Nearly Broken Read Online Free PDF Page B

Luckily, he didn’t
seem to realize I considered those words a mistake.
    God, I am so
freaking paranoid!
    Myrtle Creek
was safe, so small and inconsequential you couldn’t even find
it on a lot of maps unless you zoomed in on a digital copy or bought
a local fold-up. It sat along the I-5 in southern Oregon where hardly
anyone stopped for anything but the local gas stations. I knew I
couldn’t stay here forever; it’d already been a year and
half. And if I stayed even one day too long, he could catch up with
me.
    An uninviting hand
snaking its way up my bare thigh, and me, powerless to stop it.
    I shivered, and
crossed my arms far enough to hug myself. Nick was just staring at
me, watching me, with that gaze that always managed to decipher the
truth behind my unspoken words. Maybe he did catch the hidden meaning
behind that statement.
    “How do you feel
about taking on a roommate?”
    “Who? You?”
I asked, my voice rising and extending that last syllable two seconds
too long.
    “Why not? You
can save half the money you make and I won’t have to stay in
that disgusting motel room anymore. This place is old, but at least
it’s clean.”
    “Nick, we’ve
only known each other a week.”
    Leaning the base of
his spine against the edge of the kitchen counter, he jested, “In
some cultures we’d be married already.”
    I huffed and narrowed
my eyes. “This isn’t one of those cultures.”
    “What are you so
worried about? Do you need a background check? Because I’m
pretty sure Paul did one when he hired me. You can keep the bed, I’ll
crash on the sofa. I don’t even need a closet, just a place to
put my bags.
    “Come on,”
he sang. “Think of all the good food I could fill your belly
with.” Waving the empty gumbo can in the air, he added, “I’m
not above bribing you with actual food.”
    “Oh, God…”
I rubbed my face up and down, my hands finally settling flat against
my cheeks, ready to squeeze a death grip if I went against my gut
instinct. A roommate was not a good idea. Forming attachments to more
people in this town was not a good idea. Letting this very
attractive, very sexy, green-eyed young man with gorgeously
sculptured biceps into my home was so not a good idea .
    But part of me
realized that if I did, I wouldn’t feel so alone and scared all
of the time either. That was why I worked so much. I preferred to
keep company with those who would notice if I went missing. That if I
disappeared in a hurry and didn’t call to say goodbye, they’d
question my exit, would care enough to look for me.
    Something I didn’t
have last time...
    And it wasn’t
like he hadn’t proven himself to be a decent guy. Since day one
he had come off a little protective, and tonight he showed exactly
how far he’d go to keep those jerks from harassing me. I didn’t
know why, but I was actually comfortable around him now, and though
it was probably selfish of me, I kind of liked the idea of having him
between me and anyone that tried to come through that door. And I
loved the idea of increasing my money stash. “Yeah. Okay. I
guess.”
    He didn’t tease
me about my shaky acceptance, probably figuring the slightest remark
would teeter-totter my decision in the opposite direction.
    I let him walk the
place now that he was going to be staying here, hoping he didn’t
notice the stuffed bag in the back of my closet. If he did, he didn’t
say anything. He had the strength to wiggle the divider doors free
from the walls, saying he could fix them tomorrow so they didn’t
rattle or screech. Now we’d be able to maintain some sense of
privacy during the night. The bathroom was on his side, but he wasn’t
fazed at all when I asked if my using it at night would make him
uncomfortable.
    He went ahead and
crashed on the sofa that night, using the fleece throw as a blanket.
I didn’t question why he didn’t just go stay in the room
he already paid for.
    Like always, I slept
in a long sleeved tee and cotton pants, so