There’s nothing wrong with a harmless little crush, right?

And who better to crush on than the gorgeous man next door?

The one who would never look twice in my direction.

Except he does.

The first time he pins me in place with his dark gaze, I’m rendered speechless.  The first time he lays his hands on me, I melt.  And the first time he takes me, well…I fall to pieces, wondering if I’ll ever be the same again.

Everything about him screams danger.

And yet I’d be lying through my teeth if I didn’t admit that was part of the attraction.

Chicago is supposed to be a new beginning for me.  A chance to find my bearings and live again.  The man next door is the last person I should be getting involved with.

And yet, here I am.

A moth dancing too close to the flickering flame, hoping I don’t get torched.

Protecting What's Mine was created by Jennifer Sucevic, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 

Protecting What's Mine

It's killing me.  It feels like someone is pounding inside of it with a hammer.


I should roll over and go back to sleep, but I need some water.  It feels like a big ball of cotton has been wedged inside my mouth.  It takes effort to pry open my eyelids.  Bright sunlight pours through the windows.  I blink, trying to adjust to the intensity.


A strange fuzziness fills my head.  Needing to make sense of what's happening, my mind tumbles back to yesterday.  It takes a moment for the memories to coalesce and then solidify.


The accident-or near hit-and-run-is the first thing that flashes through my sleep-addled brain.


Is that why I feel so crappy this morning?


Is this the aftereffect of the fall I took?  Now that I think about it, I remember being checked over at the hospital.  I'm pretty sure the doctor examined my head and said I hadn't hit it.  Matteo was there.  He was so upset about the accident.  I don't think I've ever seen him that distraught.


Chapter 56: Grace