Page 28 of Targeted By Desire

“Ha, I wish. Dinner went way left. Can you pick me up?”

“Yeah, of course. Where are you at?”

I glanced around the lobby, searching for the name of the inn. “Sweet Serenity Bed and Breakfast.”

“Girl, that’s miles away from the restaurant you said you were going to. How the fuck did you get there?”

“I’ll explain when you get here.”

“Alright. Be there in twenty minutes.”

“Thank you.”

The woman emerged with another steaming hot cup, blankets and a first aid kit. She offered me a kind smile as she pushed the hot tea into my hands. “Chamomile tea,” she explained. “To soothe your nerves.”

“Thanks.” The tea lightly burned my lips as I took a sip. The little bit of pain was worth the warmth it spread across my body. I hadn’t realized how cold I was until now.

She placed the blanket over my shoulders before the shivers could start.

I thanked her again. “You’re very kind.”

“Oh, it’s my pleasure. My name is Cora, by the way.”

“Simone. It’s nice to meet you.”

She pointed to my feet. “May I patch you up?”

“Oh, no. I can do it.”

Ignoring my command, she made me lay against the arm rest and pulled my legs into her lap. “I think you do enough on your own,” Cora commented. “It’s alright to let someone take care of you.”

A tiny knife twisted in my chest. Not because her words were cruel, but because they were true. I opened my mouth, ready to ask how she knew that.

“A lot of people come through here,” she explained before I could. “Reading people is second nature at this point.”

Cora touched one of the alcohol drenched pads against my soles, and I instinctively pulled back at the sting it brought. “It’s alright,” she whispered, holding my ankle to keep me still. “I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

Keeping her promise, she quietly tended to my wounds, treating every single cut with the utmost care.

I watched her as she worked, wondering how many strangers she’d taken in and cared for as if they were her own. She reminded me of my father’s mother: a Good Samaritan willing to help anyone in need. After the night I’ve had, her warm presence was a safe haven to decompress in.

“Where is he?” Gabriel said as he walked through the front doors of the inn. One glance at me and every bit of reform he’d undergone as an adult disappeared, replaced by livid eyes and balled fists. “I swear I’ll kill him.”

Cora giggled at Gabriel’s rage. “I’ll join you.”

“It wasn’t Justin,” I told him before he could get too riled up. He has been through enough tonight. The last thing he needs is Gabriel tearing into him too.

“Then, what happened?”

I glanced at Cora, knowing we shouldn’t be discussing this in front of a civilian.

Thankfully, she got the message. She cleaned up her supplies and retrieved the cup of tea. “Seems like you’re in good hands now,” she said. “Feel free to stop by if you’re ever in trouble again.”

“I’ll be back for another cup of that tea,” I assured her. “Thank you, again.”

“Of course. Take care of yourself now, sweetheart.”

Before I could attempt to stand, Gabriel lifted me up in his arms and carried me out bridal style. “I can walk,” I told him.