Walk on the Wild Side. Natalie Anderson

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      So here she was. Going there. But even though she’d toned down her clothing for the day, she was still a misfit—with really knotty, home-dyed hair. And she was running late.

      She drove the one hundred metres or so to the next set of traffic lights. They were annoyingly close together here in the middle of the city. And they were red again. Of course.

      She lifted her arm and targeted the biggest mess of knots at the back of her head. The bird’s nest of unruly curls sprang into being any moment it was freed from the product she religiously used. She had a tube of it in her bag and she’d swipe some in as soon as she could get the comb clear through. But that was apparently impossible today. She bent her head forward and ruthlessly pulled on the comb, screwing her eyes shut as it hurt. Yeah, not good for the hair that was so temperamental anyway, but she had no choice. But as she gave an extra vicious tug her whole body jerked—including her foot, which had been pushing hard on the brake. It slipped right off the pedal. The car slid forward half a metre.

      Right into the pedestrian crossing the road.

      Kelsi heard the thump. She heard the cut off curse. She heard her own shriek.

      She slammed her foot back on the brake and the car jerked. She gripped the steering wheel with both hands, for a split second frozen, shock riveting her to the seat.

      The only thing moving was her stomach—rocking violently, its contents swirling round and round and about to be fired up. She flung open the door and tried to race out. The seat belt yanked her back and she banged her hand on the clasp as she fumbled to release it. Finally she got free, slamming the door and running to the front of her car, terrified about what she was going to see. She couldn’t feel her legs, couldn’t think, couldn’t bear it. Had she just killed someone?

      ‘Are you OK? Are you OK? Oh, God.’ She struggled to breathe. ‘Are you OK?’

      ‘I’m OK.’

      It was a man and he was back to standing. Very tall in fact and definitely still alive because his eyes were open—and an incredibly vibrant blue—and he was breathing. Which was more than she was managing at the moment.

      Horrified, she shook her head, unable to believe what had just happened. ‘I didn’t see you.’

      ‘The pedestrian light was green,’ he said dryly.

      ‘You just appeared out of nowhere. ’ Surely she should have seen him earlier? He was over six feet. Hell, if she’d missed him, had there been anyone else? Was there someone stuck under her car right now? She bent and looked under the wheels.

      ‘Your car is fine.’

      ‘I don’t care about that,’ she said as she frantically searched. ‘Was there just you? I didn’t hit anyone else?’

      She craned her neck to look up at him again.

      ‘Just me.’

      ‘Oh, thank God. I mean…’ She gulped, her heart galloping faster. ‘…you’re really OK?’

      ‘Really OK. ’ He actually laughed. ‘Look, you want to move your car? You’re holding up the traffic.’

      Dazed, she turned and looked at the line of cars behind hers. But most were now moving into the next lane to get around her. So that was OK. Besides, what did a little delayed traffic matter? This was an accident scene. She turned back to him. ‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ Her voice rose to a pitch usually only dogs could hear.

      He pointed to the footpath. ‘Let’s talk there.’

      Numbly she took a few steps, but stopped sharply, appalled when she saw him walk. ‘Oh, no, you’re limping. Why are you limping? Where did I get you? Where does it hurt?’

      ‘No, it’s just my knee, it’s—’

      ‘Your knee?’ Her voice rose another three octaves. ‘That’s where I got you? Oh, let me check. ’ She dropped to her haunches, reaching out to lift the hem of the long grey shorts he was wearing so she could inspect the damage. She half expected to see screeds of blood coursing down his shin. But there weren’t. Instead she was confronted with tanned, muscular calves. Her hand hovered, but the next second he’d stepped out of reach.

      ‘It’s fine. ’ His large hand encircled her upper arm and gently tugged her upwards.

      Reluctantly she stood. ‘Are you sure?’ Had she knocked him right over? She didn’t even know. She shuddered as she relived that thudding sound. She’d never had a car accident. Never ever. And now she’d run someone over. ‘You don’t need a doctor? Please let me take you to the doctor. I think I should take you to a doctor.’

      ‘I don’t need a doctor,’ he said firmly. ‘But you’ve gone even paler.’

      Her stomach heaved more violently as the reality sank in. She slapped her hand to her mouth. ‘I could have killed you.’

      ‘You could have. But you didn’t.’

      She could have killed a child, though. Worst-case scenarios flooded her mind—if it had been a toddler walking next to its mother, or a woman with a pram… It was only luck that had made it a six-foot-however-many-inches giant of a man. And even then she’d hurt him. She stared up at him, her eyes blurring, puffing more than when she ran up the thousand stairs to get to her office on the top floor of the building. She’d hurt him…

      Both his hands settled on her shoulders. Firmly. ‘It’s OK. It was nothing. ’ He smiled and nodded his head as he emphasised each word.

      She swallowed. He really was OK? His grip on her was certainly strong and vital and brought her thoughts to a complete halt.

      ‘You were in a hurry to get somewhere?’ he asked.

      ‘What? Yes.’ She glanced at her watch and his hands dropped. ‘Oh. No.’ Way too late now.

      ‘Where?’

      ‘It doesn’t matter. It absolutely doesn’t matter. ’ And it didn’t. ‘Let me take you wherever you were going. ’ She turned and opened the passenger door and pushed him to get in. ‘I’m so sorry I hit you. And you’re limping—can I take you to a doctor?’

      ‘No.’

      But she wasn’t listening. Instead she pushed him harder, wanting him to get into her car, determined to take him, just to make sure. But it was like trying to move a mountain—impossible. And this mountain wasn’t cold, it was warm and broad and very, very solid. Not to mention broad—had she registered that already? She slid her palms wider across the inviting breadth, felt the solidness go even more taut—the powerful muscles suddenly snapped with energy.

      His flinch brought her back to reality. OMG she had her hands all over his chest.

      ‘Sorry. ’ Totally flustered she looked up, her gaze instantly caught and locked by his. His eyes were brilliant sky-blue and his smile shone like the brightest sun. Reality vanished again as in a heartbeat she was lost in the gleaming warm intensity. Heavenly blue, most definitely heavenly. She couldn’t blink, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think of anything but summer warmth and fun and absolute dreaminess…

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