Page 34 of Unguarded

I glance behind us into the parking lot to see that the moped is exactly where I left it. No other cars or people have entered the vicinity. I have no reason to believe we were followed, but at this rate, I can’t be too careful. The cold steel strapped to my hip is an inviting presence when I’m alone in a strange city with a celebrity like Monroe Blue.

The woman finally returns, two teacups balanced in her hands. She distributes them to us with a low grunt.

“Thank you,” Monroe says with a sweet smile, bowing her head slightly.

The woman, thankfully, doesn’t seem to recognize her.Monroe grabs my teacup for me since I’m holding the keys and her bag.

Once outside, I set the bag on the moped, rolling it along beside me as we make our way to the room doors to find the one with the matching symbol on the key.

We locate it easily enough near the back of the motel. I slide the key into the lock and push open the door. The room is completely pitch-black.

“Let me go in first, just in case.”

I push the moped right inside, not willing to risk it getting stolen outside when I have no way to secure it. Monroe waits on the threshold, a hint of amusement in her expression as she purses her lips.

I take one more look around the dimly lit parking lot before grabbing Monroe’s elbow and gently pulling her inside the dark room. The only light pouring in is from the parking lot street lamps, casting a shadow on the carpet and revealing nothing else. I shut the door behind her and lock the dead bolt and the security chain, even though they’re useless against a trained professional.

Maybe I’ll prop the bike up against the door.

I’m debating exactly how to do it when I hear a click, and a warm, low light spills through the room. I turn to see Monroe standing by a nightstand with a lamp on it, her lips slightly parted as she stares at me with wide eyes.

The woman at the desk must not have wanted to risk missing out on one-hundred percent occupancy tonight because the tiny room only has one bed.

Fuuuck.

13

MONROE

Cash’s eyes are locked on mine for a few endless seconds before he blinks and looks down at the bed. His broad shoulders are tense. I try not to look too long at his biceps … or the corded muscles clearly outlined under his T-shirt.

Oh shit, he’s wearing a T-shirt! He must be about to freeze to death.

The room is so damn cold. My hands are still icicles from the moped drive through the city. I set down one of the teacups on the nightstand and sip on the other one. It has a semisweet taste to it, but I know nothing about tea and couldn’t guess at the flavor. I’m hoping it’s something that will help me get some sleep.

I try not to shiver, but I can’t help it as a chill passes over my shoulders. Cash is staring at the one bed in the room, still holding up the bike. He finally moves, using the kickstand to position it against the door.

“I’ll sleep on the floor,” he finally says.

I stare at him, slowly sipping on the tea again to buy myself some time before answering.

Is he just being polite?

He must be freezing his ass off. I don’t see any extra blankets.

Would it really be that terrible for him to sleep next to me?

Okay, also, why are we even in this situation?

“Um, I know it’s extremely late and you must be as exhausted as I am, but is there a reason why we are here and not at the hotel?”

He takes a step back, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. He exhales slowly, jaw muscles ticcing as he stares at me.

Biceps, biceps. I bet his body heat would warm me right up …

He speaks, and his words throw a bucket of cold water on the heat growing in my core. “There have been more threats recently. One was a bouquet of red roses made out to Kitten, sent to your hotel room last night. The last one was tonight, left in your dressing room during the show. It was a dead bird with a note that said,You’ve flown so high. It’ll be quite a show when they all see you fall.”

The breath in my lungs vanishes. The half-drunk teacup in my hand clatters to the floor, spilling on the cheap, thin carpet. I feel myself falling forward, the ability to control my limbs suddenly lost.

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