Take Me Now (The Knight Brothers 3.5)

“Umm … first, there’s the foam-making class.” For the next half hour, she told him in detail about each session she was scheduled to attend, and he asked questions that indicated interest.

Not just ‘pass the time’ interest but true attentiveness. Like what she said mattered. By the time they arrived in Denver, they’d had their first real conversation about various things they each enjoyed … in forever.

“What kind of music do you like?” he asked.

“Classic rock. If the station holds while we drive, I like 105.”

With a grin, he flipped on the radio, and she discovered her favorite station was set and ready to play.

Over the course of the drive, she learned some other things, too. It was one thing to think she was in love with the man because she liked his looks and appreciated the decent man he was on the inside … despite his usual surliness towards her. Quite another to have common interests.

Matt Banks shared her love of Queen, The Who, and Guns n’ Roses among other artists. She often thought she belonged in another generation. But Matt understood her appreciation of the albums from another era. And it turned out he really loved her coffee, something he admitted to her as they pulled into the front of the hotel for valet parking.

By the time they strode up to the front desk for check-in, her feelings had gone from the abstract to the tangible. Which meant she needed her space from him, and she needed it now.

She handed the front desk her license and credit card. “I’m booked through the weekend,” she said. “Harper Sanders.”

The middle-aged clerk clicked his computer keys and nodded. “Yes. You have a king bed, Ms. Sanders.”

“Thank you. I’ll need an extra room for my … friend. He came with me unexpectedly.” And she intended to pay for his room whether he liked it or not. No matter how big a dent it put in her credit card. Her room had come with the coffee class discount.

She felt the heat of Matt’s big body behind her, his tall frame looming over hers. There weren’t many men who could make Harper feel small, but Matt accomplished that feat.

The man behind the desk clicked away at his keyboard, a frown on his face, and Harper’s stomach twisted with worry. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, but we’re booked. We have a few conventions here this weekend. There are no extra rooms.” He glanced up, an apologetic look on his face.

“But – Do you have a room with two double beds?” She grasped for the next best thing.

Not ideal, considering she had no idea how she was going to share a room with Matt when all she wanted to do was climb his big body and attach herself to him. Naked.

The clerk shook his head. “No, ma’am. Again, I’m sorry.”

“But –”

Matt placed a calming hand on her shoulder, coming up beside her. “It’s fine. We’ll take the room you have and make do,” he said to the clerk, who was looking back and forth between them.

Make do.

She glanced at him, and her stomach plummeted at his words, a stark reminder that just because he was doing her a favor, she had no business conjuring visions of them together.

Erotic visions, no less.

* * *

Sharing a room?

That worked for him.

Of course, he’d put his foot in his mouth, too.

Matt took one look at Harper’s face and wanted to kick himself for his poor choice of words. It wasn’t how he’d meant it … but he’d said it. Now he had to make it up to her.

He took the keys from the desk clerk and thanked him before turning to Harper. “Come on. I can carry our luggage up.” They each had one small rolling piece and he’d have no trouble with them both. As soon as he realized he’d be rescuing her, he’d decided he was taking her to Denver for the weekend and staying overnight, hence his trip to his place before hitting the road.

They took the elevator to the sixth floor in silence, and though that had been their M.O., the car ride and her happy chatter had spoiled him for more than stiff, cordial interactions.

Stopping at the door of their room, he pulled the key from his jacket pocket and let them inside. The door shut behind them, enclosing them in an elegant, gorgeous space. He took in the large white bed in the center, knowing exactly what he wanted to be doing in the middle of it. The sun shone over the dark wood furniture, and a large television sat on the credenza. This was beyond his means normally, and he assumed Harper had gotten a conference rate. They might as well enjoy it.

He took off his jacket and placed it over the chair, noticing she’d removed hers and hung it in the closet.