Page 20 of Between Now & Heartbreak

“I’m in charge and I’m going to call security if you don’t leave.”

Until now, I’ve been watching, knocking my head against the wall I’m leaning against, while I try to decide my next move. The man’s threat makes my mind up for me really fast. Going to jail is not in my plans. And neither is alienation the people whose help I need.

I take Etta by the elbow and move her to the side.

“Thank you, sir. No need for that. She’ll find another way.”

“Come on,” I steer Etta away from the window and toward the entrance.

She yanks her arm away and comes to a stop in front of me, hands on her hips, her face contorted by outrage.

“What are you doing? That man was being an idiot. They think they’re above the law around here,” she says in a voice that’s too loud. I see other visitors glancing in our direction.

“Making a scene is going to get us anywhere. I’ll find another way,” I reiterate and slip an around her shoulder to keep her from turning around again.

“Well. Okay, thenCarter,” she says, her voice drops and her face is transformed by a coy smile as she steps into my side and slips her around my waist.

Shit.

Thisis the very last thing I need. She helped me with the house I rented and then helped me get that room at the B & B when it fell through.

When I said yes to her offer to show me around, I didn’t realize she’d been interested in much more than that.

We had dinner my first night and she kissed me when she dropped me off. I told her I was getting over someone to let her down easy. She seemed to take it well then, but I wouldn’t have called if I hadn’t been desperate.

I drop my arm from around her shoulder and she wraps her other around my waist and comes to stand in front of me mid stride.

She bats her eyelashes up at me, unfazed by my curse of annoyance as I try to stop myself from tripping over her.

I look down at her, disbelief at how brazen she’s being.

“I’m really glad you called,” she drawls.

I grab her arms and tug them.

She only tightens her hold on me.

“Etta- uh-- ”

The door we stopped in front of flies open, hitting her backside and knocking her off balance. She falls forward, with her arms still locked around me and I lose my balance too.

We stumble a few steps before I manage to right myself.

“Carter?”

I look up to find myself face to face with the one person I’mnottrying to see.

If her expression is anything to go by, the feeling is mutual.

Her face has drained of color, but her eyes are bright with shock. But she’s looking at Etta, and Etta is glaring at her.

“Etta?” She’s looking at me when she asks that question and that pained expression is back on her face.

I look between them. But before I can ask any of the myriad of questions that rush at me, Etta comes to stand directly between us.

“You did that on purpose.” Etta hisses, the venom she spat at the clerk back in her voice.

“Of course I didn’t, don’t silly.” Beth shoots back without the same venom, but her loathing is clear.

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