“So we see,” I say, my heart sinking in my chest. I pull out my phone and check my texts. Still no word from Mick or my sister. I guess no news is good news. They say the first delivery can take hours, and I don’t want her to be in pain, but I really hope she holds on until I can get there.
“What do you suggest, officer?” Bond asks the bundled-up cop.
“There’s an Inn a few miles back. They still have vacancies. Might be best if you get yourself a room and try again in the morning. I’m certain you won’t be getting out of here until then.”
Bond’s massive shoulders slump, but he nods and rolls up the window. He leans back on the seat and runs a hand through his hair. “I hate hotels.”
“We can’t stop now.”
He raises his hand to the dash. “Well, we can’t get through. You heard the man.”
“Shit.” I hiss.
“Shit is right.” He lets out a long sigh, then turns to face me. I’m struck again by his sparkling green eyes. My mind drifts to an imaginary world where he’s my husband, and we’re traveling back home for New Year’s together.
“I hate to admit this, Bond, but it seems like we don’t have a choice.” He nods without saying a word, and I’m plagued with self-consciousness. What if he wants to be rid of me, and this is just prolonging the inevitable?
He slaps the wheel with both hands. “Lacey, you’re right. Wedon’thave a choice.” Slowly he turns the car around, and we make our way toward the Inn.
CHAPTERFOUR
BOND
The Inn is much morecrowded than I expected. We have to wait in line behind three people until it’s our turn at the front desk. The gray-haired gentleman behind the counter wears plaid pajama pants and a Grateful Dead t-shirt. He adjusts his glasses and smiles in our direction.
“Busy night.” His voice cracks.
“Looks like it, my man. We need two rooms.”
“Preferably with a king bed for me.” Lacey leans against the counter. “But I’ll take whatever I can get.”
The old man’s eyes shift between us. “Sorry, folks. I’ve got one room left.”
“What?” Lacey attempts to peer over the counter as if the man misspoke. “No.”
“Afraid so, miss.”
Lacey lets out an exasperated sigh. “Why does this keep happening to me?” She twists her hair into a low ponytail and tosses it over her shoulder, exposing the delicate curve of her neck. I swear I’ve never seen a more perfect woman than her. I’ve always been a sucker for curves, and Lacey’s body is soft in all the right places. It’s her smile that drives me insane, though. I want to see more of it.
“You can have it, Lacey.” I shrug, more than willing to give it up for her.
“No, Bond. You’ve been so good to me. It’s all yours.” What’s adorable about this counter move is that I can tell she doesn’t mean it. Lacey wants that bed, and I’ll be damned if she doesn’t get it.
“Come on. I can just turn up the heat and sleep in the rental.”
“That’s bonkers.”
“Oh, you’d rather sleep in the rental?” I challenge her. She scrunches her nose in disgust, instantly giving herself away.
“Well, the sofa in the room pulls out,” the old man says. Both of us turn to him. “It’s not a big room, mind you, but it’ll do in a pinch.”
I open my mouth to object, but something stops me. For some reason, I can’t get the words out, and when I look over at Lacey, I see she’s in the same boat. Her hazel eyes search my face, and all I can think about is how sexy she probably looks with her hair piled up on her head, wearing a pair of soft, skimpy pajamas.
I twitch against my zipper.
“I’m fine with it if you are,” she finally says.
“I don’t want to impose.” But I do…now,I do. In fact, I’ve never wanted to stay in a hotel in my entire life like I want to stay in this one tonight, with lovely Lacey.