Page 38 of Taming Scarlet

But because there, around the sidewalk were pink rose petals. They’d been kicked into tree niches and brushed up against the wall of the building by wind and foot traffic, but I had no doubt that someone had spread them there.

For me.

I hadn’t checked my socials thoroughly yet.

I would bet that there were dozens of comments and messages again

My dove.

“Scarlet!” a voice yelled from somewhere behind me.

I didn’t turn around.

I wouldn’t waste a second.

I needed to get away.

I needed a fucking hour to myself.

To think.

To build up the armor I was going to need to deal with him.

Because the commanding sound of his voice had me almost wanting to… drop to my knees again.

And what the fuck was that about?

I stepped off of the curb.

I didn’t even have to raise an arm before a cab was slowing.

I wrenched open the door, slid in, then slammed it.

“Drive,” I demanded.

Only then did I dare let myself look.

Julian was on the sidewalk, his dark hair wet, looking good in a dark gray suit.

But the look in his eyes?

Damn near murderous.

I could deal with that later.

Once I had some time to prepare.

I dropped Hugh off at the luxury puppy daycare he loved, getting to play with a bunch of other spoiled small breed pups belonging to the upper echelon.

Then I took myself to my usual spa, treating myself to every treatment I could think of from a deep conditioning treatment, facial, pedicure, and mud bath to a stone and deep tissue massage, just making sure my towel stayed securely around my waist, so no one saw the evidence of what I’d let happen the night before.

Hours passed before I made my way back out of the spa, feeling a little more clear-headed for being able to sit in silence and work through my conflicting thoughts.

I still couldn’t exactly wrap my head around why I’d done exactly as he’d demanded of me. Yes, I’d been drinking. But I’d never been so drunk that someone couldmakeme do something that some part of me didn’t want to do.

Maybe I could just chalk it up to my never-ending pursuit of new adventures.

And getting punished by a man I barely even know was definitely… new.

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