Icy Dare: Springwood, #8

By Aliyah Burke

Sometimes the most passionate heat resides behind walls of ice…

Dorian West puts down the bottle when a request comes in from a man, he respects more than anything to help find a woman running scared. Agreeing, he discovers, she is one he could spend a lifetime getting to know and still not unearth all her secrets. Hard to when she hides behind an icy demeanor. He does have one way to get her to thaw out…

Sakharre Myers is on the run. Her brother plays on defense for the Hialeah Cougars and she is tired of being used to get closer to him. After one relationship turns dangerous, she hightails it out of Hialeah. Despite her mistrust and attempts to get away from the man named Dorian there isn't any way to ignore the sizzling passion between herself and this man sent after her.

Stress and fear can accelerate a relationship and then the question becomes, will it last once everything settles down? Will they have a chance together or will Sakharre once more retreat behind her walls of ice?

***This is a rerelease, all parts that had been in while it had been part of a Kindleworld series have been removed.***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sensual Romance Publishing
• Release date: Jan 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393717249

Aliyah Burke

Aliyah Burke is a USA Today Bestselling Author who’s an avid reader and never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. If you would like to be kept abreast of what's going on in the world of Aliyah, please join her newsletter: http://aliyah-burke.com/newsletter.htm and/or cozy newsletter: http://aliyah-burke.com/abnewsm.htm Other places to find her on social media are: Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Aliyah-Burke/e/B007PQRFOQ Book Bub -  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aliyah-burke Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/263660.Aliyah_Burke Website - http://www.aliyah-burke.com Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/aliyah.burke.5  Facebook Author Page -  https://www.facebook.com/AliyahBurkeAuthor Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/aliyahburke5 Twitter -  https://twitter.com/AliyahBurke96 Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/burke.aliyah

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Dorian West took notice the moment his target entered the dive bar, gaze sharp and focused on her, though he remained slumped in his seat. Target? Retrieval? Mission may be a more apt word. Why else would he be in this dank establishment, sitting in the back, waiting for a woman he’d never met? His only intel on her was that she worked here, and even that wasn’t to be completely trusted. But, as she entered, he knew the information was on point, and she was the only woman who worked here.

He shifted in his seat, flexing scarred fingers along the green glass bottle. It called to him to finish. Followed by at least a dozen of its closest friends. But, when the call came from Zane Kendrick to ask him for a favor, Dorian’s honor and respect for the man made it so he could withstand the lure drink had held over him for so long. Zane had saved his ass when Dorian had first joined the Army. In fact, that man had been integral in his future in such a way of him changing his career focus and joining the Rangers. Bottom line, he owed Zane. If that meant drying out to functioning capabilities, he’d do it.

Expelling a sharp breath, he sipped the Heineken, briefly closing his eyes to enjoy the brew. According to what sent Dorian’s phone, Sakharre Myers started her shift in five minutes. He’d been looking for her for nearly a month now and was pleased this lead had panned out. For obvious reasons, she wasn’t using her real name, so it had taken him a bit to track her down.

What type of woman worked in a place like this? The customers were a mix of everything. The women were as rough in appearance as the men. The guys had already broken up three fights, and Dorian had only been there twenty minutes.

He ran over what he knew one more time. Louis Reiss was defensive tackle for the Hialeah Cougars and a damn good one or had been at time of his recruitment. Lately, his focus had been off, and Coach Werner benched him for lack of concentration as well as poor performance. According to Zane, Louis had said his sister was being stalked and in danger, but he couldn’t get ahold of her to bring her to his place for safety. Coach had gone to the owner, Mr. Ross Tender, who’d gone to the president of the Hialeah Cougars, Fred Keith, who, in turn, had gone to his son’s friend, Zane. Which led Zane to Dorian since he was out of state. It was easier for him to up and go.

Why doesn’t she go to the cops? he’d asked Zane.

According to her brother, the man has ties to the law enforcement community. The derision in his tone was easy to pick up on.

Where is she?

Zane could ask anything of him, and he would go.

After being given a potential locale, he’d ended the call and gone directly to his closet to grab his rucksack, pre-packed as was his habit. He scanned his apartment, turned, and headed off to find his way up to Seattle, Washington.

He didn’t like bullies. Never had. If they hid behind a badge, all the worse.

He returned his attention to Sakharre. She wore a dark khaki shirt with some obscure band name on it, worn jeans, and a pair of black boots. Her dark brown hair—dye job—was drawn back in a loose ponytail. His heart kicked harder in his chest as attraction bloomed.

He stared at her expression, noting the tautness around the corners of her mouth. Stressed. Tired. Scared.

Sure, she hid it well, but he picked up on the telltale signs.

Afternoon, Carla, one patron said.

Carla?

Starting early today, Walter, I see.

The balding man on the stool, tipped his glass to his mouth. Wife’s family is at my house.

She gave him a smile, an understanding and real one. So, you’ll be here ‘til closing, then.

At least, he replied. You know I’d sleep right here.

Sorry, she laughed. Boss frowns on that. She walked behind the bar and got to work.

Dorian watched her do her job. Polite. Engaging and making tips. Yet she still maintained a distance. He doubted the others saw it. Her tells were tiny, and most of the customers there were drinking heavily.

He finished his beer and pushed away from the table. She was the only bartender working the growing crowd. Didn’t seem to faze her. Finding a spot along the bar, he waited for her.

What’ll it be?

He looked into her eyes and promptly forgot what he was going to say. Christ, all I can think about is tying her to my bed and keeping her there. Lust had hit him the moment he’d spied her in person; she had something about her, the picture hadn’t been able to convey. Now, face-to-face, it broadsided him like a full frontal assault.

Her jaw clenched, pupils dilated, and her nostrils flared. He got to her, as well.

Did you want another drink?

He tore his gaze from hers and stared at her hands. One rested on the counter while the other attempted to strangle the towel. He showed her his empty.

With a nod, she retrieved another and removed the top before setting it before him. Four-fifty, please.

He fished out the money and handed it to her. She swiftly made change, all the while taking more orders. Dorian retreated back to his spot in the back.

The crowd swelled and thinned. She remained the only employee aside from the man who’d designated himself the keeper of the peace in there and tossed people out. He’d even had his own share of business. Despite his own desire to drain this bottle, Dorian nursed it.

After last call, more people left until he remained with another six, the self-appointed bouncer, and his sexy bartender. Her lush curves had Dorian’s palms itching to trace them, learn them, and memorize them.

The door opened, and a man strode through. Dorian had left his seat before it even registered. His reaction purely based on hers. Whoever this man was, he scared her. Dorian couldn’t specify what she’d done to alert him, but something had and it kicked his protectiveness into overdrive. Even so, she didn’t cower or show her fear. Not that others picked up on for no one else reacted.

Thought I’d see you home tonight, Carla, the man stated as if he had every right.

Back off man, she’s mine. The level of possessiveness within him should have scared him, and had he been thinking clearly instead of with his dick it would have. Most likely.

Not necessary, she responded, barely sparing him a glance.

I think it is.

Dorian leaned against the bar rail and set his bottle on the top. It’s not, he said, inserting himself into the conversation.

Fuck off, man, the man snapped.

Dorian wasn’t impressed by the posturing. Not at all. He slanted a glance to her before placing all his attention back on the man. He stepped closer and, in a second, had the man’s hand at an awkward angle as the ass was on his knees, pain encompassing his features.

"The lady said it wasn’t necessary. I’m telling you to leave her the fuck alone before I begin removing body parts."

Let me go, he begged.

Behind the bar, she watched with wide eyes, shock, and confusion.

Come here, Dorian ordered with a jerk of his head.

She maneuvered around the bar and walked up to him, waving off the bouncer who had begun in their direction. Yes?

What do you want me to do with him?

She cocked a brow. Do?

"Yes, do. Let him walk out or throw him out? Your choice, but he’ll never—he growled—bother you, again."

Let him leave. I can’t have you throwing all my patrons out bleeding.

Dorian released him and slid closer to her. Damn it all, his fingertips burned to touch her. Caress. He watched the idiot stumble as he scrambled away.

Who are you? she whispered the query, keeping it between them solely.

He thought about how best to tell her. Another two men left, and the others stared at them. Dorian snaked an arm around her, drawing her flush against him.

It wasn’t fair. The press of her curves reminded him he wasn’t dead but a