Page 87 of Rags to Royals

She seems a little…jealous? A couple of days ago she was fighting the idea of spending this time getting to know each other. But now she seems annoyed that she has to share me. I don’t smile at that, but I do like it.

“And you’re upset about that?”

She frowns and steps back. My arm falls to my side. “No,” she says after a moment. “Because you’re so excited about it. It just means that when you’re going to happy hour at the bar with the teachers and to football games and tailgates, I won’t be with you. We’ll have less time together and we’ll have to be careful when we are together. I don’t think they’ll like me dating you.”

“Why not?”

She shakes her head, her smile a little sad now. “The last time I dated the new guy in town that everyone loved, I tried to trap him with a pregnancy, and he got run out of town.”

I frown. “Everyone loved Eli?”

She nods and hugs her arms over her midsection “Very much. He was a great youth pastor. When he left town, they blamed me for taking someone away from the kids and community that was doing good work and helping people.” She shrugs. “I’m sure they’ll feel the same way about you.”

I step forward. “They cannotfeel like you don’t deserveanythinggood.”

“A lot of them do,” she says.

And she does. I realize it as I study her eyes. She believes that they’re right to feel this way about her and punish her.

“Soyoulay low and don’t go to happy hour at the bar or to tailgates and football games. You just do your work and quietly help whoever comes along—like Amber and Diane—and that’s it. You don’t let them see you enjoying life or having fun.”

“Ruby and I go out. Amber has even joined us a few times. And we’ll do things with Mariah and Greta. Movies. A couple of football games.”

There’s a wistfulness in her eyes and Ihateit. It’s clear that she wishes she could do more.

“Because people have already determined Ruby is a lost cause?”

She nods. “Guess so.”

“And Amber?”

“Amber is new to town and is an amazing stylist. That gives her some power. They want to stay on her good side. She doesn’t go to any church at all and is nice to everyone and doesn’t let people gossip in her salon. She is just a really good person who doesn’t take sides. She goes out with other people too. I guesseveryone gives her a pass because she’s equally nice to everyone. They figure she doesn’t know better about me.”

I think that over. I’m new to town, will be an amazing teacher who they need—that gives me some power—and I won’t go to any church at all. But I will take sides. I’ll be on Scarlett’s side every time. Fully. No matter what.

“I definitely want to spend this weekend with you. And if you’re more comfortable somewhere else, that’s fine,” I finally say.

I had intended to whisk her out of town anyway, so this is all great. But I have a very strong urge now to parade her around this town and show everyone that she’s amazing and special andmine.

Clearly that’s jumping the gun. Not only would that clearly make her uncomfortable, but I need to fully establish the mine thing first.

That clears the worry from her eyes, and she grins. “I just thought it would be easier to stay naked the whole time. You never know when Ruby might be around or if Mariah and Greta might pop in. And that way I don’t have to be quiet if we wake up at four a.m. and want to…”

Her cheeks are pink but I fuckinglovethat she just said all of that.

I step close and lean in, cupping her face and dragging my thumb through the grease on her cheek. “So my little witch needs a proper all-night-long fucking where she can beg and scream?”

She sucks in a breath, but nods.

“Anything you want from me, Scarlett. I told you that.”

“Great,” she says on a breath out. “There’s a hotel in Columbus that has?—”

“Except that.”

“What?” Her forehead wrinkles.

“Come on. I have a plan.”

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