Free The Dating List by Jean C. Joachim Page B

beautiful
onion…"
    "An onion?" She rested her hands on her hips, a frown
on her lips.
    "Each layer that peels back reveals something
beautiful, interesting, fascinating, exciting about you. Something
I didn't know before. You're creative, smart and…funny." His hands
held her shoulders.
    Her gaze perused his face. Sincerity shone through
his eyes. Words of denial caught in her throat. He believes
every word. She reached up to cup his cheek. Their lips
met.
    "Get a room." A lone man on the street said as he
walked by.
    Leah moved back, away from Colin. She took his hand
as they continued on.
    "You don't have to take me to the corner like a
nursemaid."
    "It's just…"
    "Stop! I'll find a cab. It's freezing. Go back
inside, I'll be fine."
    He turned her around and gave her a gentle shove
toward Central Park West.
    "You're sure? You'll call me when you get home?"
    "Leah!"
    "Please?"
    "All right, all right. Anything if you'll scoot…get
out of the cold."
    She smiled at him and headed down 77 th Street toward Columbus Avenue. Leah was confused. He's so
sweet…but I'm leaving in a few months. Maybe I won't come back.
Ugh! Timing stinks!
    Lost in her own thoughts, she wasn't paying
attention. Suddenly an arm snapped around her waist from behind,
gripping her hard.
    "Give me your purse and your coat," a hoarse voice
whispered.
    Leah struggled to get away but his arm held her in a
vise-like grip.
    "Colin! Colin!" She screamed with all her
strength.
    "Shut up!" he spat at her with putrid breath.
    The man tightened his grip while he slapped his other
hand over her mouth. Fighting for breath she tried to move his
fingers which seemed glued over her lips and nose.
    "Gimme your coat!" He demanded, his hoarse voice
louder than before.
    Leah shook her head, pushing against his hand to no
avail. Her pulse beat wildly in her neck. Fear wrapped an icy hand
around her spine. He's going to kill me. Give him the
coat!
    She began to nod vigorously but the man wouldn't let
go. He lifted her up so that her feet dangled off the ground. She
tried to kick him but flailed her legs back and forth to no effect.
Hope was running out as she began to feel lightheaded from lack of
air.
    She heard running feet. Oh, shit, he has an
accomplice. Just as suddenly as he'd grabbed her, he let go.
His hands tugged on the lapels of her ermine coat from behind as
she gulped air into her lungs. Leah kicked back at him but he
dodged her foot. He spun her around, pulling at her coat. She
threatened him with her small fist. He raised his hand and slapped
her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground with a cry.
Searing pain rocketed through her brain, paralyzing her for a
moment. Her hand flew to her mouth. Something warm and wet dribbled
down her chin. She tasted blood. Tears clouded her eyes but she
brushed them away, raising her hand in a defensive move.
    He lifted his hand in the air, poised to strike her
again, when a man's hand locked onto his wrist. The man behind him
twisted her assailant's arm until he cried out. Then the newcomer
yanked the man's arm back and shoved it up his back, causing him to
scream in pain. His other arm closed around the man's neck,
subduing him with a choke hold.
    "Leah, call 911," Colin said as he held the assailant
still.
    Her hands shook as she took out her cell phone.
Between the cold and her fear, Leah couldn't command her fingers to
dial. She started to cry in frustration.
    "Leah! Pull yourself together…just for a moment,
sweetheart." Colin's voice was calm and steady. The man who'd
attacked her gasped then whimpered.
    She took a big breath, feeling a shudder roll through
her body before a moment of calm set in. She dialed the number,
reported the assault giving the exact location. They waited at
least five minutes in silence before they heard the sound of
distant sirens drawing closer. Her body trembled out of control,
whether from fear or the cold she couldn't tell. Maybe both. A
sense of relief washed through her as the