Page 54 of Don't Burn Bridges
Normal wasn't a word she'd expected to associate with Seth. Not because of anything he had or hadn’t done. But because very little about the past several weeks had been normal.
“You know,” she said, watching him tug the shirt over his head, “most people bring a change of clothes when they're planning to spend the night somewhere.”
His gaze slid toward her. “Most people weren't planning to spend the night.”
“Fair point.”
“Besides, if I'd shown up carrying an overnight bag, you would've laughed at me or been pissed because I assumed. “
Shylo considered it. “Also fair.”
“See? I know you.”
The simple statement sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.
Before she could examine that too closely, Seth reached for his boots and dropped onto the edge of the bed. She sat beside him long enough to pull on her sleep shorts, then tucked one leg beneath her as he tugged first one boot onto his foot, then the other.
The sunlight had grown stronger, spilling around the edges of the closed curtains and stretching bright bands across the carpet. Outside, a truck rolled through the parking lot, followed by the muffled slam of a car door somewhere farther down the row of rooms. The ordinary sounds of the morning felt strangely at odds with the fact that she was sitting on a motel bed watching Seth get ready for work.
A week ago, she wouldn't have imagined any of this. Now she wondered what they might do that evening. The realization crept in so quietly that she almost missed it. She was already looking forward to seeing him again, not sometime down the road, but in a few short hours after they both finished work.
Seth pulled on his boots, then stood and reached for his truck keys on the dresser. “You’re working tonight, right?”
“Yeah. From five ’til ten.”
As she watched him gather his keys, phone, and wallet, an invitation hovered on the tip of her tongue. It shouldn't have made her nervous. They'd gone on an actual date the night before and then spent the night together. But this was different. Until now, Seth had always been the one pursuing her and taking all the initiative. Putting herself out there—even for something as simple as meeting her after work—felt strangely vulnerable.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she said, “You could meet me at Bar None, if you want.”
His smile appeared without hesitation. “I was hoping you'd ask.”
Relief mixed with excitement, leaving her feeling a little foolish for worrying he might say no. “Really?”
“Really.” He stepped closer. “I'll be there before you get off.”
The corners of her mouth ticked up. “Good.”
He slid his wallet into his back pocket, and then, for a moment, neither of them moved. Their gazes met and held. Saying goodbye seemed to hold little appeal for either of them. The motel room, which had felt almost crowded while they were getting dressed, suddenly seemed much too quiet.
Finally, he held out his hand.
“Walk me out?”
Rather than answer, she slipped her fingers between his and let him lead her to the door. He pulled it open, and morning air drifted inside, carrying the scent of fresh-cut grass. Somewhere across the parking lot, a car door slammed before an engine turned over, but neither of them stepped outside.
Instead, Seth turned back toward her. His hand rested at her waist as he guided her the last few inches until her back met the open doorjamb. His gaze lingered on hers for a heartbeat before he lowered his head and brushed a kiss across her lips.
She thought that would be their goodbye. Instead, he kissed her again, holding her just a little longer before drawing back. She barely had time to catch her breath before one of them closed the distance again. By the time they finally separated, she had no idea who'd initiated the last kiss. All she knew was that saying goodbye had become much harder than she'd imagined.
He rested his forehead against hers and laughed under his breath. “If we keep this up, Shane's going to send a search party.”
“Probably,” she admitted.
He glanced at the time on his phone and winced. “Well... I need to get my ass in gear.”
She leaned in enough to see the screen. “Will you be in trouble?”
“Nah. If I leave now, I'll only miss breakfast in the main house.” His gaze returned to hers. “Worth it, though.”
