Free Scarred Beauty by Sam Crescent Page B

lips locked and their
hearts pounding. The rest of the hours passed in a haze as they spent the
entire time together kissing each other.
    When the time ended, he helped her into her
coat, placed the hat on her head, and folded the scarf around her face. He
kissed her right cheek before taking her lips once again.
    “I think I should take you to the cops,” he
said.
    “Why?”
    “Your lips are addictive, and I think I should
report them.”
    She hit him on the chest and burst out laughing.
“You’re so full of it sometimes,” she said.
    “Let’s take you home.”
    He went to his car as she gave back the key. The
heating inside was on, so she would feel the benefit as soon as she got inside.
    “It is getting really cold out.”
    “I know.” He pulled out of the parking lot and
made his way to her apartment. He noted her place was pitch-black as he turned
up.
    “Do you want me to come up?” he asked, already
unbuckling his seat belt.
    “You don’t have to.”
    “From the looks of it, your friend isn’t home,
and I don’t like the thought of you going up there on your own.”
    He climbed out and followed her inside. Isaac
waited as she produced the key to her door. She flicked the light switch, and
he was in her apartment.
    The place was a lot smaller than he expected. He
wondered why Brad was living in a smaller place when he could afford something
more expensive and spacious. Their dad might not be the wealthiest man in the
world, but he did have quite a bit of money. Isaac made a note to talk to him
the next time his brother phoned.
    “Brad? Are you home?” she called out.
    No answer came.
    “He must be out with Ben.”
    “Who’s Ben?”
    “A guy he’s in love with.” She closed the door
and pulled off her jacket and scarf. “I’ll make you some coffee before you go.”
    He went with her to the kitchen. Isaac sat in
the only seat at the counter and watched her working the kettle. He found women
in kitchens a thing to avoid as it created an intimacy that most women
expected. Up until he met Elle he hadn’t wanted to share that kind of intimacy
with anyone. Watching her gave him a sense of calm he wasn’t used to. Was he
getting sentimental in his old age?
    “Do you want cream or sugar?” she asked.
    “Sugar, please, two.”
    She handed him his cup of coffee. “Thank you for
seeing me upstairs.”
    “It’s my pleasure. I wanted to make sure you got
home safely.” He took a sip of his drink and glanced around the apartment. He
could tell instantly that she had done most of the decorating. The rooms had a
feminine touch. Most of the paintings on the wall he guessed were drawn by her.
There was a sketch of Brad on the far wall. He saw the many conflicting
emotions from the drawing. “Did you draw that?” he asked.
    He got up from his seat and walked to the
picture in question.
    “Yes. That’s Brad. I drew that not long after we
moved in here. Brad was going through his withdrawal, and he wanted to remember
his battle and asked for me to draw him. I love that picture,” she said. He
gazed at her as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. The action
showed him the scar down her neck. Isaac wanted to reach between them to kiss
the delicate curve of her neck.
    “Why do you love it?”
    “Because it shows him how hard he fought to get
where he is today. You don’t know him. He thought he couldn’t fight his
addictions, and he did.”
    “He sounds like an amazing guy.”
    “Brad is. He’s the first person who wasn’t
repulsed by me.”
    “You’re a beautiful woman, Elle. Many men would
see that if you gave them time.” Isaac meant every word. He saw her blush and
couldn’t help but smile at her innocence. “Can you show me more of your work?”
he asked.
    She hesitated, her gaze going from him to
painting on the wall.
    “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
    “It’s not that. Brad is the only person who has
been inside my studio. I want you to see it, but I guess