Page 22 of Heartbeats & Highways

“Give me your phone. I’m putting my number in it.”

I reached into my jacket pocket and unlocked it before handing it to him. He punched in a number and then called himself.

“There. If there’s something missing or if you need anything, just text me.”

“Okay.”

“Bus stop is down the street. Grocery store is two stops away,” he explained. “I know you like your independence. Laundry facilities are in the basement.”

I took off the jacket and tried to hand it to him. “Can you give this back to Waverly?”

“No. You keep it.”

“But it’s not mine.”

With a sigh, he opened his phone and shot off a text. A moment later it buzzed. Grinning, he showed me the screen.

Waverly

Tell her to keep it. It looks better on her than me anyway.

“She insists,” Savage said with a laugh.

“Clearly.” I grinned. “Okay, well, that’s sweet. Tell her thank you, please.”

“I will. So, I got you somewhere safe, now how about I help you get a job?”

“What kind of job?” I asked.

“Receptionist at Three Kings—a tattoo parlor. Hours are better than your last gig anyway. The owners are good guys. You can meet Roman tomorrow if you want.”

“Tomorrow is great. If you give me the address, I can figure out the bus route.”

“I’ll take you,” he offered.

“You don’t have to,” I protested.

“I know I don’thaveto. I want to.”

“You’ve done more than enough. And you’ve told me where the bus is. I can do it on my own.”

“I know you’re capable of doing it on your own. But Evie?”

“Yeah?”

“I want to see you in the morning, okay? Let me take you.”

We stared at one another and then he was moving toward me. His hand swept underneath my ponytail and rested on my neck.

It was a bad idea giving in. My brain knew that.

But my body . . .

I was no match for his touch, his intensity.

My hand settled on his chest. “Okay. You can take me.”

“I’ve got to go,” he said.

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