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“Yeah, I did. I guess I do trust Corey, but not the same way I trust you. Besides, he has a family.” She turned away took a few steps then turned back to look at him. “Did you know he offered to let me stay with them? I couldn’t do it because they have to stay in Mobile. If Daddy found out they were hiding me, he would make things hard for them. I couldn’t make things worse for Corey or his family. I did let him take me to the motel, and he’s the one who gave me your number. But that was all I could let him do.” She turned away again, not wanting him to see how badly she wanted him to stay.
“All right. You win.” Cole sounded resigned. Sissy couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face, but she sobered quickly and turned back to face him.
“Good. Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a quick hug before stepping back.
“Thanks for what?”
“For everything. For being you.” Her chest ached. She wanted to say more but didn’t know what to say. What wouldn’t make him feel even weirder.
“If you say so.” Cole shook his head. “If you’re through in there, I’d like to take a shower before we get in bed.” He glanced toward the bathroom then at her.
Sissy nodded, meaning she was done but the awkward weight on top of her head reminded her of the towel she’d wound there.
“I was going to ask if you have a brush, or even a comb. If I don’t do something with my hair it will be a real mess in the morning.”
“Sure.” He glanced around as if looking for something then rolled his eyes. “I’ve got to run down and get my bag. Will you be okay alone for a few minutes?”
Sissy nodded. “I’m not sleeping yet. I’ll be fine as long as I know you’re coming back.”
“I am.” He turned to leave then turned back. “Here’s a key to the room. I’ve got one of my own.” He held out a key ring to her and dangled a ring with a single key on it from his other hand. “If anyone else tries to come through the door, it won’t be me. Ask if anyone knocks. There shouldn’t be anyone else up tonight.”
Sissy nodded, took the key he offered and watched as he left, closing the door behind him. She stared at the closed door wondering if he’d really watched her mouth like he was dying to kiss her or if seeing it had been wishful thinking on her part.
ChapterEleven
Bubba pulled on a pair of shorts and wished, not for the first time that there had been more than a single room available at the clubhouse. He longed to be able to strip out of everything to sleep. But that wasn’t a good idea, not if he was going to be sharing a bed with Celia. Especially not after he’d woken with her snuggled up beside him this morning.
The extra protection of the layer of fabric between the erection he ended up sporting every time he watched her too long or thought about her too much was going to be a must if he was going to share a bed with her.
He closed his eyes and forced himself to think about taking apart his bike, rebuilding the engine, putting it back together. Anything but the soft feel of Celia pressed against him or the sweet, lilac scent of her skin. He could only be thankful it was only going to be tonight.
More might kill him.
He stepped out of the bathroom and found Celia laying on one side of the bed, curled up against a pillow as if it were her favorite teddy bear. Her eyes were closed, and she didn’t stir as he came into the room. He assumed she’d already fallen asleep and did his best to stay silent as he made his way to the bed in the dark and slid in as gently as he could to keep from disturbing her.
Once he was settled in, laying on his back with one arm curled and the hand resting under his head, she moved. Bubba froze. Had he disturbed her?
She murmured something he didn’t understand and rubbed her face against the pillow before settling back down. Her breathing evened out again, and Bubba started to relax once more. He didn’t know how long he lay there wondering what she was thinking and wishing he didn’t feel so guilty about wanting to pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless. But he did and he didn’t know how to get past that. He might feel better about it once her bruises faded, and her ribs healed. By then she wouldn’t be reminded of the shithead she’d been dating every time she looked in the mirror or moved. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep, but not before wondering if maybe sharing a bed with her, again, hadn’t been the smartest idea either of them had.
* * *
The bed moved. Bubba startled then froze. An instant after he woke, he remembered he was in one of the bedrooms at the Souls clubhouse. If there was danger the first sign wouldn’t be his bed moving. The bed moved again, and this time he knew what it was.
Celia thrashed on the other side of the bed, a whimper escaping her as she seemed to be trying to get away from something in her dream. He rolled toward her and started to wake her.
“Celia, Celia.” He kept his voice soft and soothing, as he gently put a hand on her side and shook her.
She quieted but didn’t wake. He pulled his hand away, but she cried out again, so he put his hand back and she quieted again. Bubba wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t want her thrashing in her sleep and hurting her ribs more, but how would she react if she woke and found his arm over her? He was still thinking about it when he fell back to sleep.
* * *
When Bubba woke the next morning, he found not only did he still have one hand resting on Celia, but she’d also closed the small distance between them and lay half on top of him, cuddling against him like she had been against the pillow when he’d come to bed. He glanced down at the top of her head and couldn’t help remembering that she’d done this very thing on the few nights they’d spent together before he’d left home. It was something he’d tried not to think about after her father had convinced him that she’d be better off without him.
He never thought he’d have her back here, like this.
Still, he didn’t want her to wake and panic, thinking he’d taken advantage of her. He shifted slightly, trying to slide out from under her sleeping form, but froze when she moved.
The last thing he’d expected was for Celia to pick up her head and look at him.
