Eye Candy

“I like private.” He grabs my hips and pulls me closer. “And I vote no zippers.”

My wheels are already spinning as he pulls my mouth down to his. And then all my thoughts turn to vapor when he kisses me.

My Batman, my Bruce Wayne, my filthy-mouthed Prince Charming.





Don’t miss these other titles from NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author HELENA HUNTING!


Shacking Up

Hooking Up

The Pucked Series

Pucked

Pucked Up

Pucked Over

Forever Pucked

Pucked Under

Pucked Off

AREA 51: Pucked Series & Outtakes

The Clipped Wings Series Cupcakes and Ink

Clipped Wings

Inked Armor

Cracks in the Armor

Fractures in Ink

Standalones

Get Inked (A Pucked Series & Clipped Wings Crossover) The Librarian Principle

Felony Ever After

Visit her online at http://www.helenahunting.com/





About the Author


New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Pucked series, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic comedy.

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UNSAFE HAVEN


Bella Jewel





Chapter 1


“Just talk to him already!”

I stop midway through sipping my coffee and stare over the counter at my best friend, Erin. She’s looking at me in a way that screams excitement. Her blue eyes bright, her blond hair bobbing around her chin, her mouth spread into a big grin. She raises her hands, claps them together, and then wiggles her brows at me.

“I can’t,” I murmur, staring down at the creamy liquid in my cup. “He doesn’t really look like he enjoys being spoken to.”

“All men enjoy being spoken to!”

I huff. “Maybe so, but he seems . . . shy. Broody, even. He isn’t like most happy-go-lucky men. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“You start with hello, Jade, and you go from there.”

I purse my lips, and take another sip of coffee. “I mean, I have said hello, and he murmurs a reply but then just gets back to work. Marlie said he’s going to be at Sanctuary the next two days to help with all the decorations for the Halloween party. Maybe I can try and talk to him then.”

“Don’t try, just do it, Jade.”

I stare at Erin. She’s right, I should just talk to the mysterious, gorgeous, broody handyman who helps out at my job, but I’m far too shy to bring myself to do it. He started only a few months back, and I can’t seem to take my eyes off him when I’m there. There’s something that draws me to him. There aren’t many men that show up at my job, so having him there, and even finding the courage to speak to him, is huge.

I don’t have the best history with men. My ex, Terry, made my life miserable for a few solid years. When I tried to leave, he wasn’t happy about it. I guess you could say I’m an abuse survivor, and because of that, I became slightly withdrawn when it came to the male species. My work has definitely helped with that.

Working at Sanctuary has been a dream come true. It’s run by two amazing women, Kaity and Marlie, as a safe place for men and women who’ve been through something awful, like abuse or a traumatic event, and want support without judgment. After all, I was one of those people not so long ago.

Marlie, my boss, is an extraordinary woman. She escaped the hands of a serial killer and lived to tell the tale. She wanted to do something incredible for other people who’ve experienced such terror, so she opened a place where people can escape for a little while. I’ll never forget how kind she was to me when I showed up on the doorstep six months ago, looking for a place to just feel okay, like I wasn’t so alone in the world.

Marlie, her boyfriend Kenai, and her sister Kaity all made me feel right at home, and I found myself spending every day there, talking to other people, helping them through, and just giving any advice I could think of, so they could feel a little better. I think in doing that, I helped myself. Talking to others, seeing that some people had it so much worse, made me realize I wasn’t alone, and slowly I started to heal. I started to make friends, and I started to find a passion in helping the people who walked through those doors.

So, after a few months, Marlie offered me a job. She liked the way I interacted with people, and felt I was beneficial, not only to Sanctuary, but also to the people who walked in the doors. It’s only part time, but I go in and help out wherever I’m needed. Showing people around Sanctuary, making them feel comfortable. I also clean and help with some bookkeeping and whatever administrative tasks they need help with. I was working as a waitress before, a somewhat empty job, and I didn’t feel like my life was taking any course of its own. Now, I feel like I’m finally giving back, finally doing something to help others.

It gives me purpose. I love it.

Until Kenai brought his very attractive friend in to do some maintenance work around the place. Oliver. Gorgeous. Quiet. And someone I can’t keep my eyes off. Every time I go to work and he’s there, I find myself watching him, curious, wondering about him and why he’s so quiet and withdrawn. My nurturing instinct wants to go over, to see if he’s okay, to make friends with him and start a conversation—after all, it shouldn’t be just women I help—but every time I go to do it, I chicken out.

I’m shy.

Horribly shy.

I can’t say I’ve always been that way; I haven’t. I’m like this because the last time I found my voice, I regretted it very quickly. The one and only time I stuck up for myself to Terry, it backfired and I ended up in hospital with a broken collarbone, two broken ribs, and a black eye. It was enough to weaken me. So I stay mostly silent, only talking to the people who come in, and Marlie or Kaity. When it comes to men, I have major trust issues. But Oliver . . . he speaks to me without saying anything. Something about him makes me want to talk to him.

“I have to go in there now, maybe I’ll try,” I say. Erin is staring at me with a scowl, obviously unhappy with my lack of enthusiasm. She’s never shy. At all. So I can see why she finds it hard to understand why I struggle to make conversation with men.

“I know you’ve had a hard time with men before, but not all of them are the same,” she says. “Don’t let one bad experience ruin you forever. Talk to Oliver. You might find it’s worth it.”

I smile at her. “Thanks, and I will. I’ll try.”

I finish up my coffee and conversation with Erin and then leave home to head to work. When I arrive at Sanctuary, there are more than the usual number of cars there. Some of the women who come in must be helping with the Halloween party we’re throwing on the weekend. It’s good for them, and it gives them something to look forward to. In a way, they’re giving back to Sanctuary.