I didn’t just say that out loud, did I?
I cast a glance at her. She’s staring off toward the living room.
No, don’t think I did. Thank f**k for that.
“I just need your card details and we’re done. Your card won’t be charged until you check out.”
“Okay.” She bends down to her bag. I take the opportunity to lean over the counter and check her ass out.
Nice. Real nice.
I shouldn’t have looked because I’m getting hard again.
She comes back up with her card in hand.
I key the amount in and hand the card device to her.
“Put your card in … and now your PIN.”
I take the device back and wait for it to ring through.
When it’s done, I pull her card from the machine and hand it back to her.
I notice she takes care not to touch me this time.
She shoves the card in her back jean pocket. For a moment, I actually wish I was that card.
I grab the key for Lakeview and step out from behind the counter. “This way.”
She reaches down for her bags and sluggishly lifts them to her shoulder. That’s when I realize how tired she looks.
Here I am checking her out like a total douche, and the girl is exhausted. I feel like a complete tool. My mom raised me better than this.
“Here let me get those for you.” I hold my hand out to take her bags.
She hesitates. Her fingers curl around the handles, gripping them tight to her.
What does she think I’m going to do, run off with her stuff?
Retracting my hand, I scratch my head. “It’s my job to carry your bags. We’re not the kind of establishment that has a bellboy.” I grin so not come off as an ass**le. She is a paying guest after all.
Her death grip relaxes and she lifts the bags from her shoulder, placing them in my hand.
“Thank you,” she says in that sweet voice of hers.
She doesn’t talk much, but when she does … it’s effective.
Then she smiles.
I called her stunning before. I take it back. With that smile, she’s nothing short of beautiful.
I don’t think I’ve ever referred to a woman as beautiful before. Now, there’s a first.
If she can look this beautiful with those huge hideous sunglasses covering what I imagine is the best part of her face, then I can only imagine how she looks without them.
And how she would look under me.
Naked.
I sling her bags over my shoulder and stride off in the direction of Lakeview.
You can’t have sex with her, Matthews.
My dick, of course, disagrees. Yeah, my dick is absolutely positive that I could screw this chick for two weeks straight and not get bored once.
Who am I kidding? I’d get bored after a week. I lasted that long with Shawna, and she had a huge rack and legs that went on forever.
But even with those assets, she was nowhere near as hot as Mia Monroe.
Hot or not. I don’t have the staying power. And right now, money is more important. And proving a point to Beth, of course.
I come to a stop outside Lakeview. I unlock the door, turn the light on and go inside, setting her bags on the bed.
When I turn back, I see she’s still standing out in the hall.
Everything about her body language screams tense. My eyes flicker to her hands. They’re trembling again.
What is wrong with this girl? I thought it was because she was hot for me, but no, it’s not that. It’s something else.
She wraps her arms around her chest and straightens her back up.
With care, I walk toward her. She steps back to let me pass.
“Your key.” I hold it out to her, leaving a distance between us.
Freeing a hand, she takes it from me.
And now it’s me making sure not to touch her in this exchange. Even though I want to, something tells me that right now I shouldn’t.
“Breakfast is served between seven and eight-thirty.” It’s on me to make breakfast tomorrow as it’s Paula’s day off. Paula is both our cleaner and our cook. She’s worked here ever since I can remember.
“And we don’t do evening meals, but there are plenty of restaurants nearby,” I add, remembering the remainder of my spiel.
“Are there any other guests staying here?” Her voice sounds small.
I turn back to her. “No. Not until next week. Until then, it’s just you and me.”
The look on her face throws me for a loop. She looks terrified.
What the hell? Jeez, it’s not like we’re the Overlook Hotel.
“Don’t worry. It’s totally safe out here,” I feel compelled to say. “We have a great alarm system, and I have a shotgun. You know, just in case.” I wink as I laugh.
At the mention of a shotgun, her body stiffens and she looks like she’s about to bolt.
Or puke.
Okay, I’m guessing that was the wrong thing to say.
“I’m totally kidding, I don’t have a gun here.”
That’s a bit of a lie. We do have guns. My dad used to be a cop, so he still has shotguns, and rifles for hunting. I know how to shoot. I’m pretty good. Dad taught me when I was a kid, but I think it’s best if she doesn’t know that.
I lift my empty hands, palms facing, placating. “No guns. I promise. No need for them. Like I said, it’s a safe place.”
She pulls on her lip again. Then runs her fingers around her ear, tucking her short hair behind it. I see that her hand is trembling again.
“Are you okay?” I take a small step forward.