Promise Me This(25)

She kicked at a rock on the ground. “Damn it. Have I told you how glad I am that you came and I’m not doing this alone?”

“I’m glad, too,” I said, feeling warmth travel through my chest. “Do you have a busy morning?”

I was going to have to cancel logging time at my uncle’s racetrack but suddenly, that didn’t sound as enticing to me anymore. It was better to be here with Jessie, keeping her safe.

“Just some studying,” she said, biting her lip. “Then work in the afternoon.”

“Let’s drive up the road to a service station,” I said. “If I’m right and they’re closed, then I think we’re going to have to spend the night.”





Chapter Eleven


Nate



“Do you know a cheap and decent motel around here?” Jessie asked, biting that damn lip and looking as nervous as I felt—but I wasn’t sure if it was for the same reasons.

“Yeah, probably,” I said, trying to reassure her. “We’ll get separate rooms.”

She looked off in the distance as if calculating something in her brain. I was choking on the thick air between us, so I decided to lighten the mood. “I mean, I know how much you want me to unleash the monster in my pants, but he’s such a cover hog, he’d need his own bed.”

My eyes flashed to hers and for a brief moment something burned red hot between us before her lips quirked up and we both dissolved into laughter.

“Square, I know you’re loaded and all with your fancy car and apartment,” she said, a worry line etched between her brow. “But renting a separate room would probably add over a hundred bucks each and I also need to pay for a new tire in the morning.”

She was pacing and cursing and biting her lower lip, completely stressing over this. I never had to worry about money. Only about being safe. It was the opposite for her. “No worries, Blue. It’s on me.”

“No way, I’m not going to let you pay for me. I’m not that girl,” she said, her hands landing on her hips. God, she was stubborn as shit. And hot as hell.

“Just this once,” I said. “You can pay for—”

“What if we just got a room with two queen beds?” she said, cutting me off. “You put your monster to rest for the night. I’m not scared of him. Or of spending the night in a room with a guy friend.”

“Well then I guess it’s settled,” I said, a smirk on the edge of my lips. Still, my hands were shaking at just the idea of it. “Let’s check into a motel. And then find a bar.”

“Sounds about right,” she said quietly, her shoulders finally unwinding.

I held out my hand. “I’m driving. In case that tire blows, I want to be in the hot seat.”

“What the hell, Nate?” she said, just like I knew she would. “Is this because a girl wouldn’t be able to handle it?”

“Knock that shit off,” I said, my voice booming. She was not going to win on this one point. “That’s not what I meant. I can’t explain it—I just want to drive your truck. Now give me the damn keys.”

She stared at me, her jaw slack. Like she couldn’t believe I had basically just bit her head off. Her eyes moved down to my lips then up to my eyes.

“Fine,” she said and stomped off to the passenger side of the truck. I couldn’t help grinning.

I placed the key in the ignition and adjusted the mirrors. “Geez, you’re a little thing. I can’t see shit.” Then I pushed back the seat so I could stretch out my legs.

I gingerly steered the truck onto the road, trying to avoid the potholes littering the street. A few minutes later, after we had driven past a darkened service station, my stomach twisted into a knot over the idea of having to stay overnight with Jessie. More time spent getting to know her, meant more time liking her, and I was already positively on fire for her. My rules weren’t going to hold up in this situation.

I made a few more turns, ending up on the main street near the rural part of town again. If I was remembering correctly, there was a cheap and decent motel around here somewhere.

Jessie sat in silence beside me, either fuming because I was driving or because she was going to be out a couple hundred dollars when all was said and done. Little did she know there was no way in hell she was splitting that room with me. But for now, I’d let her think she was.

I turned into the motel parking lot and pulled into one of the many empty spaces. The bar next door was hopping, though. It was so full; cars were parked on the grass.

I remembered that bar. It must have changed ownership because it was now called Lucky’s.