Stitches and Scars Read Online Free PDF

someone stand close behind her.
    “Hello there, pretty lady,” came a slurred, scratchy voice.
    Realizing that someone was talking to her, she spun around in her chair and came face to face with the man who she’d seen just a moment before, watching her. Her stomach dropped and she swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the unease she felt. Surely I’m just overreacting , she thought though she didn’t believe it.
    “Why did you leave? I was having fun watchin’ you,” he slumped down in the seat next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
    Kate shrugged and tried to turn her shoulders away, but he was already turning her chair towards him.
    “Come on, stay and talk a little. I bet we would hit it off. And if we do, we can always go back to my place.” He leaned in and Kate could smell the stale cigarettes on his clothes and the bitter stench of his breath. His yellow eyes were sunk deep into his worn face as he stared down at her.
    Something about the way he talked and looked at Kate made her skin crawl. Her instincts told her to get away from him. Knowing the best way to deal with creeps like this was to be blunt and straightforward. She took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to say what she was thinking.
    “I know some girls might enjoy it when men like you hit on them. But trust me when I say that you have zero chance of scoring here, believe me. Move on.” She swung around in her chair, feeling braver than ever and started to walk away. Before she got more than two feet, a rough, calloused hand grabbed her wrist and yanked back, twisting her arm behind her.
    “Now, what’s a nice girl like you doing talking like that? Maybe I should teach you a little lesson. Teach you how you should be talking to men.” His breath blew in her face, and her stomach churned.
    “Is everything okay, honey?” Kate heard the voice from behind her and immediately knew it sounded familiar. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized who it was.
    The man who was holding Kate in his grasp dropped her wrist and stepped back. Finally free, she turned around and saw a pair of familiar gray-blue eyes. The mystery man from the gallery stepped closer and extended his hand. Without a moment’s hesitation, Kate reached for him and let him pull her to his side.
    “I take it you’ll be leaving for the evening?” The gray-eyed man glared at the drunk. “Or would you prefer me to escort you out?” His voice was firm, and there was an underlying current of anger that made Kate shiver in all the best ways.
    “No, I was just on my way out.” The drunken man looked down at Kate and winked before he turned to leave.
    She must have been holding her breath through the whole ordeal, because as soon as he left, Kate let out a huge sigh. Feeling her body relax, she turned and looked up into the same gray eyes she had dreamed about last night. She felt her legs go weak.
    “Why don’t we sit for a second,” the man whispered into her ear as he led her over to a chair.
    Kate felt completely stupid for reacting the way she was and tried to gather her senses.
    Get a grip, she told herself. “I’m fine, really. That guy was a creep, though. Thanks for stepping in.” Kate looked down at her wrist, noticing its red surface. He must have grabbed it harder than she thought.
    “Here, let me take a look at that.” The gray-eyed man reached forward gently and took her wrist in his hand.
    As soon as his hand touched hers, she felt her heart jump to life and start racing. Hoping that he didn’t notice her reaction, she dropped her eyes to the floor.
    “What, do you have some first aid training or something?” she asked, while trying to hide her face.
    “Something like that,” he said with a smirk as he turned her wrist over in his hand.
    Kate looked up and watched his face as he studied her wrist, his sexy smirk still in place. He was even more beautiful than she’d remembered. Her dream had not done him justice.
    “It looks like you’ll