Page 25 of Saving Scarlett

With a grin, I took the bottle and swallowed back a deep swig. “If I wait to drink until after I eat, then I won’t catch a buzz. I think I’ll start now. How about you?”

Cocking an eyebrow, he pulled another bottle out of the refrigerator and popped the top off before taking a sip. “I’m going to go with you on this one. Although, I don’t intend to drink more than one or two. I can’t look after you if I’m drunk.”

I snickered, taking another sip before setting my bottle on the counter so I could pull ingredients out of the refrigerator. “Don’t you worry. I can look after myself tonight. You deserve a day off.”

Although I knew it was a lie, since I wasn’t all that capable of keeping myself safe, I just really wanted to see Bane cut loose a little. Ever since I’d met him, he’d always been so cautious—so on point—and he deserved to have a good time just as much as anyone else did.

For the next several minutes, Bane and I gathered everything we needed to make our meal and carried it all outside. While he worked on setting up the fire and getting the outdoor grill hot, I chopped some vegetables, threw together a fresh broccoli slaw, and put potatoes in the oven to bake. I did realize that, by the time we finished eating such a large meal, I may not even have enough space in my stomach to eat s’mores, but I fully intended to try.

Chapter 23

The Savior

While we prepared everything for our cookout, I could tell Scarlett’s walls were lowered—that she seemed to feel safe. After crying to me the night before because she didn’t, I was glad some of her fear had evaporated. However, I wasn’t sure it was wise for her to let her guard down. The truth was, she was in danger, but at least for the night, I hoped to shoulder some of that weight for her. The smell of grilled meat filled the air as I flipped the steaks, the fire crackling in the background. For the moment, I was content to sit and enjoy the tranquil evening, savoring the moment with her.

Curled up in an Adirondack chair near the fire, Scarlett sipped a beer, watching as I cooked. Although I tried, I found it impossible not to look at her. Even in sweats and her long black hair pulled up in a messy bun, she was the most stunning woman I’d ever seen. She didn’t need anything to make her more so.

As the sun disappeared behind the ridge, the sky was painted in brilliant shades of orange and pink, creating a beautiful backdrop. The evening air was chilly with the sun setting, causing Scarlett to bring out a blanket from the cottage.

“I don’t even remember the last time I ate steak. It smells amazing.”

I couldn’t help but smile as she leaned forward in her chair, taking an exaggerated whiff of the meat cooking on the grill. The bruises that had yet to fully heal on her face infuriated me, but she truly was beautiful—inside and out. Like a light in the darkness, she had a contagious energy. It was inspiring to see how strong and resilient she was. She had been through so much, yet she still stood in the storm.

“You have been missing out. They’re almost ready. Would you like to eat inside, or at the table on the deck?”

Setting the blanket aside, she stood, her dark eyes taking in the sunset before turning back to me. “Definitely outside. I will get everything else from the kitchen.”

I nodded, watching as she walked away.

When the door closed behind her, I returned my attention to the grill, plating the meat and carrying it to the table. Even though the chicken she’d baked the night before was still in the refrigerator, I was glad we were eating outside in the fresh air after all the negative emotions she experienced in the kitchen the night before. With Phantom’s broadcast hitting the news at any moment, I had no doubt the night would take a nosedive. Offering her an enjoyable meal in a serene setting was the least I could do to cushion the blow. All I had done all day was keep her distracted, but I realized we would eventually have to face reality again. I wasn’t sure how she would react when Phantom and I followed through with a plan that would eventually lead to her husband’s death. Furthermore, she still didn’t know the truth about her father. There was a chance she would hate me when she found out that I knew and hadn’t told her but breaking that news to her was something I continued to wrestle with. Still, I knew I had to do it. I just hoped she would understand.

Once we had everything set up on the outdoor table, Scarlett and I sat across from each other, trading in our beers for glasses of iced tea. Our conversation remained light, talking about our favorite things to do and her hopes and dreams for the future, how she hoped to return to her bookstore and maybe even open other branches. Her laugh was one of the most pleasing sounds I had ever heard. However, it was the little moans she made as she bit into her steak that made my cock stir—the sounds my body was convinced she made only for me. The last thing I wanted to do was seduce a woman who needed to heal, but the more time I spent with her, the more my body responded to her. I was like a moth to a flame, and I wasn’t sure how long I could resist her.

Before we finished eating, my phone vibrated in my pocket, forcing me to step away from the table. With our plans for the evening, I wasn’t surprised to see Phantom’s phone number flashing across the screen.

With Scarlett still seated at the table, I returned to sit next to the fire, bringing the phone back to my ear. “Are we on?”

“We hacked into local news channels. The recording will be live in about an hour.”

I glanced at Scarlett, who had stopped eating and was watching me, but she didn’t move. “And the message?”

Phantom’s fingers tapped across the keyboard as he spoke. “Let’s put it this way, Boss. Once our message airs, the police won’t be the only ones turning their attention to Joshua Prejean.”

The moment I ended my conversation with Phantom, Scarlett rose from her chair. I didn’t know if she would approach, so I grabbed a box of graham crackers for s’mores, making her smile.

“Do you have enough room in your belly for s’mores?” I asked, hoping my smile was reassuring. I may have been tense from our upcoming takeover of the news, but I didn’t want her to be as well.

Instead of responding, she picked up the bag of marshmallows and impaled one on the wire. “Was that Phantom?”

I nodded, opening the chocolate as I watched her hold the marshmallow against the blaze, the flames reflecting in her dark eyes. “The recording will go live on the news in an hour. We don’t catch New Orleans local news here, but he will send us a recording afterwards.”

Her face was unreadable as she blew out the small fire on the tip of the marshmallow and held it toward me so I could sandwich it between the crackers and chocolate.

“Are you sure you want to watch it?” I asked, handing the s’more to her. “You don’t have to.”

The look in her eyes told me that my question caught her by surprise. I hated that I had to ask, but I didn’t want to put her through more than she had already been through. Although I knew she wanted to know what was going on, I also realized that maybe it was best she didn’t know everything—not if she wanted to rest easy at night.

Sliding the treat into her mouth, she closed her eyes, the groan she made telling me she enjoyed the taste nearly as much as she’d enjoyed the steak. It took everything in me to keep my mind on our discussion when her tongue licked the remaining marshmallow off her lips.

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