Page 80 of Tight Spot

Not only was I going to end up a virgin again, but another man was also going to break my heart.

I couldn’t even bring myself to protect it. It’d already happened. Dawson had stolen pieces of me before I knew he owned them and there was no way I was asking for them back.

That’d give too much away. The best I could hope for was making it out of this night with my dignity intact.

Stupid. I was a stupid, stupid little girl.

“Anything special going on at this thing other than celebrating women’s businesses?”

To me, it was enough since women only owned thirty percent of the businesses in town. That was a higher number compared to other cities and towns of the same size.

“There’ll be a reception hour, a speaker promoting the importance of economic diversity and ways to help a town thrive amid change in both economy and culture. Then there’ll be some awards. Celebrations. Dancing.”

“Awards?” He turned to me, just a flash of his head turning in my direction before he glanced back at the clubhouse we were growing closer to. “You getting any?”

I nodded, paying more attention to the valet parking signs than the man next to me. Any other day, his presence would consume the small space of this vehicle. His scent would overwhelm me.

I was blocking it all out.

“Best retailer on Main.”

“No shit? That’s awesome, Hailey.”

I tried to mumble a thanks, but it wouldn’t come out. All too soon his car was stopped beneath the covered drive, two men dressed in all black were headed in our direction to get the keys, and my escape was near.

“What are you worried about?” Dawson asked.

Now? Now he wanted to talk? “Nothing, Dawson.”

He hit the lock button on the doors and reached out, grabbed my forearm. His touch was firm, but not harsh. Commanding but not overly domineering. I melted beneath it, wanted to lean into it and let him erase every worry racing through me.

“You been acting weird since I showed up. Wanna tell me why?”

He could tell me why he cared so much, but I doubted I’d get that out of him.

“I’m not. I just want to get through this night, all right?”

He sighed.

I held my breath.

The doors unlocked.

“You’re lying, and we both know you are, but I’ll let you only because I know it’s not mine to have, but that doesn’t mean I like it.”

He hoisted himself out of the car, all bulk and muscle and long limbs and it wasn’t until he practically shoved the valet worker out of the way he opened my door.

His touch this time was gentle, dark eyes soft warm pools as he gazed down at me and held out his hand. Lips kicked at the corner, and I would have thought this look was for show, except there was no one around to see who’d matter to him.

“Let’s go get you that award, Hails.”

Hails. My brothers called me that. Sometimes my friends when I was having a really bad day and needed a hug and a few glasses of wine.

Hails was the last thing I needed now.

CHAPTER23

DAWSON

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