Page 50 of Love Collided

“Fine,fine. I’m looking for the exit now. Stop yelling about it and help me.”

His hand came down over mine on the shifter, resting there as he directed me off the next exit and into a motel parking lot.

“So now what? We sit here until the rain passes? I can’t sleep in the car.”

“No, we go inside and sleep until the rain passes, and your stubborn ass rests enough to drive again.”

“Hey! I’m not being stubborn. I just don’t want you to drive my car.”

“I think you’re worried I will be able to drive it better than you.” He had that cocky grin again that made me want to smack him.

So I did.

His leg at least, but he moved fast, grabbing my arms, and pulling me over the console until I was hard against his chest. My heart stopped, his lips inches from mine.

“Nice try. Let’s go inside and get a few hours of sleep, and then we will be on our way first thing in the morning.”

“Before sunrise,” I demanded, trying to force myself to stay still. I couldn’t let myself kiss him again, even if I wanted to. I had to remember that Ash made it clear that Chase wasn’t thetype to date, and only messing around with someone who was friends with them wasn’t a good idea.

“Come on, we are just sleeping, unless, of course, you change your mind about that. Now, let’s get going.”

I followed him around the car, the rain pouring down on us now. He went to grab my hand, but changed his mind, throwing an arm around me instead, trying to shield me from the rain.

“What are you doing? I won’t melt,” I said, even if I liked the way he thought about my needs.

“I didn’t think you would, but why risk it?”

His arm stayed around me as we stepped inside. Ahead, a man, who I assumed was drunk based on the half-closed eyes and swaying step, was checking into a room in front of us.

He finally moved aside and Chase stepped forward, pulling me with him. His arm tightened around me, but this time I leaned into it, feeling safer tucked under his arm than standing off on my own.

“A room please,” Chase said, pulling a hundred out of his wallet.

“One? Why not two?” I hissed.

“Why would I leave you in your own room in a strange place? We can get a room with two beds.”

He looked at the guy behind the desk, who nodded in agreement.

“I’m capable of sleeping in a room by myself.”

“And you’re also a pretty, rather small, woman that will have me up all night worrying if anyone else noticed that. I don’t care how scrappy you are. If you’re here with me, I won’t be risking one red hair on your beautiful, annoying head.”

“You just think I can’t handle myself alone in a room all night?”

“It’s okay, Scout. All we’re doing is getting some sleep and leaving first thing in the morning. I’m sure you’ve slept next toyour other friends all night, and it wasn’t weird. And he said the room has two beds, so you will have plenty of room between us.”

I rolled my eyes, but stayed tucked against him as we walked to the room. He wasn’t wrong. I’ve slept next to all the guys at some point. I’ve cuddled up to all of them at some point to either stay warm or even watch a movie, and it never crossed my mind to be weird, but this was different.

“I don’t think we can count ourselves as friends,” I said.

“No? And here I thought this little road trip was going well.”

A cold shiver ran through me as he opened the door and he ushered me in. Between being wet from the rain and the room feeling as though the air conditioning had been running for hours, I was frozen solid.

“You’re already shaking.” The door shut behind me as I took in the room. It was clean at least, with one bed covered in blankets from this century and the chair in the corner clean and new.

That’s about all I could ask for right now.

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