As Cormac strolls beside me, I sense there’s something unsettled in him. He radiates tension, not toward me, and not the violent kind. More like he’s got fragile secrets.
We reach a hotel nestled between vintage plate-glass storefronts with carved moldings and a chic flair. Warm light spills out from the lobby windows.
Cormac opens the door for me. “The check-in desk is this way.”
I slip inside, and he follows.
“Do you—” I swallow. “Are you staying here, too?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’m just making sure you have someplace safe to sleep tonight.”
This stranger’s kindness hits in contrast to what just happened with Pierce. I felt cautious that his insistence ontaking me to a hotel held an ulterior motive. But now it appears, he’s simply making sure he can, without guilt, walk away from me. And my problems.
Right now I’m magnetized and drawn to him, aching for more of the safety he offered while wanting nothing in return.
Cormac pulls a credit card from his wallet and slides it across the counter before I can protest. “One room. For her. Keep it on file. She can stay as long as she wants.”
As long as I want?That’s insane.
“Sir?” the clerk says, like evenshecan’t believe it.
Especially after looking at me. A drowned rat with raccoon eyes.
“Thank you,” I whisper to Cormac. “I only need one night.”
“Like I said, as long as you want.” He takes back the card from the clerk and hands me my duffel bag.
I only need a place to stay because it’s late. I’m drenched and have a bruise forming on my sore cheek. I can’t face my father looking like this. Or Regan, my best friend and EMT partner. I don’t want to hunt her down while she’s still on her shift to ask if I can sleep on her couch.
That’s tomorrow’s humiliation.
Right now I need to decompress. Put Pierce behind me. Perhaps this man’s hands on me will incinerate the memory of Pierce’s face until the memory is nothing but an ash cloud.
I pull the duffel strap firmer against my chest. “Can I buy you a drink to say thank you?”
Cormac’s eyebrows cinch together. “I think you need to get warm and dry. Good luck.”
He turns to leave.
Maybe he’s buying me off because I got hurt and he feels responsible. A panic surges in my chest, watchinghim walk away.
“Cormac, wait,” I call out.
He freezes and turns around. “Yes, Scarlett?”
“Can you…” My throat tightens. “Will you come to my room? I don’t want anything. I just… I don’t want to be alone right now.”
I can’t believe I’m inviting a strange man up to my hotel room. But the silence up there and being alone with my thoughts will tear me apart.
He studies me. “You should call a friend. You don’t even know me.”
The fact that he’s hesitating makes me trust him more. If he intended to hurt me, we’d be in the elevator already.
“I had a fight with my boyfriend,” I blurt.
His shoulders go up and his jaw twitches. Stalking closer, Cormac brushes wet hair away from my face. His eyes land on my bruise.
“Where is he?” he growls.