Read Online Luca's Dilemma by Deneice Tarbox - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Deneice Tarbox
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blurring her vision at the one time in her life she needed it most. Her heart began to pound heavily in her chest, her fear mounting with each deafening beat.
“Are you okay, miss?” came a male voice from beside her. “You don’t look so good.”
Within a matter of seconds, a crowd formed around her. Sheila felt as though a corset had been slung around her torso, and each person within reach had a hold on it, tugging it tighter and tighter and cutting off her circulation. Her breathing became shallow, and the fog around her grew heavier by the second, weighing her down like a ton of sand. This was irrefutably scary beyond anything she’d ever experienced in her forty years of life.
“Let’s get her outside into the fresh air,” she heard someone else say.
Not sure how, she found herself outside sitting on a bench, surrounded by a sea of intentional do–gooders. The ability to concentrate became more difficult with so many voices — men, women, kids — all blending together around her. More and more people gathered to witness the unfamiliar scene, further exacerbating the situation. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, and she began to wonder if this nightmare would ever end. Just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, she started hyperventilating. The respiratory therapist in her knew that it was only a matter of time before she lost consciousness, something else to add to her escalating fear and embarrassment.
The sudden warmth of Tina's nurturing hand on Sheila’s back broke through to her senses. She chanced a look up at the blur she knew to be her friend, knowing Tina well enough to guess tears of frustration were in her best friend’s eyes. Sheila wanted to tell her to make them go away, that their presence was only making things worse. But the words kept getting lodged in her throat.
“Okay, people. Move on back and give her some air. You're suffocating her! Let’s give the lady some room to breathe!” a man shouted in an authoritative voice.
Oh, thank goodness someone has finally come to save me! Lord, please let me live long enough to thank my rescuer and get the hell out of here. I promise to be good. I promise! Sheila prayed silently.
The supercharged air around her began to lose its intensity as the crowd started to disperse. Within seconds, her breathing had regulated. She continued to keep her eyes closed for another minute in hopes that when they opened she’d find herself completely alone, not ready to face the embarrassment that awaited her. Opening them, she was far from disappointed. The now–familiar Luca sat on his haunches before her.
Oh my God, they did kill me! How else could this fine ass man be kneeling in front of me, here of all places? The genuine concern on his face and the gentle rub of his calloused fingers across her knuckles started her heart beating fast again, but for a totally different reason.
“Are you all right?” he asked in the gentlest tone she'd ever heard him use.
Sheila could only nod in response. Her eyes followed as he stood up to his full height and then sat beside her, his large frame overtaking the small bench. The close proximity instantly warmed her.
“Here, drink this.”
He placed his arm on the bench behind Sheila’s shoulders, sending a strange electric jolt up her spine that left hot tingles in its wake. Gently, he lifted a bottle of water to her lips and held it there, not removing it before she got a good swig. Sheila held his hand in place, feeding off the protectiveness that it offered.
“You want to tell us what happened?”
Although her distress had subsided, it remained very real. However, it wasn't overwhelming with him sitting next to her and holding her like he was. “I think I need to leave,” she said quietly with her eyes cast down.
“Why, Shi?” Tina asked with concern. “You were doing well until we entered the sheep barn.”
At the mention of the sheep barn, Sheila's distress returned. Luca must have
“Are you okay, miss?” came a male voice from beside her. “You don’t look so good.”
Within a matter of seconds, a crowd formed around her. Sheila felt as though a corset had been slung around her torso, and each person within reach had a hold on it, tugging it tighter and tighter and cutting off her circulation. Her breathing became shallow, and the fog around her grew heavier by the second, weighing her down like a ton of sand. This was irrefutably scary beyond anything she’d ever experienced in her forty years of life.
“Let’s get her outside into the fresh air,” she heard someone else say.
Not sure how, she found herself outside sitting on a bench, surrounded by a sea of intentional do–gooders. The ability to concentrate became more difficult with so many voices — men, women, kids — all blending together around her. More and more people gathered to witness the unfamiliar scene, further exacerbating the situation. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, and she began to wonder if this nightmare would ever end. Just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, she started hyperventilating. The respiratory therapist in her knew that it was only a matter of time before she lost consciousness, something else to add to her escalating fear and embarrassment.
The sudden warmth of Tina's nurturing hand on Sheila’s back broke through to her senses. She chanced a look up at the blur she knew to be her friend, knowing Tina well enough to guess tears of frustration were in her best friend’s eyes. Sheila wanted to tell her to make them go away, that their presence was only making things worse. But the words kept getting lodged in her throat.
“Okay, people. Move on back and give her some air. You're suffocating her! Let’s give the lady some room to breathe!” a man shouted in an authoritative voice.
Oh, thank goodness someone has finally come to save me! Lord, please let me live long enough to thank my rescuer and get the hell out of here. I promise to be good. I promise! Sheila prayed silently.
The supercharged air around her began to lose its intensity as the crowd started to disperse. Within seconds, her breathing had regulated. She continued to keep her eyes closed for another minute in hopes that when they opened she’d find herself completely alone, not ready to face the embarrassment that awaited her. Opening them, she was far from disappointed. The now–familiar Luca sat on his haunches before her.
Oh my God, they did kill me! How else could this fine ass man be kneeling in front of me, here of all places? The genuine concern on his face and the gentle rub of his calloused fingers across her knuckles started her heart beating fast again, but for a totally different reason.
“Are you all right?” he asked in the gentlest tone she'd ever heard him use.
Sheila could only nod in response. Her eyes followed as he stood up to his full height and then sat beside her, his large frame overtaking the small bench. The close proximity instantly warmed her.
“Here, drink this.”
He placed his arm on the bench behind Sheila’s shoulders, sending a strange electric jolt up her spine that left hot tingles in its wake. Gently, he lifted a bottle of water to her lips and held it there, not removing it before she got a good swig. Sheila held his hand in place, feeding off the protectiveness that it offered.
“You want to tell us what happened?”
Although her distress had subsided, it remained very real. However, it wasn't overwhelming with him sitting next to her and holding her like he was. “I think I need to leave,” she said quietly with her eyes cast down.
“Why, Shi?” Tina asked with concern. “You were doing well until we entered the sheep barn.”
At the mention of the sheep barn, Sheila's distress returned. Luca must have
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