Read Online Legacy Found: Legacy, Book 3 by N.J. Walters - Free Book Online
Authors: N.J. Walters
Ads: Link
and she couldn’t drag enough air into her lungs. She grabbed her throat, unable to breathe. The blood vessels in her temples pulsed until her head felt as though it was pounding. Her hands shook and her eyes began to water.
She was having a panic attack.
James jerked back and took in the situation at a glance. He cupped her face between his large, calloused palms and gently spoke. “You’re okay, Shelley. Everything is okay. Just calm down and take a deep breath. You can do it.” He kept up the patter, speaking softly until she was able to suck in some air. “That’s good,” he crooned. “You’re safe with me. I will never hurt you.” He rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks in a circular pattern. “Just breathe, honey.”
Another wave of humiliation washed over her. It seemed she was always going to be at a disadvantage around this man. She felt mortified by her lack of control. She’d thought she’d passed this stage several months ago.
James hooked a loose lock of hair behind her ear and smiled. “Feeling better?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.” She still felt lightheaded, but not as though she was in danger of passing out. “I don’t know what came over me.” That wasn’t quite true, but she wasn’t about to go into details.
“Nothing to apologize for. These things happen.” He eased back and Shelley felt bereft when he was no longer touching her, which was crazy. She didn’t want him touching her. Did she?
Neither of them spoke and she took those few minutes to compose herself. She swiped at the tears in her eyes and took another deep, cleansing breath. Her heart was no longer racing, but her headache was getting worse. She needed time to think, to make a plan.
Her entire life had been unexpectedly turned upside down only a few hours ago. No wonder she was emotional and off-kilter.
“I really think you should come to Wolf Creek with me.” He held up his hand before she could object. “No, listen to me. You can stay with my daughter and her husband and take a few days to figure out your next plan of action.”
He shifted and something crunched beneath his thigh. He swore softly as he yanked out the money she’d tried to give him. “I can’t take this. If anything, I owe you. I cost you your job, remember?” He caught her wrist with his free hand and pressed the money into her palm, closing her fingers around it.
His hand was warm where it touched her. It was also gentle. She wanted to go with him, but couldn’t take a chance. She didn’t trust anyone. Couldn’t afford to.
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
Rather than get frustrated or angry, one corner of his mouth kicked up in a wry grin. “You’re a stubborn little thing.”
She just gaped at him, knowing her mouth was wide open. She really didn’t understand this man at all. He wasn’t reacting like any other male she’d ever met. That made him unpredictable.
He yanked on his seatbelt, put the truck in gear and pulled out of the parking spot, merging into traffic. “Buckle up. I’m going to stop for gas, then we’ll leave town. You think about my offer for a bit longer before giving me your final answer.”
Shelley pulled at the belt and realized she was still clutching the money in her hand. She stuffed it back into her pocket for now and then snapped her seatbelt into place.
James was such a strange man. He’d bought her clothing and food, refusing to let her repay him for it. Nor did he seem to want anything in exchange for his kindness.
Not yet anyway .
She hated the mistrust that ate at her, but she couldn’t stop it. Nothing in her life thus far had disproved her theory. Nothing was free and men always wanted something from her. If she didn’t give it, they took it.
Fear nibbled at her psyche, but she shoved it back. She would not give in to it. She’d faced her demon and come out the winner. She was alive. The demon wasn’t.
But that didn’t mean her ordeal was over. There were men out there
She was having a panic attack.
James jerked back and took in the situation at a glance. He cupped her face between his large, calloused palms and gently spoke. “You’re okay, Shelley. Everything is okay. Just calm down and take a deep breath. You can do it.” He kept up the patter, speaking softly until she was able to suck in some air. “That’s good,” he crooned. “You’re safe with me. I will never hurt you.” He rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks in a circular pattern. “Just breathe, honey.”
Another wave of humiliation washed over her. It seemed she was always going to be at a disadvantage around this man. She felt mortified by her lack of control. She’d thought she’d passed this stage several months ago.
James hooked a loose lock of hair behind her ear and smiled. “Feeling better?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.” She still felt lightheaded, but not as though she was in danger of passing out. “I don’t know what came over me.” That wasn’t quite true, but she wasn’t about to go into details.
“Nothing to apologize for. These things happen.” He eased back and Shelley felt bereft when he was no longer touching her, which was crazy. She didn’t want him touching her. Did she?
Neither of them spoke and she took those few minutes to compose herself. She swiped at the tears in her eyes and took another deep, cleansing breath. Her heart was no longer racing, but her headache was getting worse. She needed time to think, to make a plan.
Her entire life had been unexpectedly turned upside down only a few hours ago. No wonder she was emotional and off-kilter.
“I really think you should come to Wolf Creek with me.” He held up his hand before she could object. “No, listen to me. You can stay with my daughter and her husband and take a few days to figure out your next plan of action.”
He shifted and something crunched beneath his thigh. He swore softly as he yanked out the money she’d tried to give him. “I can’t take this. If anything, I owe you. I cost you your job, remember?” He caught her wrist with his free hand and pressed the money into her palm, closing her fingers around it.
His hand was warm where it touched her. It was also gentle. She wanted to go with him, but couldn’t take a chance. She didn’t trust anyone. Couldn’t afford to.
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
Rather than get frustrated or angry, one corner of his mouth kicked up in a wry grin. “You’re a stubborn little thing.”
She just gaped at him, knowing her mouth was wide open. She really didn’t understand this man at all. He wasn’t reacting like any other male she’d ever met. That made him unpredictable.
He yanked on his seatbelt, put the truck in gear and pulled out of the parking spot, merging into traffic. “Buckle up. I’m going to stop for gas, then we’ll leave town. You think about my offer for a bit longer before giving me your final answer.”
Shelley pulled at the belt and realized she was still clutching the money in her hand. She stuffed it back into her pocket for now and then snapped her seatbelt into place.
James was such a strange man. He’d bought her clothing and food, refusing to let her repay him for it. Nor did he seem to want anything in exchange for his kindness.
Not yet anyway .
She hated the mistrust that ate at her, but she couldn’t stop it. Nothing in her life thus far had disproved her theory. Nothing was free and men always wanted something from her. If she didn’t give it, they took it.
Fear nibbled at her psyche, but she shoved it back. She would not give in to it. She’d faced her demon and come out the winner. She was alive. The demon wasn’t.
But that didn’t mean her ordeal was over. There were men out there
Similar Books
