Beautiful Force (17 page)

Her eyes shifted back and forth to the three men that were motionless, lying flat out on the floor in the center of the room.

“You’re okay now, they cannot hurt you. Trust me.” The tall, handsome stranger assured her. “I will take care of you.”
 

She curled her knees into her chest to shield her exposed flesh beneath his oversized jacket. Her long lashes fell downward toward the chipped tiles on the floor. She was acutely aware of the cold surface beneath her chilled bare skin. Shame filled her soul.

The man leaned down, slowly inching towards her. “Let me get you out of here. Will you let me help you?”

Allison nodded barely, still in shock. Her eyes widened the closer he moved in on her. Before she could verbally respond she was devoured by his large shadow.

In one swift movement, the mysterious dark-haired man swept her up in one arm, protectively. With his other hand he gathered up her crumpled clothing and backpack. He sheltered her face in the crook of his massive forearm. Her diminutive frame shrunk into his broad chest.

He swiftly carried Allison through the wind and the falling snow to his Mercedes parked outside the doors.

The handsome stranger was dressed elegantly in a gray linen button down shirt, silver cufflinks and dark loose jeans. He placed her fragile, battered and bruised body on the leather passenger’s seat. Quickly, he retrieved a soft gray blanket from the back seat and covered her exposed flesh. He wanted her to feel safe and secure. He wasn’t sure how badly she had been violated. His hope was he rescued her before they had accosted her womanhood.

“Where am I? I can’t think straight. I was just in my office, a minute ago...” Her voice riddled with confusion.
 

The stranger didn’t answer her and securely closed the car door. Double-checking that it was secure. A gust of wind tousled his dark waves. Rubbing his hands together, he swiftly grabbed a sleek black wool overcoat and put it on. It reached down to his mid-thigh. The man was a picture of class. He retreated around the car, slid into the driver
’s seat, turned over the ignition and flipped on the heater. 

“You’re safe I promise. Now, I want you to warm up” he said, making great effort to comfort her. He never realized how much he’d love the feeling of protecting a damsel in distress.

In that moment, he made a silent vow to keep this precious woman under his tutelage, safe from the likes of any man who’d want to take advantage of her.

“Those men...they were going to kill me. They tried to rape me, but I fought—I fought so hard. I called out to all of the angels in the world.” She blushed. “My father doesn’t like that I believe they exist but I do. Then you were there with me...just before,” she whimpered, than began sobbing heavily.

She was the most stunning creature he had ever seen. Even with tears in her bright green eyes. Her long golden tresses hung down in smooth full waves like a princess’s would in a fairytale. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her, recognizing she was different from any woman he had ever known, or he’d had before. She radiated warmth, sunshine, in the dead of winter, inside and out. Pale, innocent and unblemished. He aimed to keep it that way. She would be his one and only when the time came, another vow he inwardly claimed. Thank God, he stopped. His innate desire was to protect her like none other before.   

“You’re okay. You’re safe now.” He placed his strong large hand tenderly on her shoulder, using caution to not invade her space. His touch sent chill bumps down the length of Allison’s spine. “Those men will never hurt another soul again. I promise you that.” The perfect stranger said with a strong degree of conviction.
 

“You fought them all...and risk
ed so much to save my life.” She sobbed, her eyes filled with horror and relief at the same time. 

“It’s my honor.” He smiled and winked at her. There was strength in his eyes but also something forlorn and distant.
 

“You’re such a good man,” Allison proclaimed, shuddering still from the deplorable ordeal.
 

 
“Do you want me to take you somewhere, to the hospital or—” 

Allison’s thoughts clouded. “No, it’s okay. I don’t know where I am supposed to be right now.” She scanned the dark world outside the window of the car. “But I’m okay with this. I feel safe with you. Thank you for saving me.” She tightened the soft cotton blanket around her shoulders then reached up and over and kissed the dark stranger on the cheek.
 

“Allison,” the gorgeous stranger spoke. His voice was so familiar.
 

“Wait. You know my name...but how—?”

His eyes flashed to her neck, “Your necklace, isn’t that your name?” he asked.

She clasped her hand over the pendant that spelled out her name in silver script.

“Yes it is.” Allison titled her head. “Everything is so foggy, now. What is your name?” She stared at him appraisingly.

He couldn’t be much older than his late twenties, perhaps thirty years old at the most. His strong, chiseled jaw-line was hidden behind a day’s worth of stubble. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever laid her eyes on. There was something familiar about him, so mysterious, pale blue eyes, and jet-black careless hair dusted his collar.
 

“My name is Channing Stephens, I’m
a movie director from Hollywood. I was just passing through this area. I stopped to check my email. As I waited for the service to cue up, a large shadow passed in front of my car. That’s when I saw into the dirty window two men running into the bathroom. I had a hunch something was wrong. When I opened my window to get a closer look, I heard your screams. I’m so glad you fought them. And that you have the lungs of a fish—” A raspy laugh escaped his lips. Allison too, managed to let out a half-hearted laugh that mixed with his perfectly, considering her near demise. He quickly added. “Let me rephrase that, lungs of a beautiful siren.” 

“I had voice lessons when I was a child.”
 

“Thank God, I may not have heard you if it wasn’t for your piercing vocals. “
 

“I’m glad you did,” she sighed. “So, are you really a movie director?” Young Allison’s ears perked up, appraising him carefully.

“Yes. Are you an actress?” he asked.

“No, not yet, but that was—no—is my dream.” She smiled, blushing, tucking her hair behind her ear and bit her bottom lip.
 

“I think that’s a great idea.”
 

“My father isn’t happy about it.” She frowned knotting her fingers together. “He wants me to follow in his footsteps.”
 

“I think you should make your own footsteps...” Channing said pointedly.

Allison’s eyes contemplated his suggestion. 

“Would you like to ride with me on your way to capture your dreams?”
 

“To Hollywood? Oh yes,” Allison beamed.

“I’m making a movie called
For Heaven’s Sake
and I believe I have found my starring angel.” Channing winked at her. 

Allison gazed into his hypnotic crystal blue eyes...she thought she saw a twinkle of light in the iris of his eyes or maybe it was a falling star reflecting off the prisms on the wet windows. Nonetheless, she closed her eyes and made a wish.
 

“Did you make a wish?” Channing asked. The corners of his mouth tilted upward.
 

“Yes, how did you know?”
 

“I’m not sure...but somehow I did.” He looked at Allison like
he had a question, but relented. His eyes clouded over. Maybe he was remembering the way they were...somewhere in time, another time. “I hope it comes true.” 

“It already did,” she batted her lashes, and smiled. Perhaps she too was reflecting on the way they were...somewhere in time, another time. “Thank you,” she whispered sincerely.
 

“For what this time?” he said, inquisitively.
 

“For saving me from my future.” She blew him a secret kiss.

“You’re welcome little lady.”

Channing pulled out of the parking lot of that abandoned old Laundromat. The windshield wipers dusted away the snowflakes that had gathered on the window. The wheels of the car spun for a moment, gaining traction, as they pulled onto the snow-covered highway. They drove into the darkness of the night into their future. The moon was their sentry, guiding both Channing and Allison to their dreams.

Allison gazed up toward Channing, and she knew. She remembered everything, his strong hands, his firm lips, his touch and his manhood, touching every inch inside of her. Their passion and the moments of real intimacy flashed in her mind. But, what she remembered the most was the story he shared with her about the young girl—his heartache—his regret...and the echo of his footsteps walking away ten years ago.

“I forgive you,” she whispered, silently to herself. Somehow they have undone the past or was it the future? It didn’t matter at this point. All that matters now is that he didn’t pas
s her by this time. 

“Did you say something?” Channing asked.
 

“No, I was just thinking out loud how lucky I am that you didn’t
just drive by tonight. Who knows what would’ve happened to me if you didn’t hear my screams.” 

“I would have regretted that, Allison.” He glanced at her, while keeping one eye on the road. Damn, she was so enchanting.

“I know.” She smiled, laying her head against her hero’s strong shoulder and closed her eyes. She knew she was safe with him, this she knew all too well.

As they drove on into the quiet falling snow, Allison glanced out of the rear window for a fraction of a moment. Her past faded away, along with any confusing memories of her life before.
 

A cozy stream of warm air embraced their souls. Channing rescued her and, somehow she knew that she had rescued him back. Her heart gushed with a degree of love.

Channing reached over and squeezed Allison’s small hand, her eyes flashed on a homemade star tattoo between this thumb and index finger. She remembered the one she had on her shoulder in the future, no, in the past. A past that never came to fruition. It all made sense, the past, the future and the very moment. She exhaled and knew they were drawn together by a remarkable, unbelievable beautiful force and that they both have been given another chance.

THE END

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