Page 34 of Wintertime Heat (Holiday 1)

There was a sloppy grin on his face, “Sorry. I got distracted.”

I stand up, “Excuse me for a moment.”

I make my way through the crowded restaurant to the restroom, and turning the corner, I immediately lean against the wall.

Taking out my phone, I dial Scarlett.

“How’s the date going?” She demands cheerfully, after picking up on the second ring.

“Did you tell him I wanted to sleep with him?” I hiss at her.

“What? No!”

“I want to leave,” I say, bluntly.

Her voice turns serious, “Is he being a douche?”

I rub my temples with my free hand, “He’s half drunk, Scarlett. He’s complimented my boobs five times. He keeps staring at them like some sleazy perv. I’m not comfortable.”

“You want me fake an emergency call?”

“Would you?” I ask, gratefully. “In ten minutes.”

“You got it, babe.”

Tucking the phone into my purse, I return to my date.

As I sit down, I notice that my date was pouring himself a generous serving of his third glass of wine.

“Maybe you should take it a little easy on the wine, Travis,” I say, a little uneasy.

“Why?” He laughs. “Tonight’s all ours.”

He reaches under the table and puts his hand on my bare leg, making my eyes widen.

“Stop that,” I say, tersely, a sliver of panic sliding up my spine.

He winks at me, not removing his hand, “Don’t be so uptight.”

His hand crawl higher under my dress and he tries to force my legs apart. My heart starts beating faster in panic and disgust, “I said stop it!”

My chair falls down with a loud clatter as I stand up.

I didn’t say a word, neither did I let him speak. I just grabbed my purse and walked out of the restaurant, ignoring the people staring at me.

I wanted to put as much space between us as possible!

I didn’t even stop for my coat.

A few hot tears roll down my cheeks and I feel so cheap and dirty.

Oh, God!

I needed to calm down!

But the panic attack was setting again, reminding me of memories that I had buried. The tears wouldn’t stop, as I kept pulling my dress down.

What on earth had possessed me to do such a thing!

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