A business card I don’t care about . . . that works. I reach inside my suit jacket and pull out a pen, then scribble my number on the back of the card.

  “—here’s my number. You lock it in, and call me when you get off work so I can come get you. Okay?”

  She takes it with reluctance. “Thank you, Mike.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Almost being attacked by a pair of thugs changes you. Especially when it’s your first time. I feel strange being here at the pharmacy after last night. Things feel like they’ll never be the same. I guess they won’t since now, I’m going to be extra wary of my surroundings and the people that come through here. Paranoia has taken my sanity hostage. My body is here, but my mind is still stuck at the bus stop down the street. I relive the chase over and over in my head.

  At present, I’m manning the counter, hoping to God that the next person who approaches isn’t an ill-intentioned creep. I’ve hoped that for the last few customers that I’ve seen today. There are no friendly faces, no matter how smiley they seem. My coworkers, Sammy and Tina, sense that something’s up with me; I’m not acting like myself. I still haven’t told them what happened to me.

  “You alright, Rachel?” Sammy asks, leaning on the counter beside me.

  I take a breath. “Not really.”

  “What’s the matter?” Tina asks, emerging from the storage room in the back.

  I look at the two of them, almost ashamed (and afraid) to say. “I got chased by a couple of goons last night,” I tell them.

  “What?!” they say in unison.

  “Yeah. I was waiting for the bus and these random guys just approached me out the blue. When I got bad vibes off them, I tried walking away, and before I knew it, they started chasing me.”

  “Oh my God!” Tina cries. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

  “No, they didn’t get a chance to. I ran as fast as I could. But guess who was there at the exact moment I was being chased?”

  “Who?!” they say in harmony again.

  “Mike.”

  “Eisenhower?!” Tina exclaims.

  I nod sheepishly.

  “What are the freakin’ odds?” Sammy says, with his hand slapped against his cheek.

  “Talk about perfect timing,” Tina adds.

  “Right? I was happy he was there to save me, but I did find it kinda weird. Like how are you here at just the right time?”

  “It is a little suspect that he just happened to be there,” Tina concurs. “Did he say why he was there?”

  “Never,” I say. “I thought he’d at least explain his business for being in the area. But no. Nothing.”

  “Hmm. What if he’s stalking you, girl?” Sammy proposes.

  “Or what if he’s one of those guys who go out of his way to rescue a damsel in distress?” Tina speculates. “There are weirdoes out there like that. They get off on saving desperate women.”

  “Like a knight in shining armor complex or something?” Sammy asks.

  “Something like that,” Tina replies. “They’re those guys who want you to need them. It’s like a narcissistic thing.”

  I don’t want to believe that about Mike. But is it possible? Yeah.

  And speaking of the Devil—a handsome devil I should say . . . here he comes now. My heart nearly bursts through my chest. Just the mere sight of him gives me butterflies.

  “Rachel,” he calls. That voice makes the butterflies dance and scatter.

  Sammy and Tina, as if on cue, disperse the scene and leave me to fend for myself. Some friends they are.

  “Mike.” My voice doesn’t know whether to be shocked, excited, relieved or scared. “Wasn’t expecting you on a Saturday.”

  “Sorry for the surprise visit, but—” He reaches into his pocket. “—I’m here to return your mace,” he says, sliding me the can of pepper spray. “You left it in my car last night.”

  “Oh.” My eyes light up. “Didn’t know I left it. It must’ve fallen out my pocket when I got out. Thank you.”

  “Not a problem. Hopefully, you never have to use it,” he chuckles.

  “So far, so good. Still hasn’t been broken in yet,” I say. “Even though last night might’ve changed that.”

  “Well, you’ve got my number,” he says. “I hope to hear from you when you get off work.” He smiles and leaves.

  I stand there wondering what I should do. Should I allow this man, who I barely know, to drive me home after every shift? Or should I risk getting accosted by hoodlums at the bus stop? Because if it happened once, it can definitely happen again.

  For the remaining two hours of my shift, I dither between the two options. Nine o’clock arrives at last and I bid Tina and Sammy farewell. I decide not to call Mike and I call a cab instead.

  This time, as I wait, I make sure I stand in a more well-lit area: directly underneath a streetlight. The downside is that it’s raining, though. Hard. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to let up any time soon. The dispatcher on the phone told me that a cab should be here within the next ten minutes. Twenty minutes comes and goes.

  Please don’t let this be a repeat of last night.

  I see headlights in the distance. As they grow bigger and brighter, I realize that they’re not attached to a yellow vehicle. Instead, they belong to a silver one. A Tesla.

  My heart sinks. Don’t tell me this is Mike.

  The car slows down in front of me and the passenger side window rolls down.

  “Rachel!” he yells through the roaring downpour.

  “Mike. What’re you doing here?”

  “You were supposed to call me.”

  “A cab is on the way. I’ll be fine.”

  “There’s no way I’m letting you stand in this,” he says. “Get in!”

  I look down the street for my cab, then back at him, then back down the street again. Ninety percent of me is tempted to get in with him. To be next him, under his care and protection. I want to. I really, really want to.

  “You’ll take me straight home?” I ask him.

  “Rachel, I’ll take you anywhere you wanna go! Just please get in!”

  I can’t lie. His begging is a major turn-on. The fact that he is so intent on making sure I’m safe . . .

  A crackle of thunder rumbles the air and I duck in terror. If that’s not a sign that I should just quit being stubborn and hop in, then I don’t know what is.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “We had a deal!” I yell. My voice competes with the howling rain.

  “I’ll be fine!” she yells back.

  “You really wanna stand out here in this mess? It’s not letting up any time soon!”

  “Positive! I’ve got my umbrella . . . I’m okay! You don’t have to worry about getting me home!”

  “Don’t be like this, Rachel! Let me help you!”

  “Mike, I’m serious! I’m good! I’ve already called my cab.”

  I give up. I roll the passenger window up and shift the car into gear. But then I stop myself. I can’t leave her. Not in this, and not after what almost happened to her last night. I roll the window back down.

  “Come on, Rachel. This makes no sense. Please get in.”

  She huffs with annoyance, looks down the street, then back at me.

  “Okay,” she sighs, opening the door. She shakes water off her umbrella, deflates it, and swings herself into the car. “Thank you.”

  “That’s what I’m here for, Rachel. Why didn’t you call me?”

  “I didn’t wanna bother you,” she says. “I didn’t even know if you were in this area.”

  “Don’t ever feel like you’re a burden to me,” I tell her. “Okay? ‘Cause you’re not.”

  “You sure it’s not a hassle?”

  “Are you kidding me? If I can keep you outta harm’s way, it’s worth it. I like you, Rachel. I really do. You’re too nice of a young lady to be out here at night all alone. In a storm, at that.”

  She fights back a smile. “That’s very sweet, Mike.”

  “I mean it. I want you to know something, Rachel. I’m willing to do anything to protect you. You just gotta trust me.”

  “Why are you making my safety your priority?” she asks. “You barely know me.”

  “Ah, but I beg to differ. I’ve been paying attention to you for so long, I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yeah. I know that that Sammy guy you work with makes you laugh. I know that slow customers irritate you. I know that you’re allergic to strawberries. I know that your dog, Chaz, is like your absolute bestest friend—your words, not mine.”

  Rachel giggles bashfully. “And how did you find all this out? You’ve been stalking me?”

  I laugh. “Conversations I’ve heard you have at the pharmacy,” I tell her. “A lot of those times, you probably thought I wasn’t paying any mind, but I was. I’m very observant, Rachel. ‘Specially around people I really like.”

  She blushes. “So what you’re saying is, you’ve had your eye on me for a while.”

  “That is accurate,” I admit. “And this entire time, you didn’t realize it.”

  “So why the protective instinct? How do you know I’m not some crazy psychopath who eats children for a living?”

  I lean over and frown. “You’re not, are you?”

  Both of us erupt with laughter.

  “I can assure you I’m not,” she replies. “Never have been, either. But what is it that makes you feel like you have to defend me?”

  “It’s you,” I answer simply. “You’re what makes me wanna defend you. You just seem so innocent and genuine and . . . not to mention, very attractive. I feel this inner obligation that I can’t let anything happen to you.”

  She hums curiously and goes quiet. Wasn’t quite the reaction I expected after what I’d just said, but okay.

  “Everything alright?” I ask.

  “I still find it a little odd that you were there when those guys tried to chase me,” she says. “What were you doing in the area anyway?”

  “I had actually just come from a friend’s who lives over that way,” I explain. “He’d told me that they were doing some roadwork near his apartment, and that I’d probably have to detour when I left. Getting to his place was no issue. Trying to get home was the headache. So I took a shortcut. I noticed that this alley cut all the way through to the next main street, so I went down the alley, hoping to hop on Bagley and take that straight to the expressway. My friend and I had quite a bit to drink. So I pulled over and let the buzz settle down. That’s when I heard feet running and I got out the car to see what was going on.”

 

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