Page 32 of Wanted

Her statement hits its intended mark, though.

I uncurl my fist and place my palm against the door. “Emery, you’re not safe here. You need to come out.”

“Huh, and I’m safe with you?” Chelsea mouths.

“Yes.” The answer comes out immediately. “I told you I would help you find your sister, and I meant it. I’m not…” I break off because I’m not good with words. “Just open the door. Please. I won’t hurt you.”

I look at Chelsea, but she doesn’t mouth anything. I motion for her to repeat Emery’s response, but she shakes her head.

“She hasn’t said anything.”

My chest tightens. She’s not responding. I press my palm to the door and wait.

Suddenly, there’s a turn of the doorknob and a small crack of the door.

Emery’s face appears, but she doesn’t pull the door open. Still, even with the small amount of her that I can see, I let my gaze roam over her. It takes me a moment to realize that I’m checking over her to make sure she’s not hurt.

Though there’s a pinch between her brows, she doesn’t look injured. A feeling of relief flows through my body.

My relief is quickly replaced with irritation when Emery says, “I said I’m not coming out until you and those things are gone!”

She goes to close the door in my face, but I’m faster than she is.

Before I give it too much thought, I’m shoving my way through the door and closing it behind me.

CHAPTER 9

Emery

“Stay back!” I yell at Chance with my hands up. I back up without paying attention and end up tripping over the plastic garbage bin.

I reach for the bright, orange-colored counter to stop my fall, but there’s no need. A pair of strong arms reach out, saving me from crashing onto the black tiles of the floor.

A warm tingly feeling pulses through me, then images of what I saw outside just minutes ago haunt my mind. I push out of Chance’s embrace.

“Let go of me!” I say louder than intended. “This is the lady’s room,” I tell him as if he doesn’t know.

Those plump lips frown and there’s a look in his eyes. As if he’s feeling rejected by my pulling away from him. His pronounced Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he swallows, while taking a step back.

He gives me space, but now his body is completely barricading the door. I glance over my shoulder to see the tiny window that’s a few inches from the ceiling. I couldn’t escape out of here if I wanted to.

I do a quick sweep of the bathroom to see if there are any makeshift weapons I can grab. Aside from a couple of bottles of hand soap, there’s nothing.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” Chance’s deep voice draws my attention back to him.

For the first time, I realized he was dressed in different clothes than when we entered the diner. The deep V-neck of the T-shirt he has on shows off his very hard, bronzed chest.

My mouth dries. He must spend hours at the gym to get that type of physique.

I shake my head and remember where I am and what I witnessed not long ago in the parking lot of the diner.

This is no time to get sidetracked staring at muscles. No matter how sexy they are.

“I—please leave,” I say, though my voice comes out with a lot less harshness than previously.

Chance shakes his head. “I can’t do that,” he says. “Not without you.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” My voice is raspy. It’s almost as if I don’t believe my own words.