Chapter Twenty-Two
Emily threw open the front door to the motel she’d found by accident. The rain was coming down so hard she’d almost driven by it.
Cold air hit her rain-drenched body, sending a shiver down her spine. She gritted her teeth to prevent them from chattering as she walked up to the counter where an older woman sat watching an old black-and-white TV.
“Excuse me.” Emily waited a moment. “Excuse me, ma’am.”
The woman turned on the stool. “What do you need?” she said almost resentfully.
Emily was taken aback by her attitude. “I’d like a room for the night.”
The woman pushed a large ledger book at Emily. “Sign in here,” she said before she turned back to her show.
Emily shook her head and signed.
“That will be $60.00 for one night.”
Emily opened her purse and pulled out three twenties. “Here you go. Can I have a receipt? please.”
The woman scowled and grumbled something under her breath but made out a receipt and slid it across the counter to Emily along with a key.
“You’re in seven at the end of the hallway. You need to be out by 10:00, or you pay for another night.”
Emily watched the woman turn back to her show as if Emily wasn’t there.
Emily shook her head and picked up her briefcase and purse and made her way down the hallway.
Her eyes scanned the room as she walked in.
The place was old but clean. Although at this time, all she cared about was a hot shower and sleep.
She’d figure out what to do about tomorrow in the morning.
Emily went into the bathroom and shed her sopping clothes, wringing out as much water as possible, and cranked up the wall heater.
She laid the clothing over the counter across from the heater.
She hoped by tomorrow they would be dry enough to wear with some comfort because she hadn’t brought anything else with her.
She draped her panties and bra directly on the heater.
She turned the hot water on full force before stepping in, being careful not to burn her chilled skin. Emily washed and conditioned her hair with the little bottles the motel provided, then scrubbed her skin with the small soap and washcloth until it tingled.
Emily took one deep breath after another when emotions struggled to take over.
A sob tore from her throat and then another, and another until there was no strength left to hold herself up.
She slid down and sat on the floor of the shower, her arms wrapped around her bent knees as the water beat down on her head.
Dammit, why did this happen? Everything was going so well between Cole and her.
She really expected their relationship to last beyond her scheduled departure.
But if he really thought she’d be with him while she was still married, he didn’t know her at all, and she couldn’t see wishing for something that might never come.
It was better to just let it go and drive back home.
Tomorrow she’d go back to the ranch to get the rest of her things, pack, and head out.
If Winston was still there, she’d kick him in the nuts.
If Cole was there—no, she couldn’t think about that.
She just needed to get through the night.
She was strong. She’d been through a lot and come out fine.
Nothing, not even her divorce, had been this painful, she thought, but it didn’t matter, she didn’t have a choice. The tears kept falling.
Emily sobbed until her throat swelled, and her eyes burned.
She sat silently, catching her breath and trying to bury some of the dark, hurtful emotions that wanted to enfold her in a ball of misery so harsh she knew it would be impossible for her to move.
She needed all her strength, so she could function enough to get out of the shower, dry off, and make it to the bed before she collapsed.
She stood feeling like an old woman and turned off the water. She twisted her hair, squeezing the water out before pulling one towel from the shelf above the toilet, wrapping it around her head, and reaching for another for her body.
Emily used a washcloth to wipe the condensation off the mirror. She turned her face first right and left and tried to find what it was about her that made men think they could use her and then throw her away or treat her like she didn’t matter.
A sob bubbled up her throat again, and she tried desperately to push it down, only to have it burst from her chest. She sat on the toilet seat and laid her face in her hands and let the tears roll, hoping it would lessen the tightness in her chest.
Several minutes later she stood and splashed cold water over her face.
She pulled the towel from her head and used the comb from her purse to comb her hair and take out as many knots as she could without the de-tangler she’d left at the cabin.
She used the mouthwash, then tightened the towel around her body and opened the bathroom door.
A shiver of apprehension raced down her spine before a scream tore from her throat.
Cole pushed away from the door of the room and took a step toward Emily. “Whoa. Baby, I’m sorry...”
Emily pressed one hand against her mouth as she choked back a sob and held her other arm out defensively.
“Stop,” she said as a breath filled her lungs. “Just stop.”
Cole stood several feet from her.
Emily wiped the tears from her face. “I want you to go, Cole. I’m too tired to talk.” Her focus stayed on the floor in front of her.
“I’m not leaving, sweetheart. I fucked up. I’m not going to make excuses. I realize I haven’t truly put my experience with my ex-wife behind me. But I’ll deal with it later. Right now, I have to fix what I did to our relationship.”
Emily tightened her grip on the towel she’d wrapped around her. “You don’t have to do anything, Cole. What we had...”
Cole took another step forward, only stopping when she stiffened. “No, don’t say that. Damnit, don’t let my stupidity ruin what we have.”
Emily took a step away from him, stumbling when she came to the bed, keeping herself from sitting even though she didn’t know how long her legs would hold her.
“I can’t, Cole. Please. I’m just too tired to fight you.”
“I’m not going to fight you. But I’m damn well going to fight for you.” Silence descended. He watched her, and she viewed the floor.
“How did you find me and get in the room?” Emily whispered.
Cole cringed at the tightness of her voice.
“There are only two motels within thirty minutes of the ranch, and I took a guess. Thankfully, I picked the right one. I asked Carol to give me the key.”
“Carol, the lady at the counter?”
A smile tugged on his lips. “Yeah. She’s a charmer, isn’t she?”
Emily was startled when a chuckle burst from her mouth. Her eyes flew to his before returning to the floor.
“Em, please let me apologize. Please don’t let this tear us apart. And for God’s sake, please forgive me for being a dumbass. I’m a man. I’m going to make mistakes quite often.”
Another smile tugged at her lips.
Cole took a cautious step toward her and held his hands out in front. “I love you, Emily.”
Emily’s eyes flew to his face. “Wh-what?”
He took two steps to reach her and placed his hands on her shoulders, tightening his grip when she tried to pull away. He bent so she could see his eyes, and he could see hers.
“I love you. More than I ever expected I could love another person.”
Emily’s eyes widened, and she shook her head and placed a hand over her mouth. He nodded. “Yes.”
“No.”
Cole nodded again.
Emily’s eyes burned. She swallowed several times, trying to keep her tears at bay. She laid her hands on his chest, unable to tear her eyes from him.
Cole pulled her closer with his arms around her waist until their bodies met. “Do you believe me now?”
Emily was frozen. Was it possible? Could she discount everything Winston had told her over so many years? Could she believe she was worthy of this man’s love?
“Answer me.”
Her forehead dropped to his chest, bumping it when she nodded slightly.
“Look at me, baby. I want to hear you say it and see your eyes.”
Emily lifted her head and looked solemnly at him. “I believe you.”
****
Cole’s breath swooshed out. “Thank you.” His head bent, and his mouth took hers, with a loving but possessive intent. He raised his head, and his gaze pierced hers. “Are you ever going to run from me again?”
Emily’s head jerked. “I didn’t run from you.”
“I know technically you didn’t, and because of the circumstances, I can’t get mad. Just don’t run from me again. Whatever happens, we can and will work it out. You’re mine, Em, and I’m never letting you go.”
Emily’s eyes filled with tears of love and relief as she nodded.
Cole took a small step back. One hand slid up her waist over the towel she still had wrapped around her. He tucked one finger down the top of it and slid it back and forth.
“Any chance I can get you to lose the towel?”
Emily swallowed. She lifted a shaky hand to loosen the top before letting it fall to the floor. Her gaze rose to his and waited.
Cole’s eyes burned as they swept over her.
“You are so damn beautiful.” Even with puffy red eyes and blotchy skin, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
His eyes narrowed when Emily opened her mouth.
“No, you’re not going to do that anymore.
I don’t care what that piece of shit ex-husband told you, he’s wrong, and I’m just sorry I didn’t beat the shit out of him when I had the chance. ”
A giggle tore from Emily.
He would never get enough of her laughter or the happiness that lightened her face. Cole lifted her and laid her out on the bed before stepping back. He unbuttoned his wet, uncomfortable shirt before tossing it down and went for his pants, all the time keeping his attention on her.
****
Emily’s breath stalled in her throat as his body suddenly came into view. From his broad, muscular shoulders to his strong hands and chest, to his slim hips and beyond, everything about him took her breath away and drove her body’s arousal higher than it had ever been with her ex.