Chapter 4
June ran down the block, keeping a steady pace as she moved along the busy street that she knew like the back of her hand. She had lived in this neighborhood since she’d finished school and decided to venture out on her own.
There was a business area with several shops and restaurants, and her neighborhood was situated behind it.
This was the best time of day to get her run in. It was still early, so there weren’t a lot of people out yet, and the temperature was mild. She tried to get in a run at least three days a week.
She was out earlier than normal only because she couldn’t sleep much last night, despite how tired she had been.
The previous night kept replaying through her mind. It wasn’t Troy attacking her that had kept her up; it was Rob. He had been incredible to watch as he’d defended her. She still couldn’t believe it was Rob who had come to her rescue. The man she had been fantasizing about for years.
How had she not guessed it was him? She’d known the body frame had been familiar. If that hadn’t been a giveaway, his voice should have been when he’d asked if she was okay.
He had a deep rich baritone voice making her think of all things naughty. It was like velvety chocolate. Smooth and decadent. She could listen to him speak all day and never tire, and even better, he knew her name.
All this time, she didn’t think he even knew she existed.
That he only said hello out of politeness.
While that was true, she wasn’t just a nameless person he was saying hello to.
She felt like the giddy girl from high school.
Though even then, she hadn’t gotten twitterpated over a guy noticing her.
None of the guys at her school had interested her.
“Hi, June.” The owner of the corner store, Mr. Harrow, waved at her as she passed his shop.
“Hi, Mr. Harrow.” June waved back. She had been coming to this store over the past few years whenever she needed stuff to get by for the night.
He and his wife had owned the store for forty years.
Their son also worked with them. He was around her age, and Mr. Harrow was blatantly honest about wanting to hook them up.
No offense to James, but she wasn’t interested. He was a nice guy, but they had nothing in common. Every time they talked it was like talking to her brother. Besides, she had a crush on Rob.
She had seen him around Dr. Shane’s office several times. She knew his name because she’d asked Dr. Shane and even said hi to him a few times in passing, but she had never actually talked to him. Not until last night.
June recalled the first time she’d seen him.
He was talking to Dr. Shane. Her eyes had instantly been drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
He’d smiled kindly at Dr. Shane and then left.
He had walked by with a confidence she’d envied.
He’d glanced over at her with the same warm kind eyes that he always had when she saw him.
June had tried talking to him more than once, but he always seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere, though he was always polite to her while passing by. That didn’t stop her from fantasizing about him.
She didn’t know anything about him. He looked older than her twenty-nine years but not by more than a handful of years.
His face didn’t show signs of wrinkles, but that could be because of good genetics.
He had dusty blond hair and an athletic body.
If she had to guess, she would say he was law enforcement or military just by the way he carried himself.
He walked with an air of self-assurance.
June turned the corner and left the busy street to head for her house when she heard her music cut off on her headphones as her phone started ringing. She checked her watch to see the caller ID and saw that it was Sue. Just the woman she wanted to talk to.
“Hey, Sue,” she answered as she slowed to a walk so she wasn’t panting in the woman’s ear.
“I got your SOS text. Everything okay?” Sue asked, sounding concerned.
“Better than okay. I finally got to talk to him.”
“Who?” Her concern turned to confusion.
“Rob, the guy that I’ve seen at my work,” June explained.
“Rob that you’ve been fantasizing about for five years now?”
“Yes,” June squealed.
“When did this happen?”
“Last night after he saved me.”
“Saved you?” Sue questioned, sounding baffled.
In June’s excitement, she had jumped ahead in her story. “Yeah, do you remember Troy, the guy from the bar?”
“The rude guy, yeah, why?”
“Well, he attacked me on my way to my car from the bar.”
“What?” she squawked in shock. “Wait, we need to conference the other girls in for this.”
June rolled her eyes. She didn’t think this was a whole-group situation, but it was too late to change Sue’s mind when she heard the other women joining the call.
“What’s going on?” Casey asked.
“June got attacked last night by that rude man Troy, and all she wants to tell me this morning is that she finally talked to Mchunky.”
June smiled at her friend’s character reference to one of their favorite shows. He was rather Mchunky.
All the women started yelling at her at once, which sobered the mood. “Look, my phone was dead until this morning. I’ll spare you all the details about what he said and tried to make me do, but Rob came to my rescue before anything could happen.”
“June, I’m so sorry. I feel like this is all my fault. I should have walked with you to your car,” Sue remarked, sounding crestfallen.
“It’s not your fault, Sue. Normally, I’ve never had a problem walking. But did none of you hear what I said; I was rescued in time. He was incredible, you guys. He attacked Troy like a ninja.” Maybe not quite so dramatic.
“Cool? Good thing he was there,” Karla said, sounding just as upset as Sue, though in the end, everything had worked out. She was saved and got to finally share more than one word with her fantasy guy.
“Wow, maybe you should suggest he give you a few lessons. A little one-on-one sweaty time with him,” Casey suggested.
“I’m just thankful he was there since I wasn’t.” Sue wasn’t letting that fact go any time soon.
“It’s not like you could have defended me any more than I could have myself,” June commented, defending her friend.
Sue was a lover, not a fighter. She was a vegetarian.
The woman didn’t even like to swear, let alone fight off a man.
Though if her life were on the line, June didn’t doubt Sue would put up a fight.
“But still,” Sue whined.
“I’m fine, Sue. I promise. I just wanted to share my happy news.”
“I’m happy you finally got to talk to him, though I’m still upset about Troy. Maybe you should get some mace or something just in case,” Casey mentioned.
“I’ll think about it.” June had never had an issue until last night. It was a one-off. She wasn’t going to start being paranoid and living in fear. She had done enough of that after her accident; never again.
“Alright, I’ve said my piece.” Sue didn’t push her, which June was thankful for. June loved Sue dearly, but the woman could be a worrywart at times.
“I appreciate it.”
“So, tell us more about Mchunky,” Karla encouraged her.
June went on to share all the details she had learned—which wasn’t much—to the ladies.
June wondered when she would see him again. He didn’t come to the office on a regular basis. It could be weeks or even months before she saw him again. Only time would tell.
Regardless, the next time she saw him, she would get him to say more than hi.