Page 5 of A Damaged Soul
Well, I guess that answered the question whether or not she was from Boston before I could even ask it. "What brought you to the city tonight?"
"Ugh!" Yup, she actually said the word. "Some of my co-workers thought it would be fun to hit up a nightclub. I realized about five minutes into the venture it wasn't my scene."
I cringed at the thought of all those people packed into a small space. "I know what you mean. Crowds and loud noises don't do it for me."
"Me either." Elle swiped her hand across my forearm. "I don't even know why I agreed." She shook her head. "Wait. Yes, I do. It's because my co-workers are constantly teasing me for my lack of a social life."
"I find that hard to believe," I told her honestly. She seemed sociable when she practically forced me to talk.
"Did you forget the part where I told you I'm on a sourdough kick, and I like to read romance books? Those two things take up all my spare time. I have to make sure I don't kill my starter."
I didn't have the slightest idea what she was talking about, but the way she was talking about it, I couldn't help but nod my head in understanding.
"What about you? What brings you to Boston?"
"I work here," I answered vaguely.
"Do you routinely visit hotels in the city where you work?"
I thought about the hotel bar I had met her in not that long ago.
"Just one."
Elle looked at me like I was a puzzle she was trying to solve.
Good luck. Most have tried and failed over the years.
Then she glanced at the clock behind the bar and winced. "Your hour is almost up, and I should get on the road."
I motioned for Sam to bring me the check. I slapped my credit card down on the bar once Sam came over and waited while he ran it. Once I had filled out the receipt, I stood up and grabbed Elle's hand. "Let me walk you to your car."
The walk to Elle's car was done in silence. The easy flow of conversation we had at the bar, suddenly seemed to fade away.
All too soon, we were standing next to her gray SUV.
"Where's your phone?" I practically barked the question at her.
"Why?" She raised her brow and popped her hip at me.
"Because I want you to program my number into it and text me when you get home safe."
The attitude she just gave me slipped away and was replaced with a knowing smile. "If you wanted my number, all you had to do was ask," she teased.
"I thought I just did," I teased right back.
With a shake of her head, she dug her phone out of the small purse and handed it to me. "Save your number."
"No passcode?" I asked when I swiped the screen up and wasn't met with any resistance.
"I've got nothing to hide."
I shook my head at her. "It's not about hiding anything, it's about security." I saved my number and called my phone so that I would have hers as well. Holding the phone in the air, I reiterated my request. "Don't forget to text me, or I'll come looking for you."
"Yes, sir."
My cock stirred at her response, and I was forced to push those feelings down. Elle wasn't the kind of woman I could fuck, then walk away from, and I certainly didn't have anything more to offer her.
However, my next action took me by surprise as I leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Drive safe."
