Page 102 of Small Town Swoo
I grinned as I stood up. “I will not subject you to any further details.”
“Thank you. Oh! Let me give you a key for the room.” She went over to the dresser and grabbed a little envelope. “Here. Although, if you want to sleep in Dash’s room, I get it. No worries.”
I took the key from her and gave her a hug. “You know what? It’s girls’ night, and we haven’t hung out in a long time. Let’s just go have fun.”
There were ten of us at dinner—Lexi, her friends Winnie Matthews and Ellie Lupo, her cousin Tabitha, Veronica and Adelaide, Kelly and Julia, Mabel, and me. I sat between Mabel and Ellie, who chatted with me about her experiences in mobile catering—she did a lot of wine dinners at private homes—and patiently answered my questions about the business end of things.
At Veronica’s request, Lexi told the story of how she and Devlin had met and eloped quickly to Vegas. “Probably too quickly,” she said with a laugh. “There were definitely some things we had to work out after we’d already tied the knot, but I’ve got no regrets.”
I smiled at the beautiful dark-haired woman who’d captured Devlin Buckley’s heart so fast, happy for her and hoping one day something like that might happen for me.
If I could ever get out from under Dash’s spell.
We met up with the guys at Snö, Snowberry Lodge’s newly renovated cocktail lounge, and even though I was determined to hang with the girls and not give in to the temptation to stand by Dash’s side, he came right over to me the moment I arrived.
“You look gorgeous,” he said quietly. “I’ve never seen that top.”
“Thanks.” I glanced down at the black lace bodysuit. “Idon’t have much of a chance to wear it. I get up and put on a Moe’s Diner uniform every day.”
“You look gorgeous in that too. You look gorgeous in everything.” He sipped his drink. “And in nothing, of course.”
“Shh.” My face grew hot, and I glanced around to make sure no one heard. “We’re supposed to behave this weekend.”
“Did I say I would behave?” His blue eyes sparkled. “If I did, it was a lie told before I saw you in that top.”
I laughed softly. “You make it hard to be good.”
He tipped up his glass again. “You have my key, right?”
“I have your key.”
“Use it, please.” He leaned closer, his knuckles brushing the tip of one breast as he whispered in my ear. “I will make it hard for you all night long.”
I wasn’t going to.
I swear to God, I was going to stay in my bed right next to Mabel’s all night long. We went up to our room around one, tipsy and laughing about it, removing our heels in the elevator and walking barefoot down the hall.
“God, I’m tired,” Mabel said, switching her shoes to one hand while she pulled the key from her purse. “I cannot wait to put my pajamas on and crash.”
“Same.”
We got ready for bed, and by the time I came out of the bathroom after brushing my teeth and taking off my makeup, Mabel was on her back beneath the covers, a satinsleep mask over her eyes. On the nightstand, her phone played soothing ocean sounds.
“Is the noise okay?” she asked, sliding her sleep mask up to peer at me.
“Of course,” I said, snapping off the lamp. “Goodnight.”
“Night.”
After tugging off my pajama pants, I crawled between the sheets in a T-shirt. I closed my eyes, but I could still see Dash above me in the dark. I listened to the waves crashing on the shore, but I could still hear him calling me his good girl. The minty flavor of toothpaste lingered in my mouth, but I could still taste his kiss.
I lasted about fifteen minutes.
Turning back the covers, I slipped out of my bed and tiptoed over to the dresser, where I’d set my purse. Digging around, I felt my fingers close around two different key cards and pulled them both out. With one last glance at Mabel, who appeared to be sound asleep, I moved silently on bare feet over to the door and opened it as quietly as I could.
Peeking into the hallway, I made sure it was empty before stepping into it and allowing the door to shut gently behind me. The moment it clicked, I went scurrying down the hall to room 310, waved the key card in front of the sensor, and let myself in.
Dash, already in bed, sat up and switched the lamp on. He was shirtless, his hair slightly tousled.
