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I look around once more. Up and down the street. Nothing but darkness. “Fine,” I grumble, reluctantly climbing into his car.
Then he’s back in the driver’s seat, shrugging out of his fleece and wordlessly shoving it in my direction.
I’d fight him over it—I would—but right now, I don’t have the fucking energy to argue with this man. So I snatch it out of his bear paw, pull it around my body and buckle up, pouting the whole damn time. And hello, clean woodland freshness.
Goddammit.
Looking very satisfied with himself, Nolan cranks over the engine, turns on the heat, and flips all the vents in my direction. “So, where to?”
Shoot. I hesitate, trying to make a game time decision. “The Full Moon Motel, please.” I look down and fiddle with my seatbelt.
“The motel?” Nolan’s voice drips with disdain. “That place is a dump. Have you heard about the size of the spiders they have over there? Fuck that.”
I scoff. “I’m not afraid of some bugs. Trust me, I’ve stayed in worse places,” I argue, thinking about some of the early foster homes I lived in. I shudder at the memories. “Bugs, I can handle. Mice, I’ll survive.” I exhale. “I’ll be fine. I just need a ride.”
Nolan completely ignores me.He puts his old car into gear and hits the road, driving in the opposite direction of the crappy motel.
His car rumbles so loud tonight, he wouldn’t be able to hear my protests anyway. So instead, I just glare at him as he drives me toward his house again. For a second night in a row.
I feel my body starting to tense up. It was hard enough accepting his help last night. I don’t want to do it again. I’m not the kind of girl who relies on bartenders-in-shining-armor.
“No. Please. You don’t have to do this, Nolan.”
He doesn’t even answer. Ugh. So stubborn.
“I don’t want to intrude on your life…And Stella, she’ll be confused…And…I…I don’t…”
I continue to throw out excuses. And he continues to drive.
I feel like I’m losing control, losing the tiny bit of power I have over the trajectory of my life.
“Nolan Theodore Brighton. Stop. You’re not listening to me!”
When I blast those words across the console at him, he immediately pulls over on the side of the quiet mountain road. He puts the car in ‘park’ while letting the engine run.
He angles his torso to face me and those stormy blue eyes spit fire at me across the dark cabin. “I’m trying to help you. What are you so fucking afraid of?”
Growing to depend on you. Growing to need you. That’s what I want to say. But I hold my tongue.
There’s nothing more important than knowing how to make it in this world on your own.That’s the way I grew up. That’s the way I survived. Depending on some guy now feels like a risk.
My eyes begin to prickle and I feel so damn stupid when tears start falling down my cheeks. I expect Nolan to get annoyed and tell me to stop crying. Like he did last night.
Instead, he reaches across and cups my cheek in his rough palm. “Tell me why you’re crying…” he requests with a gentleness I’ve only ever heard him use with his daughter.
I feel like a child myself in this moment. My gaze falls downward because I can’t look at him right now. “I’ve been making it on my own for so long…”
His voice is tummy-twisting and low when he speaks again. “I’ve been making it on my own for a long time, too. But I learned that sometimes, it’s okay to set my ego aside and ask for help. Well, at least that’s what everyone tells me.” He gently nudges my chin, forcing me to watch him.“Will you let me help you?”
I swallow but the knot in my throat doesn’t budge. So I just bob my head. I find myself leaning into his touch, craving even more of his closeness.
“Now, is it okay if I drive you to my house? It’s been a long fucking day and I just want to take a shower and wash this stink off me.” He takes a quick sniff of his T-shirt. His delicious smelling T-shirt that I’d like to huff all night.
I laugh quietly. “Yes, it’s okay.”
A soft smile touches his lips and his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Good girl.” Then he leans closer and plants a kiss on my forehead.
My breath catches in my throat. Wha…huh? Did he just…?
