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concerned for me, that
people bought it. They felt sorry for him and didn’t believe me.”
    “Son of a bitch,” Rabb swore.
    Eliza gave a sad laugh. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”
    “So he isolated you from your friends?”
    She nodded. “Yes. Not that they were true friends in the
end, but yes, he separated me from everyone I knew, everything familiar.” She’d
truly felt adrift and alone in life. And the world was a scary place to be by
herself.
    “There was one cop who believed me and told me to get a
restraining order against Jason.” She’d done what she’d thought was right and
had paid dearly for it.
    “I take it Jason didn’t respond well.”
    Eliza met Rabb’s gaze and nodded. “You’re right about that.”
She took a deep breath. It was time to finish this. Whether she stayed or left
after this, she was glad to see Rabb again, glad to know at least he believed
her. Too bad he hadn’t trusted her enough a year ago to come to her with
Jason’s accusations. But better late than never, she supposed.
    “He was waiting for me in the alley where I was working. I
was washing dishes in a diner in Brooklyn.” Rabb’s grip tightened and his
entire body tensed.
    “Jason did that to you.” He indicated the scar on her
forehead.
    “Yes. By the time I got out of the hospital, I’d missed my
rent payment on my place. It wasn’t much, but it was something. The landlord
had confiscated and sold my stuff and all I had was my purse. Most of my
clothes were too damaged to wear, but a nice nurse gave me some clothes and a
list of shelters.”
    Rabb jumped from the stool and began to pace. “Why didn’t
you come to me sooner?” he demanded.
    “Why would I?” she countered. “I thought there was something
special between us, but you left without a word.” Eliza clamped her mouth shut,
wishing she could call back her words. She didn’t want Rabb to know how much
his leaving had hurt her. In many ways, it was even worse than what she’d gone
through with Jason. He’d hurt her physically. Rabb had broken her heart.
    But she couldn’t really blame him for that. They’d dated and
talked, shared some hot, mind-blowing kisses, but they hadn’t even slept
together. A fact she’d often regretted.
    Rabb stalked over to her, cupped her face and leaned down
until their foreheads were touching. “There was definitely something special
between us. It’s still there.”
    Eliza shook her head. “No.” She would not go down this road
again. She couldn’t handle any more upheaval in her life. She was barely
holding on by her fingernails as it was. Rabb was such an imposing figure and
dominating personality, if she allowed him into her life on a personal level
and he abandoned her again, she might completely shatter.
    She could only depend on herself. She’d learned that much
over the past year. There was no room for anything or anyone else. There was
only survival. That’s why she was here. For a job. Nothing more.
    “Yes,” he countered and then he kissed her. Like before, it
robbed her of her senses.
    Oh God, she’d been lying to herself. She wanted Rabb. Had
never stopped wanting him in spite of the way he’d left her behind. Maybe that
made her stupid, but that no longer mattered. Here in his arms, she felt alive
for the first time in more than a year.
    Maybe it wouldn’t last. Maybe it was all an illusion. But
Eliza didn’t care. She knew how easily death could come knocking. She’d almost
died at Jason’s hand. She wanted to feel like a woman again, a confident,
normal woman. And Rabb could give her that, even if it was only for one night.
    Eliza decided she’d give herself tonight as a gift. This was
a respite, a momentary shelter from the storm of her life. Tomorrow she’d leave
and find a job somewhere else. No way did she want to bring Jason and her
problems here.
    Because regardless of everything that had happened between
them, Eliza realized one very basic thing. She loved Rabb Hatter