"I'm Golden. You gave me that name."
"What?!" Victoria shrieked before she could even think. Her entire body froze, then instinct took over. She stumbled back in shock only to trip and fall hard onto her buttocks, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The man standing before her didn't even flinch. Instead, he sighed dramatically, his arms folding over his bare chest as though this was all beneath him.
"What's wrong?" he asked with exaggerated calm. "Although, between you and me, that name is lame. How could you stick me with such a terrible name? Was it because of my golden eyes? Seriously? I deserve better. Give me a proper name...something worthy."
Then, without warning, he stepped forward and extended a hand to her. "Now get off the ground," he added flatly. "My hand's going numb here, and I don't have the whole day, young lady."
