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Chapter 64: I like it when you keep me warm
Bab terkait
Trust Duet Series Chapter 65: She completed me
ERICWhile I cleaned up the remnants of wrapping paper from the morning's round of opening presents, Charlie curled up in Lena's lap, playing with one of the squishy balls Mom had got him. He was still tired, but Mom wanted to get the first round of presents out of the way so she could finish up lunch while we waited for Charlie's uncle and his family to arrive from New York. "I'm going to help Mom for a bit." I gave Lena a peck on the forehead. "You need anything?" "No, thanks." She looked even more tired than Charlie, but we had stayed up later eating the cookies Charlie had insisted we leave out for Santa. It was a good way to keep his mind off the fact that Santa couldn't bring him what he really wanted, his Mommy. But lately, he seemed to handle it better, until it came to holidays. He had Lena or me to cling to and that usually seemed to help. I gently pinched Charlie's shoulder, and he gave me a funny face, then I headed into the kitchen, which was warm and humid with the sm
Trust Duet Series Chapter 1: "I'm rusty..."
LENAI shifted on my barstool and glanced to the front of the bar where Oliver sat with his rowdy sports-obsessed friends. I demoted him, Ollie to Oliver, the asshole roommate who dragged me out of the house on this beautiful fall evening, insisting that I "get out and have some fun." Then, the game came on, his friends wandered in, and I was perfectly fine not being associated with their grandiose whoops and whistles. At least hunkered down at the back corner of the bar, I could pretend like they were strangers. I stabbed the black straw through the ice in my black cherry mojito and considered finding my own way home. But Ollie would intercept me at the door, apologize for getting distracted, and we'd leave. It might not sound like the worst idea, but I was stewing. Punishing him with a silent treatment he had yet to notice. Really smart, Lena. "Tall Smithwicks." A deep male voice startled me, and I glanced up from my drink long enough to see a tall dark-haired man, claim the seat
Trust Duet Series Chapter 2: A force to be reckoned with
"Thanks, Cade." Rusty reached over the bar and punched Cade in the shoulder. "I was having an enjoyable conversation until you scared the lady." Cade chuckled, patting the counter as he took a step back. "Wish I could give you a better welcome back, but we had another call-off. Beer's on the house though." Rusty gestured toward my barely mojito. "Then, how about you throw in a fresh drink for Loner, too?" "I..." My face heated as both sets of eyes fell on me again. "Fine, if it's on the house." Cade grinned as he took my glass and dumped the contents, but Rusty caught my attention again. "So, you wouldn't agree to a drink if I bought it?" "Nope." Oh, I probably would have. There was something about him that had me struggling not to grin like an idiot. He made a sound in his throat and turned back to the game. "I see how it is."He pretended to be offended, but the edge of his eyes pinched with the hint of a smile that curled his lips. Typically, I would have been relieved to let
Trust Duet Series Chapter 3: Time for the wolves to come out
Oliver towered over me as he slid his hand across the back of the booth with a glare that made me want to cower, even though it was clearly intended for Rusty. "No," I said before Ollie could utter a syllable. His eyes widened, but I couldn't hold his gaze long. Ollie was the one person I had never had a problem speaking my mind with, but this was a different kind of telling him off. One I wasn't used to. I wasn't bitter that he'd left me to chat with his friends, even though coming to the bar in the first place couldn't have been found anywhere near the top of my list of enjoyable pastimes. He wanted to include me, and since I'd inserted myself into his life fifteen years prior, I appreciated that he still treated me like his little sister. But I'd never been the one to blow him off - especially for a stranger in a bar. "You're the one who dragged me here, and now I'm enjoying the night on my terms. Go back to socializing with your sports-bar friends."If he did want me getting out
Trust Duet Series Chapter 4: Quiet, little Loner
I closed my eyes, trying to slow my heart. It pounded so hard against the walls of my chest I wondered if he could feel it, but each deep breath brought in the cooling fall air mixed with the mossy scent of his cologne. The part of my brain that usually lectured me or relentlessly presented a slew of horrific outcomes had hushed to a whisper. Even without knowing his real name or where he came from, my body had no desire to pull away from him.I needed this, whatever this was. A distraction. A delusion. It may not go beyond a cab ride - and I assured my inner cynic it wouldn't - but for one night, I was determined to take a chance and have a little fun.Rusty's warm hands closed around my arms, pulling me against him. As I let my head loll against his shoulder, I realized that although the sidewalk was quieter than the bar, it was still alive with nightlife. Cars passing by, groups of people chatting and laughing on the corner, but as his breath tickled against the top of my head, all
Trust Duet Series Chapter 5: A charming, anonymous stranger
As soon as I turned off the shower, I heard movement in the living room and froze. I couldn't get away with avoiding Oliver all night, but it would have been nice to at least make it to my room and into pajamas first. I pushed open the shower door, pulled a thick grey towel off the rack, and wrapped it around myself hoping to slip across the hall to my bedroom before Ollie noticed me."What the hell were you thinking?" he yelled as soon as I opened the door.So much for sneaking by. I squeezed my eyes closed and waited in the doorway, just out of sight. It wouldn't be the first time he'd seen me in a towel but seeing him tonight - especially like this - just made me feel more vulnerable. It was the same reason I couldn't bring myself to look at the cabbie, I had enough in my head without seeing what they thought of me written all over their faces. I took a breath and chose the offence I'd been practicing for last fifteen minutes. "I wasn't doing anything you haven't done. We talked, w
Trust Duet Series Chapter 6: Who needs sanity anyway?
I waved as the last of my students joined Mrs. Phillips and the other third graders in the hallway and headed toward the gymnasium to wait for their busses. Then, I slumped back in my chair, drained. I loved teaching, but this was one of those days that tested every shred of my sanity. Maybe it was the changing weather or the arrival of October and Halloween season, but it seemed like most of my kids had already been dipping into their parent's trick-or-treat supply before school. And I couldn't say anything because my attention span hadn't been much longer than theirs. I hadn't slept well since Friday night. Hell, I hadn't accomplished much since Friday night because my brain was stuck in a feedback loop with no end in sight. I was thankful that the final Wednesday afternoon bell meant we were more than halfway to the weekend, but my exhaustion had already hit Friday levels. And like those students heading to the gymnasium, I still had to wait for my ride. Since my car had crapped
Trust Duet Series Chapter 7: I was just playing along because...
As soon as I looked up, I saw Rusty disappear around the far corner of the hallway. He walked toward the main entrance, head down, with his hands tucked into his pockets and a folder stuck under one arm.Shit. Without taking a second to process my options, my legs carried me faster than I intended until I caught sight of him again. With the thought that this could be my last chance - to get some answers, of course - I just couldn't help myself."Rusty." I didn't have to raise my voice much for it to carry through the empty hallway.His head snapped up and he looked back. Then, that damn smirk twisted one side of his lips upward. "Thought the Loner was usually in a hurry to get out of school.""Doesn't work as well when you're the teacher." With ten steps I'd closed the distance between us. I kept my shoulders back, head up, trying to appear confident when I felt nothing of the sort. "Are you really okay?"He made a sound in his throat and leaned against the wall to face me. "I'm just
Bab terbaru
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 65: She completed me
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 64: I like it when you keep me warm
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 63: The chase was over
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 62: I refused to give you up
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 61: The coffee fairy has arrived
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 60: I couldn't take it back
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 59: Subbie problems
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 58: I can't see him right now
- Trust Duet Series Chapter 57: Don't underestimate him.
