Kenny nodded and kept his eyes forward. He pulled the sander into the parking lot of a motel. “There are hotels farther from the highway, but I’ve got to get back to sanding. The more time I’m off the road, the more likely it’ll be that I’ll come across someone else the ice took out.”
Clay shook his hand and waited while Kenny wrote his number on a napkin. After pocketing it, Clay helped Lexi out of the truck and retrieved their bags. To his surprise, Lexi leaned back into the truck and said, “Kenny, good things happen to good people every day. Don’t be afraid to tell your wife about the job. Go home and Google Clay Landon. He’s the real deal.”
Kenny smiled. “I’ll do that.”
Lexi closed the door to the truck and stepped back. Clay put his arm around her and they both stood there, the snow falling down all around them, watching the truck pull away. When she finished waving, Lexi asked, “Should we have asked him to wait to see if there’s an open room?”
Clay kissed her briefly. “There’ll be a room.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, sorry, I forgot what a big deal you are.”
He chuckled and bent to pick up their luggage. “There you go talking about my size again. All I meant was that most places keep one or two rooms open to accommodate the unexpected, but you can’t keep your mind out of the gutter.”
They walked toward the office of the motel, their steps quickening as the cold began to nip at them. They were both still smiling until the clerk asked, “One room?”
Clay didn’t want to pressure her, but he couldn’t imagine not holding her that night. On the other hand, he’d said he would wait for New Year’s Eve. Could that ever happen if they shared the same room? The same bed?
“One,” Lexi said softly and Clay’s blood shot downward.
“I’m sorry?” the clerk said, looking up from the computer.
“One,” Clay said more firmly.
One?
Give me strength.
Chapter Nine
An hour later, Lexi lay beneath the covers on one side of the bed, staring up at the ceiling. She considered herself relatively experienced when it came to men, but she had no idea what to do. Clay had her completely confused. One minute he was hot and heavy, the next he avoided her touch like he was afraid to catch something from her. “Clay?”
“Yes?” he answered from his side of the bed.
“Is the wall of pillows between us really necessary?”
“Yes.”
“Did I say something to offend you?”
“No.”
“So you’re not upset with me?”
“Not at all.”
“Then why do you sound angry?”
“Because I told you that I could wait until New Year’s Eve, and I’m damn well going to keep that promise. I’m not going to be the reason you break your celibacy cleanse.”
“It was a joke, Clay. A test. We were flirting, and I wanted to prove to myself that you’d move on if you thought I wouldn’t sleep with you that night.”
He growled from deep in his throat. “Well, now you know I’m not quite that shallow.”
“Yes, I do.” She rolled onto her side. In the faint light of the room she could see his profile. He was stretched on top of the blanket on his back with his arms crossed beneath his head. “It really was just a joke.”
“Doesn’t matter, I said I’d honor it, and I will.” Although he’d changed into a T-shirt and lounge pants, he was still covered from head to toe.
“You’re serious.” She went up on one elbow and looked across at him.
“I am.”
“Then thank God you kept your socks on, or I’d be jumping these pillows and ravishing you,” she said cheekily and reached out to touch his chest.
He slapped her hand lightly. “No touching until tomorrow.”
The light sting on her hand was more exciting than painful. “That wasn’t the rule earlier in the Hummer.”
“Desperate situations call for desperate measures.” He punched the rolled up blanket beneath his head. “Good night.”
Lexi flopped onto her back and sighed. Although she liked the idea that he was holding to a promise he’d made her, it didn’t make her feel irresistible. In fact, apparently, she was quite resistible. “Good night,” she said angrily and turned onto her side. The room was temporarily illuminated by the light from Clay’s phone. After hearing him replace it on the beside table, she asked, “Texting someone to bring more pillows?”
“Setting my alarm. Get some sleep. I’ll see you at midnight.”
“Midnight?”
“That’s when my promise expires.”
Lexi’s body hummed with anticipation at his words. “You’re joking, right?”
“Didn’t you say you could always tell when I wasn’t serious?”
“I was wrong. I have no idea anymore.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to wait until midnight.”
Ridiculous.
Crazy.
So very sexy she almost couldn’t breathe.
“I guess I will.”
Clay was hanging onto his control by a thread. He couldn’t imagine ever sharing the story of that night with anyone because it would sound crazy in the retelling. Hell, it was crazy. He was lying in the same bed with a woman he’d just realized he loved, and he was doing nothing, despite the fact that she seemed more than willing.
He could have carried her into the room, thrown her on the bed and already tasted every inch of her. By now they would be on round two, or three. Her sweet mouth might even be wrapped around him at that very moment. He shuddered.
I’m nuts.
What do I really think this will prove? That I can commit to something? More like confirm that I should be committed.
No, I said I would do this and I will.
He glanced at the clock. Three hours until midnight. Three fucking hours.
“Clay?”
She’s not helping. “Yes?”
“We’re in a motel. Have you ever stayed in one before?”
“No.”
“But you have no problem staying here?”
“Do you?”
“No. I just assumed—”
“That I would be a snob about where we stayed?”
“Yes.”
“Just because I haven’t done something doesn’t mean I think I’m too good for it.”
She was quiet for several long moments. “Clay, why did you say that you and I run a foundation together?”
“Because I am in the process of creating one and before you take one of those jobs I lined up for you, I’m hoping you’ll consider working with me.”
“I don’t think working for you would be a good idea, Clay.”
“With, Lexi. I’m looking for a partner, not a secretary.”
“A partner? What would I do?”
He looked across the darkness at the outline of her. “I don’t even know what my role will be exactly, but I want to do this. I need to do this. And it’s right up your alley. I’ve never met anyone as able to jump into a job they knew nothing about and make it look easy.”
She flashed a smile at him. “And we could help people like Kenny and his friends.”
“Yes, we could.”
“We could make a real difference.”
“And we could do it together.” He reached out to take her hand and jumped when she slapped him back.
“Keep your hands to yourself. It’s not midnight yet, buddy.”
He rolled onto his back and laughed. “Did I ever tell you how perfect you are?”
“No, but I’m all ears,” she said with a light laugh.
“I knew it from the first time I saw you,” he said as he went back in time. They spent the next couple of hours talking about everything and nothing, comfortable with each other on a level he struggled to put into words. With her there was no pretense, no game. They simply enjoyed each other.
They were both beginning to doze off when the alarm on his phone sli
ced through the air.
Chapter Ten
Midnight.
Lexi froze. She didn’t know what to expect, but she knew what she wanted. No matter where their time together led, she had a hunger that only one man could ease.
