Page 161 of Scandalous

“I’ve always wondered what that house looks like on the inside,” I confess, getting excited at the idea of staying there.

The bed-and-breakfast is an old Victorian home that was completely redone when I was ten. For two years, the owners brought it back to life. When I was a kid, we used to go trick-or-treating there and I was amazed by the front entrance.

“My family will hate that we aren’t staying with them,” I point out.

“Let me handle that, yes?”

Ezra falls silent as we drive through town.

“There’s the bed-and-breakfast.” I point to the left as we pass by.

“Looks lovely.” Ezra pauses. “Aurora… please tell me this place has internet.”

I roll my eyes at his ridiculous question. “Of course.”

“Oh thank god, otherwise this was truly about to be a trip from hell.”

Thirty-Six

“Here we are,” Aurora mutters as she puts the car in park.

“Stay there,” I say as I get out of the car.

I take my time and walk around the hood of the car and look around. The air smells of manure and I fight the urge to cover my nose. Cows moo in the distance as I reach down and open her car door.

“Milady.”

Aurora giggles as she slips her hand into mine and it does something to me. Even while suffering a loss, I make her happy enough to laugh.

“A gentleman in the streets and a freak in the sheets. How did I get so lucky?” she whispers, eyes twinkling.

“Save the sass for later.” I raise a brow. “You don’t want me to meet the family hard as a rock, do you?”

“And traumatize them so soon? We better hold off for now.”

She leans up and kisses me once before trying to walk around me.

“Ror,” I say, making her pause. I pull her back into me and brush her hair out of her face and search her eyes. “Before you go in there and you deal with all their bullshit, I just wanted to remind you that I’m with you. You say the word and we’re out of here.”

Aurora’s eyes soften as she sinks into my hold. “I know.”

“I love you. You are my main priority here, okay?”

Aurora sucks in a breath and looks as if she could cry. “I don’t think I will ever get used to you telling me you love me.”

“Do I really look like the kind of guy who would just throw around that word?” I deadpan.

“I love you too. So much it hurts.”

I lean down and kiss her as I hold her tight. The sound of a door banging shut has us breaking apart.

“Come on.” She sighs as she takes my hand, pulling me toward the porch.

The house is the typical farmhouse from a movie with peeling white paint. The porch is swept clean and has two rocking chairs overlooking the land. If I had to guess, the chairs don’t get much use.

“You came and brought someone with you.” Her mother smiles.

“Mom, this is my boyfriend, Ezra.” She squeezes my hand. “Ezra, this is my mother, Nicole.”

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