Lean. Tall. Tattooed – one of them covering the full of his arm. Dark brown hair, long, but not ponytail long; surfer boy long and hanging in his eyes.
Taking me in, he sweeps his hair back revealing eyes the color of maple syrup. I have the sudden urge to eat pancakes.
This guy is gorgeous.
Masculine…
Strong jawline…
Everything about him screams male.
He looks like sin.
Like hot, dirty, incredible sex.
Jesus Christ! Where did that come from? I never think of men and sex—or sex with men—in that way.
I realize I’m staring at him, so I open my mouth and speak.
“Hello.” I moisten my dry lips with my tongue.
Tattooed Adonis says nothing.
He stares at me like I’m an alien who just landed on this planet – like he’s not quite sure what to do with me, or why I’m here.
Maybe I made a mistake coming here. Maybe they’re closed for the season, and Beth got it wrong.
I’m ready to back up and leave when he speaks. His voice is as deep and manly as I’d expect it to be. It sends shivers coursing over my skin.
“How can I help?” he asks.
How can he help? This is a hotel, right? I’m tempted to step back outside and check the sign again.
“I, uh, need a room.” I move closer to the counter. “Beth, the girl at the diner in town? She sent me here. Said you’d have a room available.”
He stares at me for a long moment. I’m just starting to wonder if I’ve got something on my face, when I see he’s actually staring at my sunglasses. He’s probably wondering why I’m wearing them at night. Well, rather this than have him staring at my black eye.
He looks down at the desk in front of him. “We do. How long do you want to stay for?”
I almost sigh in relief that they’ve got availability. The last thing I want to do is get back in my car.
How long do I want to stay for?
“Um…” It’s my turn to look down. I shift on my feet, thinking.
I need a while to give me time to find my mother. And if I do find her, then I’ll need time with her.
If she wants to see me that is.
I wonder how long they rent rooms for. Looking up, I say, “I’m not sure … two weeks?”
“Are you asking or telling me?”
Wow. Okay. He might be good-looking, but he’s not very nice. But what do I expect? Forbes is handsome—more in a classic way than this guy here—and he’s the biggest ass**le of all.
Pulling on my lower lip with my finger, I swallow, then fold my arms over my chest, and steel my voice. “I want to stay for two weeks, and I’m asking if you have a room available for that long?”
He looks down at the booking sheet, then looks up. His eyes flicker past me before coming back to my face. “We do. It’s one hundred and seventy five a night.”
It’s certainly a lot more expensive than the last two motels I’ve stayed at, but it’s far nicer, and it’s not like I can’t afford it, courtesy of Oliver’s tainted money. And honestly, right now I’d pay anything to be able to sleep in a comfy bed.
“That’s fine,” I say.
He gives me a narrowed look, then draws a line across the book in front of him. He reaches into a drawer, returning with a sheet of paper which he slides across the desk and puts a pen beside it. “Fill this out with your name and home address.”
I pick up the pen.
Should I put an incorrect address like I did at the last two places I stayed? I don’t want a trace back to me in case Forbes is looking for me. And tied together with my name, he’d know it was me that has been here.
But then I’m not staying just one night like those other places. And it would look suspicious if I lie about where I live, and this guy finds out.
I decide to go with the truth and write my real home address and cell phone number down. Forbes won’t be looking for me way out here. I’m half-way across the country. Two thousand miles from home.
When I’m done, I hand the form back to him. My fingers accidentally touch his. Warm, rough fingers. Yet gentle. They feel good.
Deceptive.
Because men’s hands cause pain. They give hard, sharp slaps. They give black eyes. Grabbing, clutching, never-ending pain…
I pull my hand back quickly and wrap it into my other.
Face prickling, I look into the living area, imagining the fireplace lit. I can almost feel the warmth on my face if I just close my eyes.
“I just need your card details and we’re done. Your card won’t be charged until you check out.” Tattooed Adonis’ voice snaps me back to the now.
“Okay.”
I get my card from my purse. I hold it out for him to take, but he ignores me and instead starts fussing with one of those card devices. Then he hands it to me without casting a glance my way.
“Put your card in…”
I do as asked.
“And now your PIN.”
When I’m done, he takes the device back from me, eyes still off somewhere else.
I watch him with interest as he stares at the little electronic gadget.
He really is gorgeous. The more I look at him, the more handsome he becomes. I have never seen someone who is as physically attractive as this guy.
I bet he has women tripping over themselves to be with him. And I think he knows exactly how good-looking he is. I can see it in the confident tilt of his stance, and the air of indifference he exudes.