Diamonds in the Rough: VOL. I

one

"Shit of all nights it would storm on my only late shift." Kianna mumbled to herself as she looked over the rain pouring from the sky. A shiver moved over her since the temperature had dropped. It wasn't like the change in degrees effected her. She had been through worse conditions during her time in the army.

The problem was the memories that rain brought to her. Especially when thunder was threatening to send a flash of lightning at any moment. She looked left and then right debating on how soaked she would be if she booked it to her car. It wasn't like she couldn't blast her heat.

She feared she wouldn't be able to find another job as good as the one she was currently working if someone seen her have a meltdown. Especially over the weather. Kianna was finally finding her way to some type of normalcy in her life again. PTSD wasn't an easy task to shake back from even with medicine.

Even when she took the medication her doctor prescribed for her. She could still find herself  triggered by next to nothing. The factor that she hadn't been home but for six months added to that. Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she went to step from under the awning she was under until a 2022 blacked out Cadillac Escalade truck pulled in front of her.

She could run around the truck, but Kianna was a sucker for a nice vehicle. Her eyes were admiring the exterior while a man stepped out of the front of the car. He slammed the door closed moving over to the back door. An umbrella was placed over his head as he stepped to the side. Then held it out for the next man who was getting out of the back.

The gold H buckle on the loaders on the man's feet caught her attention first. They almost looked as if they were sparkling against the dark ugly background. Her eyes traveled up the black suit pants that fit the man just right. His hands were covered in tattoos.

She felt herself watching their every movement as they unbuttoned the suit jacket. A white  button up with way too many buttons undone exposed his chest also covered in tattoos. His butter pecan skin catching her eye. She moved up to look over his clean cut beard connected with his mustache.

At that point she told herself to stop staring. But once her eyes linked with the dark ones already looking at her there was no point. Kianna stood up straighter as his lips moved up a little on the side. The man who stood next to him said something to him and he nodded as he took the umbrella into his hand.

Kianna wished to be that handle for a second before she caught a glimpse of a flash of lightening. Her back stiffened as she realized that she needed to move now or she would be stuck. Or worse she would lose her shit. She went to step forward and almost crashed into the same chest she was admiring just a few seconds ago.

"You good?" The velvet voice that wrapped around her forced her eyes back to the dark ones. He was still smirking as he shielded her with the umbrella. Too close. He was standing way too close. As if he had no idea about personal space.

"I'm fine." She whispered. A frown formed on her face. Was that her voice sounding soft? She took a deep breath to pull herself together. "I'm okay." She spoke again.

"You sound like you trying to convince yourself of that." He spoke again. "Let me walk you to your car." His offer sent a chill through her.

"No it's fine. I'm sure you have better things to do than to walk me to my car." Kianna looked into his eyes. She was expecting him to step out of her way. But he stayed put. She could tell from the look he was giving her, he was going to walk her even if she acted as if she didn't want that. "It's over there." She pointed into the dark parking lot.

He stepped to the side then his hand moved to her back. The contact made her straighten even taller. Standing at five foot nine, she was still shorter than his six four foot frame. Her mocha colored skin nested to his was the perfect contrast of melanin.