Page 35 of Peak’s Code

She blinked at him. “Seriously?"

"No." He grinned. "I have no idea."

She rolled her eyes. "You think you're funny."

"I've been told that I’m funny and good-looking,” he said, bobbing his eyebrows at her.

"By who? I’m thinking you were lied to and don’t realize it,” she teased.

"My grandmother, and that woman never told a lie in her whole life,” he insisted, making her giggle.

"She sounds biased,” Maeve said.

"She absolutely was,” he agreed, flashing her his smile. “Let’s get checked in,” he ordered.

Peak paid in cash and used fake names, which was the norm around town when it came to the Grave Prowler’s lying low. The guy behind the desk didn’t seem to give a shit what his name was as he handed over the old motel key. They walked down the row of rooms to the door with a giant number eight on it, and he unlocked it. The room smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and old wood. It wasn't luxurious, but it was clean. A small table sat in the corner of the room, and there was one dresser, a mini fridge, and a tiny bathroom that still had the original pink tiles on the walls.

Maeve stopped in the doorway and looked at the queen-sized bed. “There’s only one bed."

Peak looked around. "Huh."

"Huh?” she repeated. “What does huh mean?”

"I thought there were two beds,” he said.

"Did you ask for two beds?” she questioned.

She folded her arms over her chest and waited him out. “Yep,” he lied. Honestly, when he called ahead to reserve the room, he could barely keep his head together. He had no idea what he had asked the guy.

“Didn’t you make a reservation?” she asked.

“Yeah, I made the reservation.”

"You've done this before. You knew that there would only be one bed, and you were fine with it,” she accused.

He looked horrified. "I’ve done this before, but not with women." She laughed, and he huffed out his breath. "I meant to say that I’ve gone into hiding before, but not with a woman."

"Oh,” she breathed.

He scratched the back of his neck. “I’ll call the front desk and ask if they have a room with two beds,” he offered. Peak walked over to the ancient phone that sat on the nightstand and picked it up. He dialed the front desk and waited as Maeve walked to the window and peeked through the curtain. He had a feeling that she was checking exits.

"You always do that?" he asked.

She nodded. "Don’t you?"

He held up a finger when the guy at the front desk answered. “Hi, I’m in room eight. Can you see if you have any rooms with two beds?” he asked.

“Um, we only have rooms with one bed in them,” the guy said. Well, shit, this wasn’t going to sit well with Maeve.

“I see, okay, thank you.” He hung up and looked over to find Maeve mean-mugging him.

“Let me guess,” she said. “No rooms with two beds.”

“Correct,” he said.

“Okay, then I’ll just get my own room,” she insisted. She grabbed her purse and started for the door.

“I’m assuming that you have cash,” he called after her.