Chapter Twelve
Breeze couldn’t stop shaking with the fear of what might’ve been, even after another hour in the police station. Seth stayed right by her side, but Ridge had also given her that tight hug that she’d been wanting. They’d found Flint, beat up but still breathing on the side of the road. The other guy who jumped was still at large, but they’d been able to track down the truck and arrest the two men still in it.
When Seth, Caleb, Ridge, and Breeze were finally released, it was almost three a.m. and the police chief wasn’t taking any chances. He drove them straight to the Plaza Motel and checked them in himself. She noticed Seth handing over a credit card but was too tired to protest. The hotel was nothing fancy, but it was clean. They had two rooms. Ridge went into the room for he and Breeze, and Caleb hurried into the room for he and Seth saying, “Dibs on the shower.”
Breeze stopped outside her door, and Seth moved next to her, looking down at her tenderly. “You doing okay?”
“Thanks to you,” she said breathlessly. She knew she was in no frame of mind to make any decisions, but right now she didn’t care why Seth had come for her. She didn’t care that Caleb thought her trailer home was trash and destroyed it. She wanted to forget that she and her brother owed Seth twenty grand and ignore the fact that she didn’t fit in with his impressive family. If Seth asked her to stay by his side right now, she had no clue how or why she’d say no. She’d say yes and kiss the rest of the night away.
He cupped her cheek with his palm and tremors of pleasure and anticipation raced through her. “You’re probably tired,” he murmured, his gaze trailing down to her lips before returning to meet her eyes.
“Not too tired,” she said stubbornly.
He chuckled softly and leaned down closer to her. He didn’t smell like his usual tempting cologne, but more like the outdoors, probably from all their crazy adventures of the day. He still smelled good to her, and she prayed she didn’t still smell like bacon from the restaurant.
“What are you not too tired for?” he asked.
“To give you a proper thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. Despite everything that had happened and the uncertainty surrounding their relationship, she felt light and happy in his arms.
His voice came out deep and husky, “Well I’m definitely not too tired to receive a proper thank you.”
She raised up and he bent down. Their lips met and all doubts and worries fled. Seth’s lips caressed hers with a tender pressure that made her feel loved and desired. He backed her up against the wall and his strong body pressing against hers was perfect: warmth, safety, and excitement all intermingled in the kiss.
A door clicked open. “Are you okay … Whoa, sorry.” Ridge had pulled open their hotel room door. He laughed uncomfortably and backed away.
Seth smiled gently down at Breeze. “I’d better let you rest.”
She didn’t want rest, she wanted him, but she wimped out and simply nodded.
He nodded and released her. “Thank you for my thank you,” he said.
Breeze found herself smiling, thinking of that kiss. “Thank you for … well just thank you.”
He chuckled. She wondered how he could be so nonchalant while she was so stirred up inside. She tried the door, but it was locked. Rapping softly with her knuckles, she stared at the handsome man next to her. Seth Jewel was standing right there, and she wanted to kiss him again and then beg him to never let her go. Yet how would that work? He had an actual job for Ridge, not for her. She wasn’t really cut out to be a motocross groupie, but she didn’t want to leave him, not now, not ever.
She frowned and then jumped when the door popped open quickly. Obviously, Ridge had been waiting for her.
“Goodnight,” she murmured to Seth as she slipped in.
“Night.”
Breeze walked past her gawping brother and laid down on the far bed. It felt like heaven to stretch out. No. Being in Seth’s arms had been heaven.
“So … you and Seth Jewel?” She could hear the teasing in her brother’s voice, but luckily he didn’t expect her to respond as he rushed on, “He told me he’s going to take me on his crew so I can pay the money back that way and have my dream job. He says he’s got some fabulous mechanics who will teach me and help me get the certifications I need.”
Breeze smiled at his excitement, feeling too tired to even move. “That’s great, Ridge.”
“Are you going to come with us?”
Her smile fled. “He didn’t really ask me to.”
“If he asks?”
She bit at her lip. “I want to, but I’d need a job. I can’t just follow him around the country like a groupie.”
“You’re so weird. Any other girl would.”
“Goodnight, Ridge.”