You know that fear in the pit of your stomach when something bad is about to happen? Multiply it by a hundred and you'll get what I'm feeling right now.

The bar where I work as a bartender was busier than usual today, so when my boss told me I was good to go, I rushed to get my tips and leave. My back has been killing me from working a double shift and I just want to get home.

But now...

"Damn, I should've waited for Annie," I murmur, a shiver running down my spine as I watch two men near my car.

Looking around, I realize I'm alone. There was a group of people mingling in front of the bar just a few seconds ago, but the eerie silence of the night shows me that the street is now deserted.

Do I turn back to the bar or do I... Shit! They saw me! I pause, my entire body freezing.

Fumbling for the pepper spray inside my bag, I try to keep calm, but the blood in my veins is pounding in my ears and my heart is thudding in my chest.

"Hey, beautiful." I hear one of them say at the same time I feel my hand touching the bottle.

I try to walk fast and simply not acknowledge them, but my feet are tingling and my footsteps are too heavy. So, I'm soon cornered by both of them.

"Leave me alone," I say, and when they both laugh, a sense of dread washes over me.

"Hey now, we just want to talk..." One of them raises his hands in mock surrender, but not before smirking at his friend.

My heart is about to jump out of my chest as I take another deep breath, and I can feel my whole body shaking. I need to focus on how to get out of this situation, but my lungs just can't seem to pull enough air in.

"Hey!" another man shouts from behind me, causing me to spin around and lose my balance.

When my eyes meet his, I can feel the weight of his fury. He's huge, probably twice the size of the guys in front of me. Dear Lord.

My stomach turns in fear as I realize I'm trapped, and it's like I can't feel the ground under my feet.

"Get the fuck out, man." The guy in front of me shouts, but my eyes are locked with the man behind me.

"Are you okay?" He keeps his eyes on me as he walks closer, but my mouth is too dry to speak.

"I..." I whisper, and he nods before turning to the guys in front of me.

"You bastards have two seconds to get out of here," he says, his eyes now fixed on the two guys.

"Whatever..." I hear one of them murmur, along with the sound of them walking away.

I can't seem to take my eyes off the man who's apparently trying to help me, but when he looks at mine, I instinctively take a step back.

"Are you okay?" he asks, and I nod slowly.

"I'm..."

"I just left the bar and saw you walking alone here and then..." He shakes his head. "What the hell are you doing here by yourself?"

"Yeah... Just... need... a moment." I look around, my hands clinging to the pepper spray inside my bag.

"Are you sure you're okay? You look like you're about to pass out." He studies my face, and I can't pull enough air in, no matter how hard I try.

"I'm..." I press my hands to my chest, my windpipe closing up.

"Right. Look at me. I'm not doing anything to you, okay? Keep your eyes on me and take a deep breath. That's it. Now let it go slowly... Deep breath again... and let go... Yeah... One deep breath in... Another one out..."

He keeps going for a while and after what feels like ages, my heartbeat slows down and my lungs work properly again. It's then I take a good look at him and realize he was at the bar earlier but in a booth.

"Thanks," I whisper, my eyes never leaving his.

"Are you walking home or driving?" he asks, scanning the street.

"My car is just over there. When I saw the guys near it, I thought... I thought I'd have time to run, but I..." I close my eyes, the reality of what might've happened sinking in.

"Let me walk you to your car." He shoves his hands into his pockets as he starts walking, not really giving me a chance to say anything.

The short distance to my car is silent, my mind and body on high alert as I try to process what just happened. I've been walking late by myself since I was too young to be walking alone, but the quick trip from the bar to where I often park my car has never scared me before.

People are often mingling around by the time my shift is over. Besides, I always carry pepper spray with me and try not to leave the bar alone.

Only today, the place was deserted.

And I froze.

Jesus!

"My car is down the street. I can follow you or..." I hear the guy say, and I let out a quick breath.

"Thanks, but I'm fine. I just froze over there for a second. Thank you for helping me out." I open my car door, my eyes finally taking him in.

He is younger than I'd assumed at first, and literally twice my size. He's wearing light-wash jeans and a black T-shirt. Nothing out of the extraordinary. Yet, his broad shoulders and hard muscles give off the vibe he won't back down when he's pissed.

The buzz cut he's sporting highlights his high cheekbones, giving him a really attractive look. However, it's his gaze, steady and knowing, that draws me in.

There's something in his brown eyes that gives him an older look—like he's seen too much; lived too much.

"How old are you?" I feel the words coming out of my mouth before I have time to think better of it.

"Uh..." His lips twitch slightly as his eyes narrow with curiosity.

"Shit! Sorry! You don't have to answer that!" I shake my head, trying to gather my thoughts.

"Shouldn't we be exchanging names first instead of our ages?" he asks, and even though he's not quite smiling, I can see the humor in his eyes.

And it's then that it strikes me how handsome he is.

Not in a Hollywood or boy-next-door way, no. His beauty is rugged and sharp, too manly to be considered standard.

Clearing my throat, I pull myself away from my thoughts. "Thanks again for the help. I don't know what I'd do or... Anyway, thanks." I nod, but he stops me before I have time to get inside my car.

"Wait," he says, reaching for his wallet.

"Yeah?" I raise my eyebrows, startled.

"Here." He offers me a flyer from a new Mixed Martial Arts gym that opened downtown. "There's a self-defense class every Saturday morning for beginners."

"God, no!" I press my hand to my chest. "I hate violence."

Raising his eyebrows, he let out a humorless chuckle. "Are you serious? Those guys could've roughed you up for real."

"I always carry some pepper spray with me...." I blink, trying to come up with something smarter to say. Yeah, he helped me out, but the way he's staring at me like I'm some clueless kid is seriously annoying. I've been on my own for way too long. I can take care of myself. Most of the time, if I'm being honest. But he doesn't need to know that.

"Are you okay to drive by yourself?" he says, pulling me away from my thoughts.

I clear my throat, trying to pull myself together. "I'm fine."

"Right." He sighs, clearly not buying it.

"Well, thanks for your help," I say, getting inside my car.

Shaking his head, he places the flyer under the windshield wiper.

With a sigh, I roll down my window. "What are you doing?"

"The first class is free, and it doesn't hurt to check it out," he says, his eyes fixed on mine. "Self-defence is all about noticing people or situations that might represent a threat and moving away from the potential threat to a safer place. And then, if something like today ever happens again, you'll know what to do."

Well, that definitely shuts me up.

"It doesn't hurt to try." He shrugs, and I let out a reluctant smile.

"Right. I'll think about it."

"Good." His eyes shine with a hint of amusement.

Rolling my window up, I give him one last look before driving away.

From my rearview mirror, I can see him looking in my direction, and something in the way he carries himself tells me he'd beat the shit out of those guys if needed.

Being on the receiving end of harsh words and violent hands while growing up, I try to steer clear of confrontations.

When the one man in your life supposed to protect you slaps you around as a kid, you either become him or run away from anything that resembles him.

And I've always taken pride in choosing the second option.

The look on those guys' eyes earlier, though, told me too well what they were up to. And I hate to admit that a tiny part of me wanted them to suffer, as I was probably not the first girl cornered by them.

But taking fighting classes?

That's a bit too much, right? 

_____

A/N: I'm so glad you guys found this story! I have a feeling you'll fall in love with Tyler just like I did while writing this story! <3

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XOXO

Celeste