Dirty Sweet Cowboy

“They’re not here,” Bea repeats, somehow keeping her voice from getting snippy .

The woman shrugs helplessly. “No… they’re not here anymore. I mean they were here? But someone gave them away .”

“Okay,” Bea says with a smile, her voice calm and friendly. I think she would make a really good hostage negotiator. “So what are we going to do about this… Linda? What are our options ?”

“Options?” Linda repeats. “Well… I mean… there’s only one room left available. But it’s a double. Two beds? Would that work ?”

Bea looks at me, shrugging. “You want to be roommates ?”

“Do we really have a choice?” I ask, trying to be polite but not entirely thrilled. Being in the room next to her sounded all right, but actually shacking up with her is a little intense. Bea snores, for one thing. And she likes to hook up with strange men, for another .

“I think that would be lovely, Linda,” Bea finally coos supportively. “Thank you so much for working this out for us .”

“Well, I’ll just reverse the other charges… We’ll get this all set… And you know what? I’ll get you a really good price. Okay? I’m so sorry for the inconvenience .”

After Linda slides us the room key cards, we turn away, finally able to roll our eyes .

“You handled that really well,” I marvel. “Is that part of your career plan? Were you just interviewing for a job ?”

Bea emphatically thumbs the elevator button. “I was trying out that Power of Yes theory that guy gave us in us that speech this morning, you remember? And it totally worked! I seriously thought she was going to have us staying at the Motel 8 .”

“You were listening to that guy?” I mumble as we get into the elevator, dragging our luggage behind us. It was first thing this morning: a man giving a lecture in a droning voice over the PA when we had first arrived. I didn’t even listen to him. I was so focused on trying to tune everything out and wait for my coffee to start working .

“Yeah, Ava, how could you avoid it? It was over the speakers. But I guess he was right. Smiling and thinking yes yes yes really does seem to have a positive impact on people .”

I hold out the paper folder Linda gave me .

“Bea, is this right? Is this number on a top floor ?”

Bea looks down, scowling at the folded brochure with our room number on it. She glances at the buttons in the elevator .

“I guess so,” she mutters. “I mean… let’s just try it and see what happens .”

When the elevator doors open, we step tentatively out into the hallway, unsure if we’re really supposed to be here. The signage on the walls points to the left, with the words Executive Suite .

“Well, would you look at that ?”

We practically tiptoe down the hallway, excited and nervous. Bea goes faster as she gets closer, rolling her suitcase behind her with the key card outstretched. When she gets to the door, she slides the card in. I hear the bolts unlock and she flings open the door triumphantly. White, cool light floods the hallway as she stands there, her arms outstretched, making excited noises .

“Bea, wait up, why are you getting so... OHH !”

I bark my shin on her discarded overnight bag, almost face planting with my hands flying out blindly in front of me. Just before I hit the textured carpet, I feel something strong, firm, and quick sweep me up like a rag doll .

Confused, I flinch backward, almost stumbling again. He stands in front of me, concern clouding his features. Charcoal-gray silk stretches over his broad shoulders. His firm hands cup under my elbows protectively. I stare up into his bright, sky-blue eyes, seeing all his details at once: the silken sheen of his hair, the slight stubble along his square jaw, the sensual curl of his upper lip .

“Are you all right, miss ?”

My mouth opens for just a second, then clamps closed again. I nod, panicked. I want to say something, but nothing wants to come out .

Bea hears us and comes to the door. “Hey, are you okay? What’s going—oh! Well, hello ?”

“Hello,” he repeats, without looking over at her. His eyes search mine, but he doesn’t seem to recognize me at all. Still, he’s not looking away. I feel frozen, as though trapped in amber .

“Oh, did I just leave my bag out there? Silly me!” Bea babbles, trying to cover for me. I feel her fingers snake around my elbow as she tugs me toward the room, breaking me out of my trance .

“Yeah, I think I nearly tripped …”

“Where is my head at?” she laughs, a little too loud. “We’re so sorry to bother you, um, sir …”