Page 14

I gave him a blank stare.

“Exactly. I really don’t need you throwing up in my truck.”

I continued to stare at him.

“Come on, let’s get you dressed.”

“For what?” I yawned, shivered, and pulled the towel closer. “I want to go back to bed.”

“You’re coming with me. There’s nothing in the house to eat, and it’s a pit in here. Not to be too frank, but your room needs freshening up. I’ve booked us in a hotel, and not the LeeHy.”

I winced at his words. My house smelled? “I didn’t ask you to come,” I said softly.

I jerked away when he tried to touch my face. I didn’t need gentle touches from him. I didn’t want his kindness. I knew I wasn’t worthy. I was too weak. His eyes darkened.

“Move your ass into your bedroom and get dressed. I’ve already packed an overnight bag. We’re leaving.”

My eyes widened. “You can’t make me.”

“In the shape you’re in, I can do a lot of things. Don’t push me, Cupcake. Now march.”

This wasn’t Zarek. His eyes were hard. “You’re being mean.”

“You aren’t allowing me to be anything else,” he sighed.

* * *

Zarek

It was August in Tennessee—that meant that it was hot and humid. But even in her jeans jacket, Chloe was shivering so I turned on the heat in my truck. I was sweating. Hell, soon I was going to be smelling. I’d have to grab a shower as soon as we got to the lodge.

“Where are we going?” Chloe finally asked as I headed along Hwy 321 out of Jasper Creek.

“The Whispering Pines Inn.”

She didn’t ask any more questions. It was odd for Chloe to be silent. It wasn’t that she needed to fill the silence, but she usually had funny stories to relate, or questions to ask. This Chloe scared the shit out of me. She’d shut down. I turned on the radio.

When they got to the ski lodge, there weren’t many cars in the parking lot, but still they were doing a pretty good business for off season.

“Kind of expensive, isn’t it?” she finally said.

“I told you we weren’t staying at the LeeHy.” The LeeHy motel was built in the forties and was in the middle of Jasper Creek. I doubted that it had ever seen a good day.

“Isn’t this kind of fancy for a woman who smells?” she asked as she started to unbuckle her seat belt.

I put my hand over hers and got nose to nose with her. “You stop this shit now,” I bit out. “Seriously, Chloe. You stop it.”

Brown eyes with a bottomless pit of hurt stared up at me. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

“For fuck’s sake. If you put yourself down again, I’m going to turn you over my knee and spank your ass.”

Her eyes widened.

Had those words just come out of my mouth? I sucked in a deep breath. If it were physically possible, I’d kick my own ass.

“Fuck, I’m sorry, Chloe.” I wrapped my arms around her and tucked her head close to my heart. “I’m so sorry. The last thing you need is some man threatening violence.”

She shook in my hold.