Page 5 of Claim

She carefully counted out some cash and left it on the table, then gathered up her backpack. She pulled it over her shoulder.

I dropped some cash beside hers on the table and followed her outside.

Just then, there was a violent crack of thunder, and lightning filled the sky. The heavens opened and rain poured down in a torrent.

“Oh no.” Bell’s hair was drenched in seconds.

“Come on.” I took her arm, and jogged toward the motel.

We huddled under the walkway outside my room. Our clothes were saturated, and the rain hammered down around us.

Shit. It didn’t look like it was going to let up any time soon.

3

BELL

Iwrapped my arms around myself. The rain poured down—drumming on the roof and rushing through the drainpipes.

My clothes were wet, my hair was wet, my bag was wet.

Beau stood beside me. At least, for once, I wasn’t alone.

He shook his head, and water flew from his thick hair. I grinned. He reminded me of a wet dog.

A big, sexy tattooed one.

“I’d better go,” I said.

“Where?” he demanded.

He was worried about me. I could tell he was the kind of guy who’d worry about a woman who was on her own. “You’re a nice guy, Beau.”

He snorted. “I’m not a nice guy. No one ever says that.”

“You are. I’m good at spotting them.” Actually, I was better at spotting thenotnice guys.

He snorted again. “Did you actually look at me?” He held out one tattooed, muscular arm. “I’m the kind of guy mothers warn their daughters to avoid.”

I shook my head. Beau might be big, rugged, and tattooed, but I could tell he was good to the bone. “I’m not buying it. My mother taught me to never judge a book by its cover.”

“Why aren’t you with your mom, instead of in this crappy town waiting for the bus?”

My stomach clenched and I looked away. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

He stepped closer. “But I will.”

Something warm unfolded in my belly. It was nice knowing that someone was worried about me.

I reached up and touched his beard-covered jaw. “I have to go.”

I took a step back…and my foot slipped on the wet concrete.

Beau moved, lightning fast. He grabbed my arm, and we slammed together.

Oh, God. He was all hard muscle, and so much heat pumped off him.

“You’re so warm,” I murmured.

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