B00VQNYV1Y (R) Read Free Page A

suddenly sleepy and a little bit ill.
    “I am exhausted. I’m not driving you all the way out to the cabin.”
    “My car is at the bar,” she said, knowing she sounded like she was whining now.
    “I imagine you were going to ditch it anyway. At least take a cab, right? Because you’ve had some drinks.”
    Well, he wasn’t wrong. About either thing.
    They turned the corner, taking the road that led away from the main part of town, and out toward the main highway. They passed by the gun mart and the gas station, continuing on until the faint lights of town faded.
    The longer they drove, the more clearly Melanie realized neither of them had a plan. Luke had no clue what he was doing right now, and Melanie hadn’t had any idea of what she was doing all night. Not from the moment she’d sat down at that table with that guy – Joel. For some reason remembering his name seemed unimportant – to the moment Luke had carried her out of the bar, and demanded she get in his car.
    There was a little alcove where the trees thinned, a fluorescent security light shining down on a nearly vacant parking lot. A tall, faded sign bearing the name Grizzly Lodge was clearly visible thanks to the bright green neon outlining the words.
    “Very nice, Shuller. A real palace.”
    “Probably where you would have ended up if you would have gone home with that drunk-ass cowboy.”
    She cringed internally, because he was probably right.
    As if on cue, a cab pulled into the lot, parking across the way from them. And when the first passenger got out, she saw that it was indeed Joel. He was not hurting for company. A redhead got out of the other side and Melanie gritted her teeth in frustration. That woman was getting Melanie’s sex, and all Melanie was getting was a lecture.
    “Look at that. See what I mean? He didn’t exactly respect you.”
    Melanie rolled her eyes and let out a growl. “You’re assuming I wanted him to.”
    “Out of the car. Now.”
    She undid her seatbelt and slammed it against the side of the car with a bit more ferocity than was necessary, then she got out, slamming the door behind her. She heard Luke’s door close behind hers.
    He said nothing as he stopped at the nearest bright red door, taking a key out of his pocket and jiggling it in the lock, pushing it open and extending his arm as though he were a gentleman magnanimously allowing her first entry into a grand suite.
    She stomped past him, her high heels sinking into the faded, tacky-looking carpet, causing her to pitch sideways. For the second time that night, Luke grabbed her by the arm, holding her upright. He closed the door behind them, doing up the deadbolt, his hand still wrapped around her arm.
    “You can let go of me.” She proceeded to lean against him while she reached down and grabbed hold of the heel of her shoe, taking it off, then repeating the motion with the other one.
    “Okay, now let go of me,” she said, stumbling as she straightened.
    “How drunk are you?” He looked furious now.
    She squinted. “I’m not drunk. I only had three drinks.” Now that the anger was fading, she felt a little bit lightheaded, though. “And they were pretty drinks.”
    “Have you ever had three drinks in one sitting in your life, Melanie Richards?”
    “No. No I haven’t. And you know what else? I’ve never had sex.” The words just sort of exploded from her, with no thought or reason. She spun around and sat on the bed, falling backward on the pine tree-covered comforter.
    Luke made a sound that hovered somewhere between a groan and a growl. “Why are we talking about this?”
    “Because you like…cock blocked me.” She opened her eyes and looked up just in time to see a blanket floating up in the air, settling over her, from the top of her head down to her feet. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice muffled by the fabric.
    “You are going to sleep. You’re going to not talk to me anymore. You’re going to share no more personal