“I’m so glad you’re all right,” Izzy whispered. Her breath was warm against his neck, and he swallowed hard. He was the reason they were in this position, and she didn’t bother to place blame. For a moment, he hugged her back, let the feel of her and her intoxicating scent overtake him. Her body trembled against his, and he rubbed her back to warm her from the cold, biting wind. Snow covered her hair like an angel’s halo and clung to her thick fringe of lashes.
“You, too,” he whispered before pulling away. Three emergency responders cautiously crossed over to them and helped them back up to the road. A tow truck was waiting at the top of the hill to pull up what was left of the Range Rover. After they answered a few questions and the ambulance staff gave them a quick once-over, they were given an address to pick up their car after it was towed. A police officer with a weathered face and kind eyes offered to drive them to the nearest motel to wait out the storm. The wind howled and lashed freezing blasts of snow down the collar of his jacket. Izzy’s cheeks were bright red, and she hugged her arms tightly over her chest. Anything would be better than standing out in the blizzard. The officer opened the cruiser door for them, and he moved back so Izzy could slide in first. The warmth pumping from the front of the car finally made him aware of how cold he really was, and his hands shook.
“We can’t go too far because of the road conditions, but there’s a motel right off this ramp. Most of the phone lines are down, and power is gone throughout most of the town, but the motel had its lights on last time I passed by.” The officer put the car in drive and very slowly inched out onto the deserted road. “This storm’s a whopper. Weather channels are predicting it won’t let up until morning.”
Derek gritted his teeth. Great, they might have to stay overnight at some flea-bitten motel. He wondered if Izzy had the same thought, because her eyebrows shot up. When they made it to the bottom of the ramp, Derek spotted a neon sign in front of a one-story motel packed with cars. The S was burned out on the sign, so it read weeping Pines. That was a ringing endorsement for the business. The officer let them out at the check-in building, and for a moment Derek and Izzy stood in front of the property taking in the view.
“It can’t be as bad as it looks, right?” The ever-positive Izzy was trying to be upbeat, but her faltering smile gave her away.
“It’s probably worse.” They watched as a woman in skyscraper heels and a leather miniskirt snaked out of a car and into a room. “Not exactly snow gear,” he said.
“I don’t think she’s worried about the weather.” Izzy shivered again. Derek’s fingers itched to pull her close to him for reassurance. Instead, he gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.
“Come on, let’s see if there are any rooms left at the Ritz,” he said.
The comment earned him a smirk. Why was he suddenly interested in making Izzy smile? As crazy as it sounded, he’d actually had a fun time at the mall today. It was the closest thing he’d had to an adventure outside of his books. She’d made sure the trip wasn’t stressful with her well-laid plan, and she’d navigated the crowds like a professional shopper. Since his mother left, he’d closed himself off to the holidays, going through the motions but never getting that tingle of seasonal magic. It was strange he’d experience it now, standing in front of a motel with a sloping porch and peeling paint.
When Izzy kept her feet firmly planted in the snow, he grasped her hand and pulled her toward the door. They couldn’t stand outside in the snow all night. Even if they were ravaged by bed bugs, at least they would be warm.
The inside of the office smelled of stale cigarettes and unwashed human. They spotted the culprit behind the front desk, picking at a blemish on his pocked skin. He wore a white sweatshirt with several stains over the front, and his greasy hair fell in front of his beady eyes.
“We need two rooms for the night,” Derek said. The man looked up as if he’d only just realized he had a customer.
“Only one left. Snow’s great for business. It’s two hundred. Take it or leave it.” The man smirked behind the desk, reminding Derek of a sewer rat who’d found a block of cheese.
Derek clenched his jaw, pulled out his wallet, and slid his credit card across the desk.
“You have the upper hand because of the snow, but we both know that’s outrageous for this…establishment.”
The man shrugged, swiped the card, and passed it back with a silver key. “Pleasure doing business,” he said brightly. Derek scowled and grasped Izzy’s arm.
“Let’s go find our presidential suite,” he muttered.
Once they were back outside, Izzy stopped him. “That was unfair. I think it’s illegal to price gouge during a weather event. I’ll give you half, seeing I’m staying in the room, too.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re my employee. It’s my job to keep you sheltered.” An odd look passed over her eyes. They walked past several doors before arriving at theirs.
Derek released the breath he’d been holding. “Here goes nothing.” He put the key in the lock and twisted. The odor of stale beer and smoke hung thickly in the room. It held one small bed, a broken dresser, and a TV that was right out of the 70s.
They both stepped inside and closed the door behind them. Derek fumbled for the light switch, afraid of how the room would appear once its flaws were illuminated. The dim light did it no favors.
“Wanna take a bet on the last time it’s been cleaned?” He poked around to make sure no surprises were hidden in the corners or behind the doors.
“I’d rather not think about it.” Izzy set her bag on the dresser. She stood straight as an arrow in the center of the room. What were they supposed to do now? It was getting late, and neither of them had eaten dinner, but the only option looked to be a vending machine at the side of the building and a liquor store one parking lot over. He could use a stiff drink after the last few hours. It might help erase the unspoken tension that mingled in the air. There was only one bed, and it was clear they’d be spending the night.
“Do you feel safe here alone?”
Izzy nodded. She’d become very quiet since they entered the room.
“I’m going out for provisions,” he said. “Lock the door behind me. I’ll only be a few minutes.” He zipped his coat up as high as it could go and opened the motel door. A whoosh of icy air blasted his face. The snow was so thick he could barely see a foot in front of him. He fought his way through the blizzard like a swimmer against a riptide. Aside from the howl of wind and the crunch of his own footsteps, the world was quiet. No cars, no people, no animals. Just the glow of the liquor store sign ahead.
When he reached it, he stomped the snow off his shoes and went inside. The man behind the register whistled. “My first customer in hours. Must really have a hankering to come out in this.”
Derek grunted in reply, suddenly feeling like a raging alcoholic. He chose a bottle of scotch for himself and debated whether or not to get Izzy something. He took a bottle of cabernet off the shelf and found some peanuts, crackers, and cheese. After checking out, it was back into the storm to hoof it over to the motel.
He’d have to do the gentlemanly thing and offer to take the floor, but having her warm little body snuggled up to his with the snow pelting down outside didn’t sound half bad. The image of her glossy hair spread out over the pillows and her creamy bare skin warmed him on the walk back. Had a single woman ever dominated his thoughts like Izzy did? Perhaps it was the long dry spell, or the way her doe eyes glittered with excitement over a book, or the tender care she’d taken with his frost-bitten hands. He’d be smart to remember she was leaving soon and his life would be back to normal.
That was what he’d wanted since the start, so why did it suddenly seem depressing that she’d poof out of his life? He was touched she’d gone to the trouble of buying his family gifts. For her, it wasn’t about the act they were putting on, but a caring gesture. She was compassionate and bursting at the seams with the holiday spirit. But he needed to stay away. People changed. The
y let you down. They left.
Izzy was sitting on the bed with her legs tucked under her when he entered the room. He shrugged off his jacket, leaving a pile of snow on the floor beside the door.
“Thank goodness. I was getting worried.” She put her hand to her chest and let out a breath. “You must be freezing.”
“This will warm me up.” He pulled the bottle of scotch out of the brown paper bag. Drawing Izzy close under the covers would, too, but he shook the thought from his head. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a bottle of wine.”
“I’m not a big drinker, but after today, a glass of wine sounds nice.”
He popped the cork, and she accepted the paper cup he offered. Derek took the package of presliced cheese, crackers, and nuts over to the bed. Izzy scooted closer to the headboard, and he sat cross-legged on the end.
“It’s not so bad. Kind of like a picnic.” Izzy smiled and took a slice of cheese.
“In a desolate dungeon, perhaps. Do you always look at the bright side?” He tipped back his cup and let the smooth scotch burn down the back of his throat, sending a warm trickle through his belly.
“Gram says negative feelings take more energy. She’s right about a lot of things. Do you always look at the dark?” Izzy took a sip of the wine, and her face puckered a bit. It shouldn’t have looked cute, but it did.
“Personality flaw, I guess. One of many.” He crunched down on a cracker and was glad he’d left a big bowl of food for Atticus. He was sure there’d be a few puddles to mop up, but he could hardly blame him.
“Oh, I don’t think so. You have lots of good ones.” Izzy busied herself peeling back a peanut shell and popping the contents in her mouth. Derek grinned.
“Care to elaborate?” He stretched his legs out on the bed, and the tip of his toe brushed hers.
“And fuel your male ego?” She giggled a bit. Her cheeks had developed a warm blush that had nothing to do with the snow. “For starters, you’re not as callous as you pretend to be, and you’re quite…” She broke off suddenly and covered her mouth with her hand.
His grin widened. “Quite what?” He was enjoying this.
“Well, you’re not exactly hurting in the looks department, if you haven’t noticed. The wine is loosening my tongue.” She looked down at the floral bedspread, and her flush deepened. His breath caught in his chest. What was it about her shyness he found so damn appealing?
He slid off the bed, poured another scotch, and brought both bottles over to the nightstand.
“Refill?” he asked. It wasn’t like he was trying to get her intoxicated, but it was nice to see this candid side of her.
“Why not?” Izzy held out her cup, and he filled it to the brim.
They were quiet for a few moments as they finished the snacks.
“You know, you’re not hurting in the looks department, either.” It was only fair they should be on a level playing field, and the liquor was giving him a warm, relaxed feeling.
“Ha. Don’t try to make me feel better.” Izzy took a big gulp of her wine. She was draining it faster than he’d expected. He took another slug of his own drink to keep pace.
“You’re lovely.” She looked away from him, but he continued, “I mean it. A sexy bookworm.” There may have been some teasing in his voice, but he meant every word.
“A worm and a porcupine. We make quite a pair.” Her words were so soft, he almost didn’t hear them.
“Excuse me?” He laughed and inched closer to her on the bed. His pelvis tightened when she ran her tongue over her lips.
“You’re prickly, like a porcupine.” She tilted her head and shot him a lopsided grin. “At least that’s the nickname I call you in my head.”
A full belly laugh escaped his lips, and he flopped on his side next to her. “I don’t mean to be prickly,” he said and moved a piece of hair away from her face. It was even softer than it looked. He wanted his hands in it.
“No one’s ever said that to me, you know.” She locked her slightly glassy eyes on his.
“Said what?” Derek propped himself up on his right elbow.
“Lovely. Sexy.” Her voice was just a whisper, and it sent a tingle coursing down his spine. Oh, he wanted her, this swan who thought herself an ugly duckling.
“I mean, once someone did, but it was a lie to make me the laughing stock of the frat house and the entire college campus.” Izzy sat up and gripped her knees to her chest.
She looked so defenseless, he was afraid of where the story was going. One part of him wanted to uncover all her secrets, and the other didn’t want a reason to develop any more uncomfortable feelings for her.
“What happened?” he asked, giving her his full attention. She gripped the hem of the worn comforter between her thumb and fingers.
“I was a freshman in college, and he was a junior. Popular, jock, handsome—everything I wasn’t.” She relayed the information in a low voice, not quite meeting his eyes. He wanted to reach out and take her smooth hand in his, but he let her finish first. “Then, he started showing interest in me. He started sitting next to me in class, taking me out to dinner, the movies. Even his frat brothers were nice to me. I was head over heels.” A self-depreciating laugh broke from her lips, and she shook her head.
“Bret invited me to the biggest party of the year at his fraternity. He said he wanted to go somewhere quiet. He told me he was in love with me, and I said it back. More than that—I literally poured my heart at his feet.” She paused and looked down at the worn comforter. “A group of his friends were hiding in the closet recording the whole thing, and after I’d bared my soul, they came out laughing. It was so humiliating. The worst part was class the next day.” Izzy wiped away a single tear that had fallen down her cheek. How could it possibly get any worse? He wanted to pummel the idiot who had crushed a girl’s hopes and dreams for the fun of it.
“There were signs plastered everywhere. Someone had taken photos of all our dates. I have no idea when they took them. It was so…intrusive. Then at the bottom of the collage it said ‘Bret’s Science Project.’ One of his friends had taken audio of me telling Bret I loved him and would randomly play it in class or in the hallways. The rest of my college experience was ruined—no one ever forgot what had happened.”
“He was a jackass, Izzy. They all were. Don’t let some loser define your worth.” He scooted closer to her now, so they were inches apart. “You were the victim of someone’s cruel game. It’s their loss. You’re the first woman to make my pulse race, and I don’t like it, but God, you’re pretty.” He’d either gone mad or the alcohol had thoroughly loosened his inhibitions. He placed his hand on the side of her face and let his thumb caress her cheek. She froze and stared at him with those incredible golden eyes. The things he wanted to do to her raced in his head and made his heart pound. He brushed his lips over hers and the skin to skin contact sent a current through his body.
Izzy’s lips parted slightly. It was all the encouragement he needed. He buried his hand in her hair and gently cupped the back of her head. With his other, he pulled her flush against him in one fluid movement. She tasted of the wine, and something sweeter that was entirely her own. He was lost in the kiss, enjoying the way her tongue played against his. Within moments, they were both breathing harder, and Derek moved his hands over the smooth curve of her hips and under her shirt. A low moan escaped her lips.
“Izzy.” His voice was tangled with desire and sounded foreign to his own ears. She suddenly stiffened, then pushed away slowly.
“I’m sorry, I can’t.” Izzy turned away from him and laid her head on the pillow. Her cheeks were still damp from earlier tears. Derek was somewhat relieved she’d put the brakes on. He’d gotten carried away and would have taken her to bed at the snap of her fingers. Instead of turning his back to her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. He told himself it was to comfort her, but he wasn’t ready to lose the feel of her body against his.
Derek was unsteady, li
ke a cliff jumper who’d lost his balance and was hanging over the edge. In a few short days, Izzy had walked into his life and stirred up things inside him that were supposed to be locked away for good, not to mention the uncomfortable side effect of having her crushed up against him. He tried to think of anything else.
It was going to be a long, painful night.
Chapter Seven
“Derek?” After twenty minutes in the rental car, Izzy had finally worked up the nerve to ask him about the night before. He’d been gone when she woke, but the weight of his arms had still been imprinted against her skin. He’d held her all through the night as she’d struggled with her feelings. She hadn’t let things go further in the hotel room, not because she was some kind of prude, but because so many thoughts had clouded her mind. What if he laughed at her lack of experience or woke up in the morning filled with regret? A text on her phone told her he’d gone to pick up the car and left her to get some rest. Oh, she could still feel his lips, hot and sweet against hers. His kiss had crossed her mind nearly a thousand times since she’d awoken, and each time, a strong pulse coursed through her.
“Hmm?” His eyes flickered across the car to meet hers.
“About last night. I was wondering if—” Izzy desperately wanted to know if he was really interested in her or if it had just been the strange circumstances.
“It was my fault. I drank too much and made a mistake.” He directed his eyes back to the road as her heart plummeted like a rock into a river. Here she was ready to pour herself at his feet, and the night hadn’t meant anything to him. She wound her hands together in her lap. She’d hung on every endearment he’d whispered. It had only been liquor-fueled lies to get in her pants, not because he was attracted to her, but because she was there and available.
Thank goodness, she hadn’t given in to the urge to leave sensible Izzy behind for one night and make Derek her first. She was always cautious, and for a good reason. Her mother hopped from man to man, chasing happiness that didn’t exist. She needed to get a grip on reality and stop living in a fantasy.
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