“Can you take me over there please?” I point at the hotel park that’s up ahead. “I’m just going to get a hotel room.”
“I’m pretty sure they’re sold out already.”
“I’m pretty sure you want me to believe that.”
He laughs and pulls off onto the next exit ramp. Instead of heading straight for the park, he coasts into a Starbucks drive thru.
“I have a feeling that this is going to be a very long and eye-opening day for you,” he says. “Would you like anything to drink?”
“Caramel Frappuccino...” I hold out my credit card, but he doesn’t take it.
“My pleasure.”
After handing me my coffee, he turns to face me. “I won’t attempt to do anything you don’t want to do, Paris. I’m just being nice and trying to save you some money, and I wasn’t joking about needing new company. Stay with me.” He brushes a hand against my cheek.
“Um...” Say yes...Hell f**king yes... “Can we stop at the Marriott first?”
He rolls his eyes and drives over, parking at the mid-point for all the hotels.
“Thank you.” I immediately jump out of the car, but I feel him walking by my side seconds later.
We walk into the first hotel—a midscale type of place with glass elevators and a sparkling lobby, and I notice that everything seems quiet. Empty.
Before I can tell Blake, “Told you so,” I see a sign hanging a few feet above the front desk: “Sorry, We’re Sold Out.”
I sigh and leave, walking next door to another hotel.
Sold out.
Then another.
Sold out.
By the time I reach the eighth one, my patience is wearing thin and the permanent smirk on Blake’s face is driving me insane.
“Shall we go to the next one?” He holds a door open for me. “Or have you given up yet?”
“I’m not giving up...”
“Because you’re scared to stay with me, or because you actually don’t want to give up?”
I pretend as if I didn’t hear that question. I’m sure the loud beating of my heart answered it for me.
The next hotel we enter is relatively small, quaint, and I expect to see a sold out sign on the desk, but there isn’t one. The lobby is relatively bare and the carpets could use a serious cleaning, but it looks good enough.
“Good afternoon and welcome to Eco-Suites.” A man with a scruffy beard appears behind the desk. “How may I help you two?”
“It’s just for one.” I look over my shoulder and see Blake talking on his cell phone. “I need a room until next Sunday please.”
“Next Sunday?” He types on his keyboard. “I can do that for eighty three dollars a night—cash, ninety nine if you’re using a credit card.”
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“Sounds great.” I pull out my wallet.
“Oh and by state law,” he says, lowering his voice, “I’m required to tell you that we’re in the middle of renovating our rooms.”
“Okay...Why would that be a problem?”
“It’s not. Most people just like to know whenever there’s a bed bug outbreak.” He shrugs. “It’s not that big of a deal in my opinion.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I freeze. “Are you renovating, or are you fumigating?”
“Fumigating,” he repeats. “That’s the word I was looking for. Same thing.”
“Are you out of your damn mind? It is not the same thing!”
“So, you don’t want the room anymore? What about for fifty a night? That’s as low as I’m allowed to go.”
I take a deep breath and sigh. “No thanks.” I turn around and look at Blake who is now giving me an ‘I told you so’ look.
“There’s another hotel park two miles down,” he says. “I can take you there too if you’d like.”
I don’t say anything in response. I follow him back to his car, and he opens the door—stepping in front of me before I can get in.
“Am I taking you to the other hotel park or have you finally come to your senses?”
“You’re taking me to the other hotel park.” I mutter, but then I quickly change my answer. “I’ll take you up on your hospitality offer, but only under two conditions.”
“And what conditions are those?”
“Number one, you can’t kiss me again.” I try not to smile. “Seriously. And number two, if I get drunk, which I probably will given the circumstances, you can’t take advantage of me.”
He shakes his head, and then he steps out of the way—motioning for me to slip inside.
“So?” I refuse to get into his car until he agrees. “What do you say? Do you agree to those conditions?”
“Not at all.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because I am going to kiss you again.” He leans close. “Seriously. And you won’t be drunk when you beg me to take advantage of you. You’ll be completely sober.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, making my heart race ten times faster. “Those are my conditions. Can you agree to those?”
I look away from him and slip into the car—hoping I won’t regret checking off my number four.
Chapter 6
“Is that everything?” I place a shopping bag onto the kitchen counter. “Can I go to my room now?”