Free Tessa's Treasures by Callie Hutton Page A

man’s face. The drunk tried to swing back, but stumbled, and fell face-first to the floor. Lucas turned and took Tessa’s arm to leave when someone shouted. “Behind you!”
    As the cowboy swiped his sleeve across his bloody nose, he came at Lucas full force, broken bottle in hand. Lucas shoved Tessa behind him and brought the side of his hand down hard on the attacker’s wrist in a hard chop. The bottle shattered on the floor, spewing glass in every direction. Lucas grabbed him by the collar and shoved him up against the wall. Lucas needed several deep breaths to calm himself, all the while maintaining his grip. Never in all his years of dealing with the dregs of society had he lost his temper like this. Seeing the man’s hands on Tessa had ripped his gut apart.
    A meaty hand landed on Lucas' shoulder and squeezed. “I’ll take care of him, buddy.” The message was clear. His part was over. The bouncer squeezed again, and Lucas let go. The drunk slid to the floor. Lucas stood breathing deeply, hands on his hips. He brought scraped knuckles to his mouth and sucked on the cut from the contact with the cowboy. Turning slightly, he eyed Tessa standing across from him. She was plastered against the wall. White knuckled fingers gripped the collar of her dress. It didn’t take a genius to recognize terror.
    Oh shit, what have I done?

Chapter Seven
    Lucas put a hand out as he advanced toward her. “Are you all right, honey?”
    She tried to push herself further into the wall, shaking her head.
    He dropped his hand and slowed his approach as if she were an injured animal. Softly, so as not to alarm her, he spoke in her ear. “It’s okay. Come on, let’s go.”
    Her voice shook as slender hands rubbed up and down her arms. “It is not okay.”
    A small crowd gathered to watch the aftermath. “We need to leave. It’s over now.” As he reached out, she flinched. Lucas raised both hands palms up, and backed away. “I won’t touch you. I’ll go to the jeep. Can you follow me?”
    She nodded.
    Once at the Jeep, Lucas opened the passenger door and waited for her. Tessa avoided his eyes, climbed into the vehicle, then leaned over to clutch at her middle and rock. What should he do now? He rotated the muscles in his neck before sliding behind the wheel. He sat for a minute, taking deep breaths. “Put your seat belt on.”
    She continued to rock back and forth; a keening sound came from somewhere deep inside. Lucas deliberately lowered his voice, spoke slowly. “Tessa, we can’t leave until you fasten your seat belt. I don’t want to touch you right now, so can you please buckle up?”
    Shaky hands pulled the belt down and buckled it. Lucas started the engine and exited the parking lot. Now what? He wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone. Would she freak if he suggested taking her to his house? He could always take her to Mason’s, he supposed, but nixed that idea. Not with all that pre-teen chaos.
    They rode in silence while various plans ran through his head. Since Tessa had no idea he was aware of her background, it would be hard for her to accept comfort from him. But she still sat, staring out the front window, expression closed off and hollow. At least she had stopped rocking.
    He put his right signal on and swung into his driveway, killed the engine and turned to her. “Tessa.” Some of the terror had left her face. Encouraged, he said, “Since I have to drive you to work tomorrow anyway, I thought it would be a good idea for you to stay here tonight.”
    Not the greatest excuse, but one that might work. When she didn’t object, he came around the Jeep and opened her door, unbuckling her seat belt. So far, so good. No longer cowering, she accepted his hand to help her out.
    As they entered the dark house, he flicked on lights as they walked through the downstairs to the kitchen. Lucas pulled out a chair from the table and she sat. While he made tea, he kept glancing at her. If he could get her to talk, it