Page 15 of Unexpected Temptation
Jaylen leaned back and straightened his legs out in front of him, crossed his ankles, and set his cup on his flat stomach.
“No, there isn’t.There’s an auto shop a town over.But they wouldn’t be able to get here right now or in the near future.When it rains this hard, the road turns into a slippery mess that’s impassable and very dangerous.”
Amelia clutched at the blanket.
“For how long?”
Jaylen shrugged.
“After the rain stops, it usually takes a few days to dry out.”
Her eyes widened.“You mean you’re stuck with me for a few days?”
“Maybe longer.”
“Longer?”she cried out.
“Yeah, it’s supposed to keep raining off and on for the next few days.”
Amelia turned back to the fire.Jaylen caught the grief and tears she tried to hide.
“Hey,” he murmured softly, “It’s going to be okay.”
Amelia shook her head and sniffed.“No, it’s not,” she murmured quietly.
Jaylen stood, took a few steps that separated them, and then squatted down to face her.His brows snapped together when he realized how affected she was by the situation.
“Why are you so upset?I know you don’t know me, but I would never hurt you.”
Amelia shook her head sadly.“It’s not that.I know you’re not going to want me in your home when you hear why I’m here to see you.”
Jaylen watched the glow of the flames move over her face.He knew why she was here.Kane had told him.Her sister wasn’t going to come, and frankly, he was okay with that after he did some digging on her.People had described her as a world-class bitch.She was definitely beautiful, gorgeous even, but that in no way made up for her lack of warmth.
Jaylen hadn’t known Amelia existed.He’d seen several pictures of her sister and her parents at different parties over the years, but he’d never seen this woman in any of them, and he wondered why.Kane had told him she was looking for a place to settle down.From the things she’d said out in the rain, she’d just left her childhood home and was on her own.
“How old are you?”
Amelia frowned.“Twenty-three, why?”
“You just look young, and you mentioned you left home three days ago.”
Amelia shrugged.
“First time away from home?”He studied her expression.
She nodded and set her chin on her hands on the cushioned arm of the chair and kept her gaze on the fire.
“Why?”
She turned her head.“Why what?”she asked, confused.
“Why, at the age of twenty-three, did you decide to leave home?”
Amelia stiffened, and a shadow of sadness covered her face.“Can we talk about something else, please?”
Jaylen nodded as he kept his eyes glued to her features.
“Sure.Why don’t we talk about why you’re here?”He regretted bringing it up when she sat up, tensed even more, and tears started to fill her eyes.
