As if the world was on his side, because of course it was, the rain intensified impossibly. “Looks like we’re staying here for the night.”
Tucker nodded. “Trixie will show you to the reception area.”
“Thank you,” I offered with a grateful smile even though grateful was the last thing I was feeling at the moment.
More like railroaded by Mother Nature and Ryan Gregory.
Chapter 11
Ryan
“Two rooms, please.” Pippa smiled at the young receptionist, jaw clenched as if she could feel my gaze on her.
After a few seconds of typing, she frowned. “I’m sorry ma’am, but there’s just one room available tonight.”
“One room?” Pippa shook her head, brows dipped into a quick frown. “Does it have two beds?”
“Afraid not,” she offered with a sympathetic smile. “It’s our Lover’s Suite, but it comes with a large king sized bed. If that helps.”
“It doesn’t,” she snapped angrily before her shoulders fell. “I’m sorry, I know this isn’t your fault, it’s just not the news I wanted to hear. How far away is the next lodging area?”
“A few miles, but in this weather, you should call before leaving. It’s not completely uncommon for people to seek refuge from the rain at the nearest hotel or motel they can find. Rooms fill up fast.”
“I’ll call,” I offered because Pippa looked about two minutes away from losing her cool.
She turned to face me, skepticism written all over her face. “Can I trust you to actually call?”
I shrugged off the sting of her words. “I said I would, didn’t I?”
“You say a lot of things,” she shot back.
I sighed and shook my head before I pulled out my phone and looked up a handful of lodging establishments a few miles in either direction. Each one gave me the same answer.
“Sorry we’re all booked.”
I took a few minutes to steel myself against whatever verbal darts Pippa would throw at me before I went to deliver the bad news. “No vacancies,” I told her when I found her scowling at the floor as if she could force it to open up, or catch fire by the sheer force of her will. “None at all. Single or double rooms, not even a suite for twenty miles.”
Her delicate shoulders slumped forward in disappointment, or maybe it was resignation that we would be sharing a room for the night. “All right. We’ll take the room, then. Thanks.”
“It’s not so bad, Pip. She said it’s a king sized bed, which means it’ll be like sleeping in two separate beds.”
She snorted and turned to face me as we stood outside the Lover’s Suite. “Like sleeping in two beds isn’t the same as two beds,” she growled and shoved the key into the lock. “I’m taking a shower first.” She stomped off and I remained silent, knowing that nothing I said would satisfy her at the moment.
The shower turned on and I kicked off my shoes and looked around the place. It was set for romance with the big bed, the deep shades of red that decorated the place, the pillows, the rug in front of the fireplace. Flowers sat in three vases around the room, red and white and pink roses, candles waited to be lit and champagne chilled in a bucket. It was a nice place for a couple in love.
A knock sounded and I found Trixie outside with a smile. “I realized you weren’t prepared to stay the night, so I’ve brought some robes for you and Pippa.”
“Oh, thank you, Trixie.”
“Of course. And I can toss your clothes in the wash so they’re fresh for tomorrow’s trip back home.”
“Really? That would be great, thanks.” I accepted the pile and tossed it on the bed. “One second?”
“Take your time,” she offered with a polite smile.
I took my life in my own hands by pushing open the bathroom door to grab Pippa’s clothes, folded neatly on the toilet seat, but I figured she would appreciate the clean clothes more than she would resent my sneaking in while she showered. I shucked off my own clothes, tossed them in the cloth bag Trixie had provided in the pile, and handed them off to her with a word of thanks.
And waited for the storm from Pippa.
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long.
“What did you do with my clothes?” Pippa stood in the doorway wrapped in an oversized towel, red hair clinging to her pale skin. “Earth to Ryan! Where are my clothes?”
“Trixie came by and offered to wash them. Left these cozy robes for us.” I tossed the fluffy light blue robe in her direction and Pippa fumbled, catching the fabric just as her towel fell around her feet. “Sorry.”
“Right,” she snarled. “You look incredibly sorry.”
I shrugged casually at her words. “I’m sorry you’re upset at the nice gesture, but not sorry I got a glimpse of you in your birthday suit.”