LOGINI didn't realize Nevada was such a long hours away from Chicago, I would've rethought my options, or taken two flights instead of a straight passage.
I must've dozed off a couple of times, allowing myself a treat from the snacks and beverages by the porter. I was lucky enough to have the seat next to me empty and the cabin quiet. It wasn't first class but it was definitely comfortable throughout the entire ride. We arrived at Nevada in the early hours of the day, it was still dusk and the sun was yet to rise. I grabbed my bag and asked for the nearest motel to lodge. Thankfully, two other passengers, couples from the way they kept touching each other, were going the way so the three of us boarded a bus to the motel. When we got there, I gave the place a suspicious look. It had the aura of those haunted motels in movies and I wasn't sure I liked it. "Easy, princess," the guy passenger said with a laugh, "you look like you just developed a hernia." His girlfriend smacked his chest. "Stop it, Todd," she gave me an apologetic look. "Don't listen to him, it's a lovely place." I heavily doubted that. "You come here often?" I asked as we walked through the front doors and she nodded. "Yep, I'm a native so this is kind of my childhood." "Oh," I said with a smile and she winked. We got our respective rooms, and unfortunately, we weren't close to each other at all. It was sad because I would have to leave the moment the sun was out. "Jess," I called before they would head for their rooms and she gave me an open look, "Is there a diner nearby?" She smiled softly, "The motel has one, just go down the hall and take the first turn by your right. You'll find it." "Thank you," she nodded and waved goodbye before walking off with Todd. As I stared after them, I briefly thought of my parents and how they would soon realize that I was gone. I smiled, but it wasn't out of guilt but out of a thrill I hadn't felt in years. I followed Jess' directions and found the diner, the smell of eggs and bacon thick in the air. "Good morning," I greeted the waitress behind the counter. "Can I get a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee?" The redhead bobbed her head with a bright smile. "Sure, darling," she had that southern drawl and it was kind of comforting. I gave her a polite smile and was about to turn away when I felt a presence beside me. My breath caught when I looked up to see the dazzling male standing by my side. He had a head of shaggy dark blonde hair and towered over me by several inches. I sucked in a breath, inhaling his fresh pinewood and mint scent. It was intoxicating and sent a chill down my spine. He didn't even give me a look, and I could barely hear what he was saying. My eyes were too fixated on the thickness of his neck and the bulge in his arms. He was too delicious looking for a man and I couldn't tear my eyes away. "Sorry," the waitress's voice popped in my ear. "the last cinnamon roll just went to the lady " He turned, ever so slowly, locking eyes with me and I whimpered. "You stole my breakfast." Damn it. Why did he have to have such a seductive voice too? It wasn't fair! I quickly caught myself, clearing my throat. "Technically, I ordered it first. First come, first served " He laughed, the deep timbre running down my spine. I liked the way it sounded on him. I didn't know who led who but somehow we found ourselves in a table, conversing over cups of coffee and a shared cinnamon roll. "Do you always flirt this hard over pastries?" I teased, sipping from my cup. He shrugged, leaning back and giving me a generous view of his defined face. "Only when the thief is this cute." The corners of my lips tugged upwards and he chuckled, his deep blue pools twinkling with mirth. I didn't know if it was just his face or his charm, but there was something different about him. Something I hadn't seen in a long time. "So would you give me the honour of knowing your name?" I cocked a brow and he laughed. "What? We can share a cinnamon roll but not give names." I laughed softly and stretched a hand. "Tara." "Tara," my name rolled out of his tongue smoothly and I nearly moaned in response. "I'm Jason." He took my hand and electricity shot up my arm and I exhaled. It was loud enough for him to hear because his plump lips curled wickedly. "Do you believe in fate, Tara?" I frowned, "What?" He pulled me closer, and I grabbed the edge of the table to keep me grounded. Our noses were nearly touching and his breath fanned my face. "Because I think we were meant to meet each other, Tara." Oh, damn. I loved the way he called my name. It made me feel so dirty and my mind spurred with ideas. "Oh, really?" He leaned forward, his hot breath close to my ear. "Come with me, let me show you what else fate has in store for us." Was he actually- I leaned back, staring at his face and my eyes widened. He really wanted us to do it. I had to admit, I'd never done this before. One night stands wasn't really my thing but that was old Tara and this was the new me. The new Tara who wasn't afraid of challenges and wouldn't back down from one. "Okay then, cowboy," I whispered into his ear, running my fingers through his arm. "Show me what you got." He grabbed my wrist and tugged me up, his eyes blazing with a passionate fire and I enjoyed it. We stumbled out of the diner like drunken teens, giggling and kissing all the way. My hands roamed everywhere, touching and grabbing as much as I could. He didn't refrain from doing the same either, and when we arrived in front of his door, we had to step apart so he could open it. The moment the door was open, our mouths found each other again, and I mewled into his mouth when he grabbed my ass, squeezing tightly. He pushed me back and I landed on the bed with a gasp. I watched dazed and panting as he took off his shirt, the smoothness of his chest and stomach stole my breath. "Jason," I whispered, when he leaned forward to capture my mouth in his, his hand palming my sensitive breast. He groaned when I rubbed my thigh against the hardness in his jeans. "Fuck, Tara!" He groaned, biting into my neck and I screamed. A mix of pleasure and pain exploding inside me. "Can you see it?" He asked, panting as he hurriedly took off his jeans while I tore away my clothes. "Can you fucking feel it, Tara?" He growled into my ear, rubbing his length against my wetness. "Can you feel what fate has in store for us?" My mouth dropped open but no words came out. What in the hell was this? I've had sex before but it was nothing like this. Never like this. Pools of tears gathered in my eyes, my chest tightening with increasing pressure. Jason grabbed fistfuls of my hair and tugged, releasing the pent up moan from my mouth. "Say my name, Tara!" He sunk into me with tenacity and I cried out, my fingers gathering the blankets in a fist. "Jason!!!"Jeremiah's POV The hospital lights were too bright and the smell of antiseptic made my stomach churn in distaste. But I didn't care. I rushed through the automatic doors, Tara's limp body cradled against my chest like she weighed nothing at all."I need help! Someone help me!" I was yelling, my voice cracking in a way I haf never heard before. "She suddenly stopped breathing and collasped. Her pulse is barely-”About four nurses swarmed me immediately, asking different questions and I rushed out the answers, trying not to focus on how pale she. They took her from my arms and placed her on a stroller, but it felt like they were tearing away a part of me. I watched as they rushed her toward the back."Sir, we need you to fill this," one of them called, but I could barely hear over the roaring in my ears.I hastily told her that I was Tara's boss and explained exactly what happened, making sure not to leave out any detail. “Thank you,” she said with a smile. “You can go to the waiti
Tara’s POV My heart was drumming anxiously as I pulled back from the kiss."What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound light.He played with a strand of my hair, twirling it around his finger. "I had some business with the mayor. Some kind of dental health initiative for the town's youth program."“I didn't know dentists and mayors ran in the same circle." I teased, a small grin playing on my lips. He laughed, that easy laugh that had attracted me in the first place. "What about you? What brings you to the mayor's office?""Work.” I said with a playful shrug. “My boss abandoned me here for a tour, so I'm doing a little sightseeing." The joke came out before I could think better of it but Jason kissed me again, then nipped my bottom lip. I squealed at the sting, suddenly hyperaware that people might be watching us in this public hallway."What are you doing?" I laughed, pushing him away gently."Reminding myself how beautiful you are." He pulled back with a teasing grin. "Co
TARA’S POVI opened my mouth, but no words came out. My brain had completely short-circuited.He removed his hand, and I could finally breathe again, although part of me mourned the loss of that warmth."You've been jumpy since we got in the truck," he observed, his tone maddeningly casual. "Won't look at me. Keep fidgeting with your purse strap. That's three tells already."A nervous laugh escaped me. "I'm not nervous.""Liar." But there was no heat in it.I finally risked a glance at him. He was focused on the road, but there was the hint of a smile playing at his lips.He shifted gears into work mode. "The mayor's office called yesterday. The town hall renovation is going over budget. We want to renegotiate our bid, see if we can bring the costs down without compromising quality."I blinked, turning his words over in my head. "How much over?""Fifteen percent. Which is actually reasonable given the foundation issues we discovered.” He said and clicked his tongue against the roof of
TARA’S POVI was walking through a garden bathed in golden afternoon light, flowers bloomed in different bright colors, and the air smelled like honeysuckle and freshly cut grass. I felt... happy. Genuinely, deeply happy in a way I couldn't remember feeling in years."Mummy!"I turned to see a little girl running toward me, pigtails bouncing, her face split wide with joy. She couldn't have been more than five or six, wearing a yellow sundress covered in butterflies.My heart swelled with a love so fierce it nearly brought me to my knees. I knelt down and swept her into my arms, covering her face with kisses as she giggled."Mummy, guess what! Guess what me and Daddy caught!"I smiled, leaning back to stare at her. "What did you catch, sweetheart?""A butterfly! A real one!” She was bouncing excitedly on her toes now. “It was blue and so pretty and Daddy said we had to let it go but first we got to look at it really close and-""That sounds amazing," I said, smoothing her hair back fr
TARA'S POV No. No, it couldn't be him, right?I pressed closer to the crack in the door, trying to see, but they were positioned just out of my line of sight in the living room."You have responsibilities to this family too," the brother continued. "I’ve always been there for her while you were off trying to revive the construction company. Why can I have this break?”There was a loud thud that made me flinch, followed by Jeremiah’s growl. "You know why I had to fucking do that! And we had a deal but you broke it, why?”"I had things to do. A life, remember? You're not the only one who-""Things to do?” Jeremiah snapped. “Or someone to do?"There was a sharp intake of breath. "That's not fair."Jeremiah scoffed. "Isn't it? How many months has it been since you actually showed up for a family dinner? Since you spent more than five minutes with Nana?"There was a heavy silence that pressed against my ears then angry footsteps heading toward the door."You know what? Forget it. I came h
TARA’S POV"Jesus Christ!"Jeremiah's voice cut through my panic, followed by a pained grunt.My fist had connected with his face, I realized with horror as the panic started to recede and my other senses kicked back in.My hand went up to my mouth. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I didn't… I couldn't see and the lights suddenly went off.""It's fine," he said, his voice strained. "Stay right there. Don't move."I heard him moving through the darkness with, followed by the scratch of a match, then a small flame bloomed to life. He lit a candle on a nearby table, then another, and another, until soft golden light filled the space.When he turned to face me, I gasped becauae blood was trickling from his nose.I shifted closer. "Oh God, Jeremiah, I'm so sorry.""Power goes out sometimes," he said calmly, tilting his head back slightly. "Old wiring. I've been meaning to fix it.""Let me help." I rushed forward, all my earlier awkwardness forgotten in the face of actual crisis. "Do you have tis
The sound of the alarm clock woke me from my slumber, and I groaned, dragging myself from the bed. My muscles protested as I moved around, heading to the bathroom first. Today was yet another of applying for more jobs. After yesterday's rejection, I was prepared to just lie in my bed today but my
The sterile white walls of Jason's office felt surreal, adorned with dental charts and gleaming instruments that I kept poking at every chance. My fingers traced the laminated brushing technique poster, I still couldn't believe he was actually a doctor. A part of me felt he was lying or trying to
"What do you think you're doing, Anderson?" Anders huffed, jamming his hands into his pockets. "Nothing, officer. Just giving the lady a nice Elko welcome." His friends seemed terrified of Kennedy as well, they kept their faces fixed to the table, avoiding his glare. I wondered if his demeanour
My phone buzzed, interrupting the moment and I looked down to see a text from Jason, indicating that he was here. It was eight on the dot and I had to give him credit for his punctuality. "Is that him? Tracy asked and I nodded. "So, what are you waiting for then? Go get him."I chuckled, grabbing







