Page 132 of Ewan

“I’m not waiting for you here, naked,” I say as he pushes up to head out.

“Here. Take this,” he says, lifting his jacket from a side table and draping it over my shoulder.

A scent of cologne wraps around me.

“If anyone as much as looks your way tonight, they’ll be dead. You don’t have to say anything to anyone. I guarantee you no one will walk in and question you. Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll be back.”

He searches my eyes as I look at him in silence, and my heart jumps up and down with joy. There is no better way to feel seen than having him interested in my state of mind, hesitating to leave, and returning to put a kiss on my lips.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back,” he says and walks out, his broad shoulders filling his long-sleeved thermal top to perfection.

SCARLETT

He returns with my money,a plastic bag, the rest of my clothes, and my bag.

“A girl said that was all you had,” he comments.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“This is for the money,” he says, showing me the plastic bag.

I point to the wad of cash I collected from the floor while he was gone.

I scooped up the wet dollar bills and cleaned them the best I could.

This is funny, I muse, seeing the bag full of cash.

“Did you say hi to him for me?” I joke.

He looks at me, entertained.

“He lodged a complaint about you,” he comments.

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Things worked for me, though. Although the guy deserves everything coming his way. I’m proud of you,” he confesses, handing me my clothes.

I remove his jacket and put on my sweatpants, T-shirt, socks, boots, and winter jacket.

He slides his jacket on.

When we’re done, we look around to ensure we've collected everything.

Once we finish, he takes my hand and walks me out.

“There’s a door in the back,” he says and leads me there, more familiar with the place than I am.

We make it outside, not the smallest part of the world we leave behind clinging to me.

I’m so happy I’m with him, still basking in the afterglow. Still feeling good about how the evening turned out.

Cold air rolls over my heated cheeks as I walk with him to his truck, his arm draped over my shoulders, his hot lips inches away from my hair.

As we sober up, the moments become more quiet.

“So, where are we going?” I ask when he opens the door and invites me in.

“There’s a motel a few miles from here,” he says before shutting the door and rounding his truck.

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