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“I’m not having you blow me in a public place. You want us both to get arrested?”
“No.” She shook her head. Her expression clearing, she no longer appeared dazed. “But if you want to go to a motel, that’s a different price structure. I have to consider travel time. Hookups like that tend to go over an hour. Plus, they . . .” She trailed off, seeming nervous.
For the first time since she’d gotten into the car, she glanced away from me. Her brow creasing, she stared out the windshield. Her focus seemed to be on the car in front of us, where a hooker with long black hair was propositioning the driver.
Was it someone she knew? Another potential customer? One she thought might pay better? Or had her attention wandered because of something else?
She licked her lips. Swallowed.
Was she scared to be alone with me? Given the direction of my thoughts, she probably should have been.
“I’m not doing a by-the-hour shithole place either.” Motels like that were often a roach-infested health-code violation. I hadn’t stayed in one since my first tour.
“Okay.” She turned to face me, tilting her head as if she didn’t fully get me.
I found it cute. She was more than cute, but I ignored that and all the other conflicting feelings I had regarding her. I needed to take charge and get the situation back on track to get what I wanted.
“The Chamberlain’s close.” I typed the hotel’s name into my GPS.
Avoiding my eyes, she said, “I can’t go in there.”
“Why the fuck not?” My mouth flattened.
“I just can’t.”
She frowned as if I’d insulted her again and crossed her arms over her chest. The movement lifted her tits. I bit back a groan as I imagined her holding them for me so I could suck on them.
“Well, we gotta go somewhere, darlin’.” As a concession to the possibility that she might be frightened, I left off the and fast.
“I don’t have to do anything,” she said, her tone defensive. “Sorry to waste your time.” She reached for her door handle.
Oh. Hell. No. I clicked the locks.
“What are you doing?” She glanced back at me, her eyes wide.
“You stay.”
“Open the damn door.” Her voice rose as if she were panicked. “That’s my friend at the car right in front of us.”
Ah. Realization dawned.
“I’ll scream.” She rooted around in the bag in her lap and pulled out a cell, a tiny thing. A cheap burner, for sure, but I was certain it would work. “I don’t like being trapped.” A shadow passed through her eyes.
Had she been trapped before? Had someone hurt her? That thought made me see red, and I reconsidered the way I’d handled the situation.
“It’s okay, Harley.” I clicked open the locks and raised my hands in a conciliatory gesture. “You can go if you want to.”
Disappointment rose as she swiveled to the door and grasped the handle.
“But I’d like you to stay.” I let out a breath. “Please stay.”
When she froze, I realized it was the pleasantry that she’d responded to. I filed that away as something to remember.
She swiveled to glance back at me, her expression registering surprise. Apparently, she’d noted that I was a little arrogant.
“You’re right. I don’t use that particular word often. I rarely have to anymore,” I muttered, and she tilted her head at me again. “Listen, I’ve had a particularly shitty day. One of the worst I can remember in a long while. I’m dead tired, but wired too. You ever feel like that?”
Slowly, she nodded.
