Page 34 of Confessions of a Smutty Romance Author

He didn’t kiss me, though. Instead, he said, “I can wait out here while you pack a bag.”

My eyebrows came together, and I searched his face for some type of explanation. Finding none, I asked, “What are you talking about?”

“You’re not staying here until you have a security system in place.”

“But Birdie’s asleep. I can’t just show up at her place.”

“You’ll stay with me.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like I never should have thought of another option.

My lips parted, but no words came out. The invite was a godsend, so why was something in my gut telling me it was a terrible idea to stay at his house? To need him, even if it was only for a night?

“I’ll be okay, Jonas, really. I have a baseball bat and pepper spray and—”

“If you don’t want to stay at my place for your own safety, do it for me? I don’t want to be up all night worrying about you.” His brown eyes were full of honesty, not even a hint of innuendo in any of his features.

I studied him a moment longer, not believing my ears. Men didn’t do anything without expecting a favor in return. “Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out.”

He let out an exasperated sigh and went into my house. “I’ll pack a bag for you myself.”

The fighter in me came out, and I said, “Pack all the bags you want. I know you won’t be able to carry me to your car.”

He turned abruptly, and I nearly ran into him. We were barely an inch apart, but I didn’t back down. His eyes trailed up and down my body. Slowly. Hungrily. “I can handle you.”

And just the way he said those words made me want to see him try. But I knew I needed things between us to remain uncomplicated for our arrangement to work. Jonas was the kind of guy who’d been preparing for a family since he was a child, and I was the kind of person who’d been running from family for just as long. He couldn’t come anywhere near my bedroom. More specifically, he shouldn’t be coming anywhere near my heart.

But I still heard myself saying, “I’ll go get my bag. Wait here.”

I stepped out of the charged space surrounding us and went to my room. I packed the granny panties I saved exclusively for day one of my cycle, a pair of old Christmas pajamas I’d gotten on sale, and a couple pairs of leggings and sweaters. I didn’t even bother grabbing makeup, just some shampoo and conditioner.

There was no need to tempt fate, or myself.

After I brought my bag out, I convinced Jonas that I could drive myself to his place, and I took my car just in case his parents dropped by and saw me there.

On the way, my phone began ringing, and I eagerly picked it up, desperate to talk to Birdie or Hen, whoever was calling.

Instead, I read Jonas’s name on the screen.

“Hello?” I asked, half expecting him to say he’d changed his mind.

“I just realized... you never told me what you named your car.”

13

Jonas

Her laugh through the speakers was music to my ears. I couldn’t believe I was already missing her, already worried about her, and we’d only been apart a handful of minutes.

“What do you think I should name it?” she asked. “I haven’t come up with anything yet.”

I pretended to think it over, but I already had the answer. “I think you should call it Trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“Because you’re using it to get out of trouble.”

“That’s confusing then,” she teased. “I’m using trouble to get out of trouble?”

“It has a double meaning, because whenever you show up in it, I’ll know trouble’s arrived.” As soon as I said it, I couldfeelher rolling her eyes.

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