Page 2 of My Damaged Protector

I refrain from winking at her, knowing the effect it has on women, and I'm not sure that's something I want to involve myself in right now.

Besides, she looks like someone who's probably had a child or two. And I'm quite certain that I’m older than she is, maybe by a decade or a half.

“I can help you with both,” she informs me.

“Ah, good,” I respond, picking up my bag, which I'd dropped beside me on the floor when I first reached the desk.

“How much would it be for a night?”

“Just a hundred bucks. It comes with dinner and breakfast.”

Oh joy, at least I don't have to worry about food for another few hours.

Damn Richard for kicking me off my job and leaving me with no money!

She comes out from behind her desk, motioning for me to follow. She leads me down a hallway with several doors.

Ten minutes later, I've taken a quick shower, changed my clothes, and I'm now heading out to the bar. The lady, Susie, told me it’s just a minute's walk from the motel.

I actually wonder why they don't have a bar of their own in the motel, but I didn't ask her. I'm not sure how long I'll be here anyway.

I find the bar easily. It's a little bit full but nothing overwhelming. As I take my seat in front of the bartender, the guy nods at me in acknowledgment as he attends to another guy three seats away.

When he's done, he comes to stand in front of me, an easy smile on his face.

“New in town?” he asks.

Okay, what about me stands out so much that they can all fish me out at first glance?

“Yeah. Can I have a bottle of beer, please?”

“Sure,” he responds, walking away from me, not minding that I cut him off from saying whatever he is he wanted.

Thirty seconds later, he's placing my beer in front of me and opening it.

I wrap my hand around the bottle, and a relieved sigh leaves me. Chill as hell, just how I like it!

“Enjoy your drink, and welcome to our town,” he says, giving me a pointed look before he walks away.

“Thanks,” I mutter after him and raise the bottle to my lips, gulping more than half of it before I drop it back down.

I feel a belch building up in my throat, and I let it out slowly before I take the bottle to my lips again.

The bottle is empty within a matter of minutes, and soon, I'm beckoning at the guy for another.

The only thing I get from him is a raised brow before he goes to bring me another bottle, taking the empty one with him.

I finish the second bottle in record time and ask for another one.

As the guy places the third bottle in front of me, he holds onto it hesitantly, causing me to meet his eyes.

“I'd like for you to pay for the ones you've had so far, please,” he expresses gently.

I press my lips in amusement, and I dig my hand in my pocket to bring out my wallet. I give him a twenty, knowing it should cover the third bottle I'm about to take, too, and leave some change even.

“Thanks,” he whispers.

“Yeah. Can I have my drink now?” I ask, nodding at the beer he's still holding onto.

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