Page 68 of Defending You
She pulled her soaking-wet sweatshirt away from her skin. “That sounds about right today.”
The way her clothes hugged her body… Suddenly, he didn’t feel so chilly. “Anyway…” He gazed beyond her, needing something to focus on besides the beautiful and altogether too alluring woman he was stranded with. “We might as well be swimming.”
“We passed a sporting goods store a few miles back. We could grab ponchos.”
He hadn’t seen it, but then he hadn’t dared shift his focus from the road.
He chin-nodded to the rain. “You want to go back out in that?”
“It doesn’t look like a passing shower. If we want to get home today, we’re going to have to get wet.”
She wasn’t wrong. Why hadn’t he thought to check the weather before they took off? Not that they’d had any choice.
Asher considered all the options. “Yeah, let’s go back.”
They were both shivering by the time they stepped inside the small store tucked in a strip mall between a restaurant and a bank.
“Go grab some dry clothes.” The last thing Asher wanted… Well, the last thing heneededwas to see her in his clothes again. “Just take the tags off before you change so we can buy them.”
“On it.” She headed for the women’s section.
While she was gone, he grabbed ponchos, a couple more burner phones, and some snacks, his mind spinning through contingencies.
She returned a few minutes later, wearing form-fitting yoga pants and a slim T-shirt that hugged her trim waist, a hoodie draped over her arm.
She couldn’t have found something less attractive? Thick sweats would’ve been nice. He figured she’d look good in anything she wore. She had on a new pair of tennis shoes to replace the bright pink Crocs.
By the time he’d paid for their purchases—with her dad’s cash—his stomach was growling. It hadn’t been that long since breakfast, but apparently kissing your old crush and riding for your life through a rainstorm burned a few calories.
Oh, and there’d been thepunish myselfworkout that morning.
He and Cici stood beneath the overhang in front of the store, staring at the soaking-wet motorcycle.
If the look on her face was any indication, she was no more eager to climb back on than he was.
“Let’s grab some lunch.” He nodded to the restaurant next door.
Her shoulders relaxed. “Good idea.”
Inside, the scents of pancakes and bacon and frying burgers had his mouth watering.
Apart from the server on the opposite side of the room, the place was deserted. She called, “Sit anywhere you like.”
Asher chose a booth in the back corner, farthest from the door and nearest the kitchen, where they could make a quick getaway if necessary. He faced the windows that overlooked the parking lot, studying each car that splashed past.
Very few people had ventured out into this weather.
The server delivered menus and two glasses of water. They perused, and as soon as they set the menus aside, she was back.
They ordered their meals, and then he went to the bathroom to change into dry clothes he’d pulled from his bag.
Felt like a new man.
By the time he got back, their food had been delivered. Cici was munching on her french fries but hadn’t touched her burger.
His fish and chips looked delicious.
He was about to take a bite when Cici said, “Would it be all right…?” She faltered, started again. “Would you mind if I pray for us? I know it’s weird, but all things considered?—”
