Dawn Again

Eight

Richard let her walk past him a couple of steps and then followed beside her. Seeing Sophie in his sweat-drenched shirt was practically erotic. He was glad he wore snug boxers when jogging to keep his family jewels from jostling too much, otherwise, there was no hiding the havoc Sophie had caused there!

The walk back to the car park was shrouded in awkward silence which neither of them tried to break. When they got to the car park Sophie headed straight for a yellow VW Bug and stopped beside it. She looked up at Richard and said, "I cannot thank you enough for helping me today Richard. I can make it home from here. I will bring your shirt back to the shop tomorrow. I hope that is okay." "Nonsense!" snapped Richard. "You are in no shape to be driving. I will take you home." He continued and held his hand out for her key. Sophie gasped and involuntarily took a couple of steps back. Richard's hands balled into fists and his eyes darkened with fury. He wanted to find the man who had broken this beautiful woman and kill him very very slowly. Sophie mistook Richard's anger and thought he was furious with her. She balled up her hands into fists and looked up at him defiantly. But Richard again took a deep breath and visibly seemed to compose himself. "Ok, then Sophie. Call someone you are willing to go home with. You are not leaving here alone."

Sophie heaved a sigh of relief and pulled out her phone. But her hands were shaking too much. Richard had seen this far too many times in Afghanistan. Delayed reaction to trauma. He gently took the phone from Sophie's hands and ordered, "Sit down on that bench there." Sophie was not about to argue. She knew she was just about managing to hold herself up. So she walked gingerly to the bench just outside the car park and sat down there. Richard was right beside her. He knew she did not want to touch him physically but he would be right there to catch her if she did not make it to the bench. Luckily Sophie had unlocked the phone and Richard was able to pull up her latest calls list. There was only one number that she ever called. Someone named James. She also only ever received calls from either James or Josh. "Interesting," thought Richard. He knew Josh worked with Sophie at the coffee shop. He sincerely hoped James was not Sophie's boyfriend.

"Call James?" He asked Sophie. She shook her head and murmured, "Josh please." Richard put the call through to Josh. After several rings, Josh's voice finally came through, "Wow Sophie! I think I will buy a lotto ti..." Richard cut him off with, "Josh." As soon as Josh heard Richard's voice all levity fled his voice and it came through with a dangerous edge, "Who the hell are you? How did you get this phone? Put Sophie on." Then, in a louder, but gentler tone he continued, "Sophie...baby are you there? Talk to me please." Richard was beyond frustrated. Although he liked the fact that this man Josh was obviously worried about Sophie, the fact that he was calling Sophie "baby" stuck in Richard's craw. Sophie heard Josh's tirade and held out her hand for the phone. Richard handed her the phone. "Hi, Josh. I am fine. Richard is only helping me. I am at the Discovery Park. Can you please come and get me?" "Don't you worry doll. I will be right there. Are you sure you are okay?" replied Josh. "Yes. Thanks, Josh" Sophie assured him. "Can you put him on then?" asked Josh. Sophie held the phone out to Richard who said, "Josh." Josh said, "Look buddy. I don't know you and Sophie does not do well with strangers. You hurt so much as a hair on her head and I will put you through so much pain...you do not want to know." Richard could understand and respect Josh worrying for Sophie, but he was not going to take any threats lying down. He said, "Understood. But Josh, do not threaten me. Again. Ever. Sophie is safer with me than she will ever be with anyone else. I only called you because she needs a familiar face right now. Now get your ass here ASAP." and clicked the phone off.

Richard sat down next to Sophie. "Josh your boyfriend?" he asked. Sophie shook her head and added, "And neither is James. Josh works with me at the coffee shop and James is my brother." Richard was shocked at the intensity of relief that he felt on knowing that neither man was her boyfriend. The reactions this woman was wrenching from him were alarming and he needed to get a handle on things soon. Within a few minutes, he heard heavy footsteps coming their way briskly. Josh burst into the car and went straight to Sophie. He pulled her up to her feet and enveloped her in a hug. Richard saw that Sophie although not comfortable with the hug, still allowed it. Josh was a large man of about 18 or 19 with a smooth mocha skin and a shaved head. He looked to be even taller than Richard, although by not more than maybe an inch and was lean but muscular. Sophie looked incredibly small and fragile in his arms but Richard could clearly see that it was a gentle hug.

Although Richard now knew that Josh was simply a friend he hated seeing Sophie in his arms. Richard kicked the ridiculous reaction out of his head and asked Josh, "Where did you park?" Josh replied, "I did not have my car with me so I got a friend to drop me off. I can take her home in a cab." Sophie spoke up, "Can we please go in my car? I cannot leave it here." Josh and Richard both groaned at the idea. For the first time Richard was rewarded with a genuine smile on Sophie's face when she realised that both the men would have a really hard time driving her car given their height and width.

Finally Richard decided, "We will take my truck. I will have one of the boys pick up your car and leave it at the car park near your coffee shop." When Sophie opened her mouth, presumably to argue against the plan, Richard put up a hand and continued, "Sophie, this is not up for discussion. Let's go Josh." With that Richard strode toward his truck knowing that Josh and Sophie would follow.