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“What the fuck is going on here?” He mostly muttered to himself and then turned his scowl on her. “Are you on something?”
She scrunched her nose. “Like drugs?”
“Yeah, like drugs. Or are you always this fucking weird?” He waved a hand in front of his body. “I’m a fucking stranger, and you’re inviting me into your bed?”
Why was he getting so angry? It was his idea. “You said you weren’t leaving so…”
“I said I’m not leaving you here.” The anger radiated off of him like a flame. “I ain’t staying in this shithole, and no fucking way I’m going unconscious next to your crazy ass.”
Everyone always went straight to “crazy.” Or in Caden’s case, “weird.” People were always so quick with the name-calling when confronted with a person who didn’t fit a specific mold of normal. Marissa folded her hands on her lap and sighed.
“I’m not crazy.”
“Hell yeah, you are.” He jerked his body and leaned closer. “First you stop at a rest stop in the middle of fucking nowhere, helping a total stranger who could probably kill you and hide the body where they’d never find it, then you willingly go home with three grown men, one of whom is the president of a biker club. Now, you’re here, in the shittiest motel within a hundred miles, sharing space with fucking whores, perverts, junkies, and you’re not crazy? Woman, you are fucking off-the-wall, welcome-to-the-nuthouse, certifiably insane.”
“Your dad could really hide my body, and no one would find it?” She should have been offended by everything Caden just said, but her mind was consumed with the notion Jack could hide her body. Fascinating.
He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. His body slowly straightened when he peered down at her. “I’m outta here.”
He didn’t move.
Marissa lifted her legs to the bed and crossed them. She could sense his indecision, and it made her smile. It had been a long time since anyone had shown concern for her. Now, she was staring at a stranger who seemingly struggled with leaving her in a place that he deemed unfit and dangerous.
It was a strange sensation warming her body, which had nothing to do with her attraction to Caden. No, this is more. She relaxed her shoulders and slowly smiled. Her belly swirled with a feeling she hadn’t had in a while. A feeling she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to let go of just yet. It had been too long since she’d felt a connection with someone. It was of her own doing in the past. This was a first with her wanting him to stay. She wasn’t sure what it was about Caden, maybe seeing him with his dad or coming out to check on her? It was sweet, and she missed that in the last few years. Whatever it was had Marissa feeling more in the last couple of hours than she’d felt in the past two years. I don’t want it to end. The idea of him leaving sent a dreaded cloud looming over her.
“Do you want to hang out? Maybe get some food?”
His brows furrowed. She had caught him off guard with her question, and his confusion was mounting. If she had to guess, Caden was trying to figure her out. Was she insane or just plain weird? Two small lines formed between his brows, causing a severe scowl. I’ll take that as a no. She deflated slightly. Disappointment was another new feeling.
He drove his hand through his hair and grasped the back of his neck. His arm bent, showcasing his biceps in a most delicious way.
“Look, pack up your shit.” He sighed. “Get back on the road and find someplace safer. It’s not smart staying here.”
She licked her lips. She needed to stall him. Just a little more time with him, it was all she craved. She couldn’t rationalize why she wanted him to stay. Had solitude caught up with her? Could it have been anyone showing her an ounce of attention? Her lips curled as she stared back at his tight features. No, it’s Caden. She tilted her head, trying her hand at mild flirting.
“Why do you care?” Her coy tone only seemed to aggravate him.
“I don’t,” he snapped, giving her a harsh glare.
Yes, you do. It may have been some time since she’d interacted with a man she was attracted to, but she could read Caden. She flattened her lips, biting back a grin. “You seem like you care.”
“Fine, do whatever the fuck you want, I’m outta here.”
She snickered when he didn’t move. It seemed she wasn’t the only one wanting this to last longer. “You keep saying that but yet,” she scanned the room and grinned, “here you are.”
Her plan had backfired. She had pushed him, not getting the result she wanted.
He made his way to the door, and Marissa just sat and watched. He ripped open the door, and it shook from the impact before he darted through and slammed it closed. The wooden frame on the wall dropped to the ground, making a soft thump onto the carpet. She sighed, staring back at the cracked door. The sharp ache in her chest had caught her off guard. It was ridiculous to feel anything for a man she knew for a mere two hours. She dragged her feet along the dirty carpet and fought against her disappointment that he’d left.
“Bye, Caden,” she whispered.
****
It was late, close to eleven in the morning. He’d overslept, sort of. To say he had overslept would imply he slept at all. It was more accurate to say he tossed and turned for six hours. And five the night before.
It had been three days since he’d seen Marissa. It was the last time he had a decent night’s sleep. There was no doubt there was something off about her, but it didn’t sit well with him, leaving her at the motel. For all her crazy, he was riddled with guilt. He shouldn’t have left her. He drove by the following morning, but her car wasn’t in the lot. She was gone, back on the road, he assumed. He’d probably never cross paths with her again. Although he refused to admit it, not seeing her again was pissing him off.
Caden pulled up to the red light and turned to his left. Turner Park was pretty full. It usually was at this time. Stay at home moms and nannies watching while their kids played. They had redone the whole playground a few years back. The center grounds held the playground, and there was a paved walk and bike path around the perimeter. Beyond the trail, a manicured lawn led up to the metal fencing with benches.
