Shameless (Enemies to Lovers 5)

Chapter 11

EVIE

As I push through the wide glass doors of the library and step outside, thunder rumbles overhead.

Just my luck. The sky is dark, and as drops start to fall, I walk quickly towards the pavement. Hopefully, it doesn’t begin to pour before I can get home.

The thought isn’t even cold when there’s another crack of thunder, and it starts to rain heavily. The drops are big and fat, soaking my clothes.

Being wet in the cold makes my body start to tremble. For a crazy second I contemplate running back to the library so I can take shelter until the storm passes, but then I remember Rhett and the girl he was with.

I’m not even sure why seeing him with a girl hurts so much. It’s not like I’m friends with Rhett. Hell, I’m nothing but a charity case.

Just thinking that makes me feel grateful once more that I got the job at the gas station. When they called me this morning, I was so surprised. I’ve been unsuccessful with so many other applications that I didn’t think I would get the position. Even though I’ll be working nights, I’m excited that I finally got a decent job, especially one where they don’t require me to remove my clothes.

But still, there’s an ache in my chest when I think of what Rhett and that girl were busy doing seconds before I got there.

A blowjob at the library! Nevermind that it happened in a public place, I never thought of Rhett as a man with needs. For some reason, knowing this about him has changed how I always saw him. I used to see him as some savior of sorts, but now… now I’m forced to see the man. I worked hard to ignore the initial attraction I felt towards him. Not that I’m suddenly feeling attracted to him. It’s just that… ugh, I don’t know what it is.

“You're silly, Evie!” I mutter under my breath. “It’s not like you see him a lot anyway.”

The thunder rolls again, and I can swear I hear my name.

When lightning strikes nearby, I let out a startled shriek. Someone grabs hold of my arm, giving me such a fright that I immediately yank my arm free. The sudden movement makes me lose my balance. Unable to catch myself, I fall, and my butt slams into the pavement with such a force, I feel the vibration all the way to my teeth.

“Fuck.” The harsh growl above me has my eyes darting up.

The sight of Rhett towering over me makes me swallow hard. His shirt is soaked through, making the fabric stick to his broad chest and showing off every sculpted muscle. Drops of water run down his face, and his dark eyes and hair make him look like a fierce god.

Well, no need to keep sitting at his feet. It’s not like his savior complex needs a boost.

When he reaches a hand out to help me up, I ignore it and climb to my feet. I right the strap of my book bag over my shoulder and take a step back.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. I called, but you didn’t hear me,” Rhett explains.

“It’s fine.” I point to behind me. “I have to go. It’s raining.”

Way to go, Evie. Like the man doesn’t know that it’s pouring.

“Let me give you a ride home. You can’t walk in this weather,” Rhett says as I start to turn around.

I’m shaking my head before he’s even done talking. There’s no way that I can be alone in a car with him right now. I’m too embarrassed from knowing about the blowjob. The ride home will only be painfully awkward.

“I like walking in the rain,” I say, but my shivering from the cold doesn’t make me sound very convincing.

Time to make a run for it, Evie.

“See you around.” The words rush from me as I spin on my heel, walking away as quickly as I can without falling down again.

The next second, strong fingers wrap around my arm, and I’m whirled back around. I slam into Rhett but before I can recover from the shock, he bends down, presses his shoulder against my stomach, and then I’m airborne.

“What are you doing?” I shriek as my book bag tumbles to the ground. I’m too busy clinging to the soaked fabric on his back to try to stop my bag from landing on the pavement.

“It’s wet and fucking cold out here, woman” Rhett growls as he plucks my bag from the ground.

I try to wiggle my body out of his grip, but his arm tightens over the back of my thighs.

“Rhett!” I hiss through my teeth, dumbfounded by his caveman behavior. “Put me down.”