“Okay, Remington LeBlanc. How exactly do you plan on helping me?”
“I am going to take your nightmare cat journal notebook, transfer what you wrote into a new journal, and give it back to you. Easy.” He looks at me like he’s calm about this whole thing. Meanwhile, my insides are a riot of butterflies ... and rocks.
“What is your ulterior motive?” I can’t hide my sarcasm or my skepticism.
“There is none. I’m just trying to be nice, help you out. I was there. I saw you at the Sugar Cube—with Brett.” He growls out my ex’s name with deep contempt.
My eyes nearly pop out of my face. Shock and embarrassment ripple over me like a choking wave.Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. This man, this heroic dreamboat, has been witness totwoof my most humiliating days.
I bury my face in my hands.
Warm, callused ones wrap around my wrists and gently pull my arms away.
I feel like I have been zapped back to life from a simple touch.
Looking up into his face I see a strong, slightly stubbled jawline, the rumpled blond hair that is buzzed shorter at the back and sides but is a bit longer on top. Those deep, warm, honey eyes ... I inexplicably feel a wave of safety that I have been missing my entire life.
“I can’t believe you were there, saw that whole thing.” A tear slips down my cheek without my permission.
He wipes it away with a callused thumb, letting his hand linger over my jawline for a single moment. “You were such a badass. I was completely in awe of you that day. He was such a dick to you. I could not believe the things that came out of his mouth. My biggest regret was not punching him in the face for how he treated you.”
“I would have paid to see that, but honestly Brett is not worth it.”
“Exactly, Lainey. He’s not worth it.But you are. Please, let me help you.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I whisper.
“Because I can. Nowwill you please let me have that stupid journal ... and your phone number?” Remington asks with a sexy smirk.
I gasp and laugh, smacking my hand into his muscled chest. “See! I knew there was an ulterior motive!”
“How else will I get the finished journal back to you, Lainey?”
“A smoke signal?”
We both laugh.
4
Remington
Remington: What’s your favorite color?
Lainey: Who is this??
Remington: ... You know exactly who this is, little pyro.
Lainey: I thought we were not going to talk about that night ever again ...
Remington: Impossible. It was the night I met you and is my new favorite day of the year. I am going to petition for it to be a national holiday.
Lainey: OMG you are ridiculous
Remington: So color?
Lainey: Why?
Remington: I need to know so I can pick out a journalthat you won’t want to burn.
