Vicki fell back, hands rising in defense, her cheek burning as she attempted to escape her attacker. She found her balance only after she slammed into a stall door.

“What the hell are you doing? Stop it.” She swung at the hands reaching for her.

The blur of bodies in the small space made it difficult to focus on faces. The air filled with noise, and one single voice called out above the rest in anger. “Bitch. Get out of here, you whore.”

Fingers caught her dress, the fabric ripping as she was shoved out the main door. She stumbled over her feet and ended up in a heap against the opposite wall. Anger flared along with a healthy dose of fear. Fight or flight was kicking in, but she wasn’t stupid enough to head back into a confined space to face her attackers. Nor did she want to end up brawling in the hallway.

For once logic swept away the urge to swing her fists, and she scrambled upright and headed toward the main room and the protection of the crowd.

Cool air brushed her side, and she stared in disbelief at the wide gap in her dress, the seam torn in two from her rib cage to her hip. Even pulling the fabric together didn’t help, as holes gaped on either side of her white-knuckled grip, leaving her bra and underwear exposed.

She couldn’t go into the main room like this. And she couldn’t stay in the hall—the group that had assaulted her could be out at any moment.

Frustration and anger flared, this time at the unfairness of it all. Everything had been going well, and yet her usual luck had caught her again.

She turned and headed for the emergency exit, hoping it wasn’t wired to set off alarms.

The tears that threatened to rise were shoved away by sheer determination and the rush of cold air that greeted her. Cigarette smoke carried from the sitting area to the north, a far-enough distance from the main doors to meet provincial regulations.

Vicki glanced to check she was safe, but the few people huddled together within the smoky haze scarcely looked her way before returning to their conversation and beers.

One arm wrapped around her waist to hold herself together, she pulled her phone from her purse and dialed Joel.

The noise in the background was deafening loud, but the confusion as he answered was still audible. “Vicki?”

“Can you grab my coat? I’m outside. We need to go.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Thank God he didn’t ask any questions. She tucked her phone away, keeping alert as she hid in the darkest section of the area. It seemed only safe to stay out of sight from anyone driving by.

She was shivering by the time Joel rounded the corner, but hell if she’d let this break her. Although running and jumping into his arms was what she wanted, she simply stepped forward.

He was at her side in a moment, wrapping her coat around her shoulders, looking her over. “Damn it, Vicki, what the hell is up?”

“Someone—”

What did she say when she wasn’t sure, other than it had to have something to do with her family?

“Fuck.” Joel lifted her chin and turned her face to the side, brushing his fingers tenderly over her cheek. “Who hit you?”

He was furious. She played it down. “Let’s go home. I’m cold.”

He might have ignored her request if a full-body shiver hadn’t shaken her. Joel had her against his side and headed toward her apartment without another word.

She didn’t need revenge right now, didn’t need his anger. He was there, and that was enough. Made it easier to put aside some of the confusion, and a lot of the frustration, and just accept his arm around her, the heat of his body brushing hers.

The couple of blocks passed quickly, and they were out on the landing as her fingers shook on the keys.

Joel wrapped his hand over hers and helped her, turning to snarl wordlessly at the man in the next apartment who’d opened his door to snoop, this time classily dressed in nothing but boxers.

“Fucking bastard. I’m talking to your landlord tomorrow.”

Vicki dropped her purse on the table beside the door, too wound up to protest. She kicked off her shoes and stumbled to the edge of the daybed. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“If I’d taken care of you properly, you wouldn’t have ended up standing outside in the cold.” He was on his knees in front of her examining her cheek again. He swore, his knuckles whisper-soft over where the strike still pounded. “What happened, darling? You went to the bathroom, and next thing I know it looks as if you’ve been beaten up.”

“Someone called me a whore.” The words burst out. So much for keeping her cool. The hopelessness she felt was clear even in her own ears. “I didn’t do anything, Joel, I swear I’ve never done anything to—”

Her voice broke. Staying strong when he was looking at her with such tenderness in his eyes was impossible. She caught him by the shirtfront, leaned closer to soak in the comfort of his body, and gave in to the tears.


Emotionally he’d been yo-yoing all night. The slow changeover in attitude from those around them once they’d hit the dance floor had reassured him there was hope. The blazing heat rising between him and Vicki made the rest of their deal that much more attractive as well. With a few plans falling into place for the future, like spending time with Matt and Travis and their partners, things were looking up.

But the confusion of having her call him, and the sight of her stepping from the shadows so forlorn and broken had torn something inside him apart.

The truth finally sank in. It wasn’t rumours and innuendo Vicki had to put up with. It wasn’t laughing jokes or snide comments like he and Jesse had been fielding. To be physically hurt by someone pushed her life into territory he’d never experienced.

The asshole across the hall was just one more example of a dangerous situation she daily disregarded because there was no choice for her than to ignore it. How long did she have to put up with this insanity, until it was too late? Until she was seriously hurt or raped?

His safe, small town showed a different face in that moment, and Joel Coleman grew up in a hell of a hurry.

While Vicki wept in his arms, Joel’s heart ached. He held her tight and let her have it out. Didn’t try to reassure her everything would be all right, didn’t give her any platitudes, because there was so much wrong here that he didn’t know how to fix.

She released his shirtfront, slid her hands around his torso and squeezed him tight. “Thanks for being there.”

Joel slipped his hands around her and was shocked to discover naked skin. He leaned away to figure out what the devil he was touching. “God damn it, what happened to your dress?”

“That’s why I had to go outside. I don’t think they meant to rip anything.” Vicki took a stuttering breath as she lifted her fingers to touch her cheek.

“And that handprint was an accident as well, I suppose.” Joel caught her gaze. “You should press charges.”

Her expression tightened. “I don’t even know who they are.”

Which made it worse, not better. “No one should be able to attack you for no reason, Vicki.”

“They had a reason, only I’m not the one to blame. I told you, the woman who hit me called me a whore. Said she was surprised to see me in public.”

Joel’s anger wasn’t cooling, if anything it was getting worse. “You think they got you and your sister mixed up?”

Vicki broke her gaze away, and Joel wanted to hit something. Yeah, that didn’t make the attack any better at all.

Screw it. Joel sat on the bed beside her and pulled her into his lap, cradling her close. “What do you want to do?”

She wiped her eyes then rested her cheek on his chest. She was so still he thought she might be holding her breath. Then she brought one hand up to trace the buttons on his shirt, and all the tension in the room flipped the corner, his body stupidly tightening with need.

Vicki spoke clearly, without a waver. “I want to forget the last thirty minutes happened and go back to you being as hot for me as you were on the dance floor.”

“God, Vicki.”

She lifted her face. “I mean it. I was having the time of my life until, like everything else in my world, the fun and the laughter got torn away. And that sucks. So if you really want an answer, I want you.”

Her hand cupped his face, fingers so soft as she stroked his skin.

“Darling—”

“If you still want me.” The words whispered out as she buried her fingers in his hair and broke his remaining protests.

To deny his desire would be another slap in the face.

Joel let his gaze shift down her body. Watched her chest rise and fall far too rapidly for how calm and cool she pretended to be. The pulse at the base of her neck fluttered.

Ignore the past thirty minutes? He couldn’t do that. He’d never be able to get what he’d just learned out of his soul.

But he could give her what she needed right now. What they both needed. To feel alive and in control.

“Let’s see what happens, okay?”

Something lit in her eyes and she swallowed hard. “You mean it? We’re gonna…?”

He leaned her over to reach her lips more easily, pressing her onto the bed. He spoke against her mouth as he smoothed back the long strands of hair that fell between them. “We’re gonna see what happens.”

Gentle kisses followed. Fleeting. Tender.

It wasn’t time to wait anymore, but there was no need to rush.

“You have a whole lot of things you haven’t experienced, remember?” Joel adjusted her until she lay flat on the bed, easy to touch and pet and stroke.

“You mean I get my blowjob lessons?” She smiled so earnestly before breaking into a grin of sheer mischief.

“We’ll leave that one for a bit later. Now shut up and let me kiss you.”

He cupped her face carefully to avoid bumping where the imprint remained. She’d likely have a bruise by the morning, and he didn’t want to remind her of the stupid cruelty of others.

He laid his mouth over hers and kissed her. Used his tongue on her lips until she cracked them apart and he could slip inside. Gentle. Delicate. Still intoxicating enough that their breathing grew ragged and his body hardened.

He left her lips and glided lower, pressing another kiss to the throbbing pulse in her neck, drawing a finger down the neckline of her dress to one breast.

Vicki stared with wide eyes. “No padding this time either, I swear.”

God, that she could joke? He wanted to wrap her up and protect her, and instead she was already forging ahead, dealing with what life had handed her. Damn brave, so much to admire.

So he followed her lead and teased right back. “Then you’d better prove it. Let’s get that pretty dress off you. I want to hit second base properly this time.”

Vicki shot upright, reaching behind her for the zipper.

“Not so fast. That’s my job.”

Getting a woman out of her clothes for the first time wasn’t something to be rushed. Joel kissed her, tangling his fingers in her hair. Letting her set the pace so he didn’t take it too far, too fast. Vicki moaned into his mouth and pressed against him, eager in her response.

Joel caught the back of her head in one hand, twisting her hair to the side to expose the long zipper. He tugged downward until the shoulders of her dress loosened off and allowed the neckline to gape open.

Her bra was in the way, but there was still a lovely amount of bare flesh before him.

“You gonna stare down my top all night or take off my clothes?” Vicki teased.

“Both.”

Zipper dealt with, Joel stroked from her neck outward, pushing aside fabric. He leaned over and kissed the newly exposed skin.

He repeated the motion on the other side, only this time when the material slipped from her shoulder, her top fell away, leaving her naked from the waist up except for the bra.

Vicki hesitated for a moment. “It’s nothing fancy—”

“Your tits? They don’t need to be fancy to turn me on.”

She shook her head. “Joker.”

He had to touch. Teasing her skin until she arched against his hands, little whimpers of need escaping from the back of her throat.

Joel paused. Once he got started, he wasn’t going to be able to stop. So he planned ahead. Jerked his shirt free from his jeans and tore off both layers at the same time, discarding them to the side.

Vicki smiled, approval in her eyes. “Nice floor show so far. Don’t stop.”

“This is about you.” Joel leaned forward, the heat of her skin brushing his as he reached behind her and undid her bra.