Page 111 of Till The Sun Dies (Checkmate 2)

“Hey there, darlin’.” A man my brain automatically applies the nameSkeeterto steps out from behind the tall desk and grins. I definitely need a shower. And a new hotel. And new friends. “That’s your Buick? It’s a damn beauty.”

“Yeah. Can I get a room? Just for the night.”

“Sure. You stayin’ all alone?”

“No.” My senses are thrown into full alert. Skeeter skeeves me the fuck out, and now I remember why I hate men. Why I shouldn’t have left the diner.

Why I shouldn’t have left Jess’ house.

“My friends are just across the way grabbing something to eat. They’ll be here in a sec.”

“Your friends?” He grins salaciously and flicks through a rolodex of business cards. “Your friends gonna be long? Because we got Rosie’s just three doors up, and it’s almost time to close the office. We could head on up to the bar; they got good honky-tonk. It’s a lot of fun.”

“No. My friends will be here in a second, so I just need a room.” I take a shaky step forward.Be cool. Everything’s okay.“Can you be fast? I need to go to bed. I’m exhausted.”

“Been driving long? Where you from?”

“Yup, all day.”

“Can I see your ID?” His thin lips quiver with excitement. No way in a million years am I showing this dude my ID. No way am I giving him my address. “We need it on file. It’s a security thing.”

“No.” I hug my dinner closer to my chest and breathe through the germs skittering over my skin. “I’d like a room. I’d like to pay cash. I don’t wanna go to a bar.”I want my friends.

“I’m sorry, darlin’. No ID, no room.”

“Forget it. I’ll sleep in my damn car.” I turn on my heels and almost jump out of my skin when my eyes meet Ang’s on the other side of the glass.

As soon as he notices my white face, he bites off a curse and storms through the door. “Laine?” He takes my hand the way he did at Spence’s firing range, pulling me into his side. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Can you get me a room? I don’t… I don’t wanna show my…” I can’t stop shaking. This Skeeter asshole has officially reduced me back to the scared woman I thought I’d left at home. “I wanna go home.”

At my tear filled admission, his eyes come back to me.

He watches me for a long beat, and his hand caresses mine, stroking my wrist along my now closed scar. His broad chest brings me comfort, until Skeeter coughs up something akin to a hairball and creeps me the fuck out again.

“Alright.” Ang leans in close enough that his lips almost brush the shell of my ear. Half an hour ago, this would’ve reduced me to a puddle of anxiety. I’d triple guess and wonder if he’s flirting. But he’s not. He’s doing what he does best; he’s protecting me. “Go outside to Jessie. Wait for me.”

The bell rings a third time as Kane steps in. The joking guy from the diner is gone, the laughter we shared on our drive, everything, it’s all gone and ruined as he steps in all broad chested and ticking jaw. “Move, Twink. Go wait with Jessie for a sec.”

I turn back to Ang. “What are you do–”

Ang pushes me into Kane’s arms, Kane pushes me out the door into Jess’ arms, and as soon as the heavy glass door is closed, I turn back to find Skeeter stepping back in alarm.

“Come on, Baby.” Jess leads me around the corner of the building until the office is out of view.

“What are they doing?”

“What did he say that made you scared?” We stop and lean against the brick wall. Bugs fly above us, drawn to the light, but led to their death as they get caught up in the extensive spider webs that stretch from the roof. “You walked in there all badass, then you went white and made the guys run through traffic.”

“They ran through traffic?” Gravy spills out of my dinner and oozes along my wrist.Don’t go there. Don’t do this.It’s just gravy. Not blood. Not the same. “He was just creepy, and I didn’t like it. He asked me to go to the bar with him. I said no. Then he asked for my ID for room deposit, but I said no to that, too.”

“Good choice. He’s a fuckin’ creep.”

“What are the guys doing?”

“Nothing. They’re just offering up their ID. Creepy ass dude wants room deposit, he can deal with them.”

Tears burn the backs of my eyes when something crashes in the office. All I see in my mind is the shitty hula lamp slamming against someone’s head.

---