Finding the Strength

By Stacy Eaton

The night Tayla Adams is attacked, third-degree black belt, Cam Giles steps in and stops the violent man. Little does Tayla know that when she takes a self-defense class, she will come face to face with her knight in shining armor, but can Tayla learn to defend herself and gain enough confidence to protect the two of them when she is unexpectedly betrayed?

Novella 40K

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stacy Eaton
• Release date: Jun 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516311927

Book preview

Tayla

T hat was one of the most wonderful things I have ever experienced, I told my therapist as she escorted me out to the main lobby .

I’m glad you enjoyed it, Tayla, she replied as she handed off my clipboard to the woman behind the counter. I hope you come see me again.

I plan to, I vowed eagerly as she walked away. In front of me a man stood at the counter, and I waited patiently for him to finish his transaction.

So I can buy a specific number of massages, or buy packages with other things included? The man had a commanding voice that made me take notice. He was tall, but not too tall, and he appeared lean, but he wore a bulky hoodie, so I couldn’t know for sure. What I could see was the way his black cargo pants fit over his backside quite nicely, hugging his buns tightly.

He shifted sideways to address me, Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you wait. I’m trying to decide what to get for a present.

My mouth literally dropped open as I stared up at his face in awe. His hair was a light brown, and his eyes were an ice blue color. His nose, although a tad bit crooked, made the rest of his features all the more handsome. I swallowed; he was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen—and he stared at me fully expecting a reply.

No, no problem, take your time, I rushed out as I examined every feature about his face. He allowed his eyes to slide over my face and chest, and I blushed.

Oh my god, he just checked me out, I smiled inwardly!

I’ll let you go first. This might take me some time. He stepped to the side, his grin still in place.

That’s alright, I don’t mind waiting, and staring at your butt, I added silently.

No, please, I need to think about my options. He held his hand toward the counter and I stepped forward, feeling my cheeks warm further as he continued to stare at me.

Do I have bed head or something? Did I forget to button up my shirt? I glanced down: Nope, buttoned.

I tried to ignore him, but out of the corner of my eye, I could see him studying me. Wasn’t he supposed to be looking over the brochure of services that they offered? Did I have lines all over my face from lying down? I brushed my cheek but didn’t feel anything odd, other than the heat of my cheeks as they continued to flame.

Finally, I finished, paid my gratuity, and without even thinking, signed up for another session three weeks later.

Thank you, I said to the man as I turned to leave.

Sure, he replied, and I felt his eyes on me as I walked toward the door. Why was a god like that staring at me?

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and hit up my friend as I left the building.

I told you that massages were the best. Jan laughed as I held my cellphone to my ear and walked out of the spa.

Jan had given me a gift certificate for my birthday because, according to her, I didn’t pamper myself enough. For years she had gone on and on about the healing properties of massages and I had never bothered to listen to her.

I wasn’t the kind of person to do things for myself, and Jan said that was my biggest problem: I always put others before me. She thought I needed to start thinking about myself more—especially now that Brett and I had broken up. We had been together for over two years, and I really thought that he was the one. Unfortunately, he found another one to be the one.

Not going to think about that. I had successfully locked up the memories and the heartbreak inside my mind for the last ninety minutes so that I could enjoy my full body massage completely.

Yes, you were right. I should have listened to you, I confessed.

You should listen to me more often, Tayla. You know I’m always right.

I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me while I headed toward my car. The sun had set, and the parking lot light shone feebly, so I skirted the edge of the building feeling safer there.

Jan, I know, I know, you are always right, I conceded with a laugh.

You should have listened to me about Brett, too. It would have saved you a lot of heartache.

Let’s not go there; I’m in a good mood. Don’t ruin it, I muttered.

Up ahead of me there was a break in the stone building. Dark shadows fell along the sidewalk as I approached it, and my shoulders tensed. I hated being out at night alone.

Want to meet me for a drink? Jan asked as my step faltered.

A tall man dressed in all black suddenly appeared in front of me blocking my way. J-J-Jan, I stuttered.

Or we could go see a movie, it’s still early, she rattled on, but I no longer heard her.

I angled myself toward the parking lot and picked up speed. I don’t know why I didn’t turn and run back into the spa. I managed only a few steps before an arm wrapped around my neck. I was yanked back into the shadows, my phone falling from my grasp as I yelped and tried to dig my heels in.

Something shiny caught a glint of light, and I realized it was the blade of a knife. I stilled in utter panic. Oh, God! I’m going to die.

Drop your purse. His voice growled viciously in my ear, and I gave no second thought to his demand. The strap of my leather handbag slid off my shoulder and plopped to the floor at his feet.

You’re a tasty-looking treat, he breathed into my ear, and my stomach heaved as his rancid breath passed under my nose.

My phone lay out in the middle of the sidewalk. Could Jan hear me if I screamed? Had my phone broken when I dropped it? How do I get out of this? My thoughts raced inside my skull.

The hand with the knife went down to the collar of my shirt. Maybe I should have some fun with you first?

Please, I pleaded, don’t hurt me. Take my purse, please don’t hurt me. Tears welled in my eyes and I tried to think of something to do. How did you get out of this? Why hadn’t I taken a self-defense course when Jan had told me to? Once again Jan was right.

He spun me around so that I was deeper in the shadows of the alley, my face slammed against the stone wall and it scratched my cheek as he pushed himself up against my backside roughly, and I sobbed, No! Please, God, no! I could feel his erection pushing into my butt.

This was it. I was about to be raped and killed. My life was over. I tried to struggle, but I was nothing compared to him. A salty tear burned my cheek as it ran over the area I had scratched against the cement wall.

Let her go! A voice that sounded somewhat familiar, but didn’t, came from behind us. My attacker froze momentarily before he shifted and put the blade back to my throat.

I couldn’t see the features of the other man in the darkness, but I saw his outline. Was this the man from inside the spa?

This isn’t your business, get out of here.

You made it my business when you went after her. His voice was steady, deep, and strong.

No, no, no! This man was going to get hurt because he tried to help me. Now I would go to my grave with that on my conscience.

Please just let me go, I begged.

Shut up, bitch! My assailant tightened his forearm around my throat and cut off most of my air supply. I raised my hands to try and pry his arm off my neck. Instead of finding his arm, I managed to grab the blade of the knife and screamed with what oxygen I had left in my lungs as I sliced my palm on the sharp blade.

The man in the shadows moved forward as my attacker threw me toward the wall. My forehead made contact with the hard textured cement wall, and I saw stars.

I collapsed to my knees and then my side as everything began to grow darker. I heard a muffled thud and a loud crack before a high-pitched scream filled the air. I tried to hold on, wondering if I had released the sound, but I quickly faded.

The last thing I saw was a strange looking shoe a few inches from my face. There was barely a sole on it, but it was white and had three black stripes down the side. What an odd shoe, I thought as I passed out.

Cam

I ’m not sure if she would want all this extra stuff. She just told me she wanted a massage, I explained to the young woman behind the counter. I don’t even know if she would know what any of this other stuff is. I was baffled by all the services they offered .

The salesperson batted her eyelashes at me, but I pretended I didn’t notice. You can have anything you want. Have you ever had a massage?

I shook my head, No. I’d been getting hit on by women for years, and I personally hated it. If I wanted attention, I knew exactly what to do to get it, but my parents and my instructors had taught me better than that, so I remained polite and tried to keep her on track.

So I can buy a specific number of massages, or buy packages with other things included? I asked her and heard two women talking behind me.

Yes, you can do that. She smiled sweetly. Man, Charlotte better like this.

I stared at the paper in front of me with the menu of services on it and felt totally out of place. A shuffling noise came from behind me, and I peered over my shoulder and caught sight of a woman who stood about five foot two staring at my backside. Jeez, not another one.

Except when she realized I’d turned her way, she flipped her gaze up to mine and blushed. The color blossoming in her cheeks was not her only entrancing feature.

Her dirty blonde hair mussed around her heart-shaped face, and her lips pouted naturally and invitingly. She seemed to glow with energy, while still looking completely relaxed, but those eyes claimed my full attention—a deep, beautiful dark green that rivaled the most magnificent emeralds.

I let her go ahead of me, mainly because I had manners and didn’t want to hold her up while I decided, but also because I wanted a few moments to check her out.

Her nose tipped up at the very end, like a ski slope, and I imagined running my finger down the length, over the tip, and then tapping her full bottom lip so I could hold her chin and kiss her senseless.

She knew I was watching her, her cheeks grew redder by the moment, and I also knew I was making a total fool out of myself and being a complete insensitive jerk—but I just couldn’t help myself.

She was drop…dead…gorgeous.

She took care of her transaction and turned to leave. I was so tempted to stop her and ask her for her name and phone number, but I held back. She would probably laugh in my face.

Instead, as she slipped her phone out of her pocket, I noticed the case around it had crystals that caught the light. Someone like that should have diamonds adorning her phone, not crystals. She stepped out of view and I returned to the salesgirl.

I uttered quickly, I’ll take one of what she had, while jerking my thumb toward the woman who had just left.

I paid for my purchase as fast as I could and wondered if she was still in the shopping center. Maybe I could find her in the parking