Page 12 of Tempting Fire

She took a sip. It was cold, and the sweet and tart flavor exploded in her mouth. She swallowed greedily.

“Take it easy,” he warned. She ignored him. She hadn’t realized how good food could taste, or how hungry she was. He pulled the glass from her before she was halfway finished.

“I wasn’t done,” she protested.

“Yes you were. I don’t think your tummy could handle much more. When was the last time you ate?”

She gave him a blank stare.

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

She continued to stare at him.

“Come on, let’s get you dressed.”

“For what?” She 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.”

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

She jerked away when he tried to touch her face. She didn’t need gentle touches from him. She didn’t want his kindness. She knew she wasn’t worthy. His eyes darkened.

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

Her 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.

***

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

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

“One of the ski lodges.”

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 him. She’d shut down. He 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. Zarek 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.

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

Brown eyes with a bottomless pit of hurt stared up at him. “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.