Jack Hardy The Legacy Returns

010 Kiss Me

"My father's security team is scouring the city for me already!" the girl snapped. "Don't you dare touch me!"

"Are you dumb?" Jack replied with a chuckle. "Don't you realize I saved you from those rapey bastards?"

The girl sat up, gasping and rubbing her wrists. "Did my dad send you?" she snapped. "What took you so long? I was almost—"

"Nope," Jack cut in. "Wrong again. As I said, I was just looking for the bathroom to drain the snake."

She blinked at him the same way Dale and Cole did. "That's disgusting! Whatever! Wait outside. You'll get paid for your troubles, whoever you are."

Jack shrugged and strolled into the tiny attached bathroom, shamelessly leaving the door open while using it. She snatched her phone from Dale's limp body.

"Hello? Dad? I'm fine, thanks to the paid goon you sent for rescue."

"Selena? What are you talking about, dear?" her father responded in panic from the other end. "Our security team is still half an hour away, yet to find your location."

Selena furrowed her brows and disconnected the call. Jack returned from the bathroom, looking refreshed.

Selena stared at the stranger who had beaten down two seasoned criminals like they were newbies. What was his deal? "Hey, mister. Drop me off at my home. I'll pay you ten thousand dollars."

"What's your name, princess? I'm Jack."

She stopped and stared at him like he had grown two heads. "How do you not know me? I'm very popular. Have you not heard of Selena Hart?"

The young man tilted his head, thinking. "Nope."

Selena's mouth fell open, offense flashing across her pretty face. Did this guy live under a rock? "Seriously? Whatever. Just drop me off at home. I don't have all night to waste arguing with a random hoodlum."

Jack glowered at the girl and towered over her in the dim motel light, his voice dropping ominously. "Mind your tone, girl. Anyway, what do I get in return for rescuing you and taking you to safety, huh? I have no value for money."

His imposing physique and piercing gaze melted Selena like ice cream. She flattened herself against the wall, her heart racing in the presence of this extremely attractive man. She lifted her chin defiantly.

"Fine. You can kiss me once, since that's what you want from a celebrity. Everyone does. Just get it over with."

She squeezed her eyes shut and pursed her lips. Jack burst out laughing. He grabbed her arm and dragged her towards his bike. "Come on, princess. You made me laugh, so you get a free ride home."

Minutes later, Jack's Triumph zoomed across the empty city roads, its engine growling like an urban beast under the streetlights.

Selena sat behind him, her arms wrapped tight around his torso for balance, and her cheek pressed against his back.

She was scared of this stranger with insane strength and a casual attitude, but something about him felt safe. Nobody could harm her when he was around.

What annoyed Selena about Jack was that he did not even recognize her and even turned down a kiss. Was he a celibate, or not interested in women?

Selena pulled out her phone and quickly took a selfie with the wind in her hair and the mysterious man in the gray T-shirt in the background. She posted it to her social media with a caption.

"Late night ride with my hero."

The likes and comments started flooding in instantly, and Selena's post became the most viral that night.

In her room at the Forbes estate, Juliet woke up with a knot in her stomach. She had barely slept, tossing and turning over Jack's sudden disappearance. How was she supposed to fulfill her grandfather's condition without him? Go out on blind dates again?

Juliet sighed and grabbed her phone. She started scrolling through her feed to distract herself, her fingers flying past endless posts until one stopped her cold.

It was a selfie of the famous young actress Selena Hart on the back of a motorcycle, her arms wrapped around a broad-shouldered man in a familiar gray T-shirt.

Juliet's eyes narrowed, her heart twisting in recognition. Was this guy Jack? If so, why was a popular celebrity like Selena riding with him so intimately? He ditched her and already went after another woman?