Take Me Home: Home is Where the Heat Is, Book 3 by Candi Wall

stringing him along. Any guy would snap.”
    “Maybe where you’re from.” Shawna knew better. “But that’s not how Chloe works. She’s a creature of habit. If she’s sleeping with Nick, he’s been told it’s temporary.”
    “Temporary?” He glared at her. “Like you sayin’ I ain’t in your future? Which means I can play your game, fuck you, eat you in limos, but I’m not supposed to look beyond that?”
    “Exactly.” Having him state it so crudely made her über aware of what a bitch she sounded like. “At least I’m honest. What we have is easy and simple and fun. And you get to walk away after. You should be doing cartwheels.”
    “I know,” he snapped. “You city chicks do something to a country boy’s head. That’s all I can figure. I’ve only known you a day and I’m thinking you’re what I’ve been looking for all along.”
    Ah, maybe the fatal flaw? They all had them. This one was stalker crazy. “You don’t even know me.”
    “I didn’t say it was right.” He paced away. “Hell, it’s down-and-out crazy. That’s why I tol’ Nick to git while he could. That it weren’t worth it.”
    “Oh, you’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?” How else was she supposed to respond to that?
    “No.” He looked at her, his expression serious. “I’m all tied up. I’ll stay to get paid, then I’m gone too. This place and its fucked-up, changing rules would drive anyone crazy.”
    “I’ll admit it takes some getting used to, but it’s not all bad.” She didn’t know why she felt the need to defend her home or her actions. “At one time, I wondered if New York was for me. I came in fresh off the farm too, and yes, city life is a bit harsh and cold at times. That doesn’t mean everyone becomes that way.”
    “You’re a few ice crystals away from Chloe, darlin’.” The limo pulled up, and he motioned the driver to stay put. “I sure hope you get out of here before you turn into her.”
    Shawna braced herself. This was a side of Cash she hadn’t seen, and she couldn’t understand why he was so upset. Grabbing the limo door, she opened it wide. “Sounds like you should call it a night.”
    He nodded, staring at her. “You’re staying?”
    “Yes.” She had to check in with Chloe. She also needed a bit of space without him in it, making her question herself, her motives and who she’d become. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Call or text me and let me know you made it home.” He slid onto the seat, the anger in his eyes softening. “Please. I won’t sleep well knowing you’re out here.”
    “The limo will come back for me.”
    “All the same. You wouldn’t want me showing up for tomorrow’s shoot with bags under my eyes, would ya?”
    Damn it. Why did he have to be so damn cute? Stalker, she reminded herself. Stalker . “No.”
    “And I’m guessing I can’t convince ya to come with me?”
    “No.”
    “Then you’d best be callin’ when your business is done.” He slammed the door then, and she watched the limo pull away. She wanted to be mad at him, keep him in the angry-at zone, but all she could think about was when the last time was that someone had worried about her, or asked her to check in. She couldn’t remember.
    The club closed in around her when she reentered. The music seemed too loud, the lights too bright. Suddenly everything seemed foreign and out of sync. She scanned the interior. The throng of bodies packed in the space was overwhelming. She couldn’t find Chloe, and none of the people from StyleU knew, or cared, where she was.
    After several long minutes of searching, she went back outside and dug her cell out of her purse. Shooting Chloe a quick text to find out where she was, she walked over to one of the burly bouncers guarding the door. If she remembered right, his name was…
    Damn it, she couldn’t remember. She could imagine Cash’s raised eyebrow and knowing gaze. “Did you ever ask?”
    Probably not, she admitted to herself.