Broken Beginnings

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Galen

I propelled myself into the seat beside the fiery little redhead and couldn’t help but frown when she flinched, shrinking into herself even more. If she got any damn smaller, that big old sweater she wore would swallow her whole, I was sure of it. Tiny, slim fingers poked out from the black fabric of the hoodie she wore to assault the hem. I knew she was working out her nerves. I wondered if rolling and unrolling the fabric was helping the way she hoped it would. I could practically smell her fear. She was terrified, and wounded, and so very damaged. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I had ever encountered another woman who was so frail, and yet so determined to fight her way through life. Something had hurt her. Someone had shattered her trust in men, and although I didn’t know what happened or who did her wrong, I kind of wanted to kill them.

My fists tightened on the steering wheel as I breathed in deep. “What kind of music do you like?”

“Uh,” she shrugged those tiny shoulders and I knew I would have missed the movement if I hadn’t been watching her so intently. “I like it all.”

“I like country.” I stated matter of fact.

She laughed. It was a sweet sound. It made my stomach feel full of honey and I wanted more. “I figured you would.”

“Really?” That was a surprise. Most people in town had me pegged for a rock kind of guy.

“Yeah,” she eyed me up and down. “You look country.”

“I look country?” I felt a frown tugging at my lips. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know,” she looked at me, waving her hand up and down as though she was trying to show me with the unstable movements. All I saw was her waving her arms like a little lunatic. It was cute. “Everything about you just looks country, I guess.”

“You do know I’m not wearing a cowboy hat or boots, right?” I had to point that out.

She laughed again and this time I smiled too. “I know,” she shook her head, eyeing me up and down again, but this time I felt her eyes on me. My spine stiffened. What did those big brown eyes see when they looked at me? And more importantly, how did I want her to see me? “There’s just something about the way I see a country man and you fit the bill.”

“Elaborate, please.”

A blush rose into her cheeks. I loved the way her pale skin glowed when she blushed. “Well, I guess you just seem peaceful. You’re not running about all concerned with what others think of you. You seem humble and just content to be a nice guy – to live.” She looked out the window and I swore to fucking Jesus, I was robbed of breath. “You feel different from all the city men I know. It doesn’t really have anything to do with your clothes or boots – your hair or walk. It’s deeper than that.”

It took me a while to regain my composure because I could have sworn she’d punched me in the gut – but I hadn’t even seen her move. “I’d say you’ve got me pegged.” I couldn’t believe that was all I came up with in response, but how the hell was I supposed to top that or even reply. She robbed me of words within the first few hours of knowing me. What kind of damage would she do to me if she stayed here? The thought sent my heart into a raging rhythm of beats. Did I want her to stay here? Did I want her to settle here? Did I want this town – the town I loved, to be the town she found enough faith in to stop running from whatever it was she was running from?

“I’m good at reading people.” She stated easily. She wasn’t even remotely aware that she’d taken away my breath, and nearly stopped my heart, with only her thoughts. The little bundle of soul that she was would surely ruin me. “So, where’s the hotel you’re taking me to?”