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Hearing those words felt better than being nominated for an Oscar.
“I suppose we have to stop.”
“We do." He released me and stepped back, running both hands through his hair. “The run back to the Inn will do us both good.”
“We could shower together,” I suggested.
His eyes turned molten silver. “You are a bad influence. You’re making this harder.”
"Maybe I like making things harder."
He closed his eyes. "You're killing me."
I grinned and started jogging back toward the Inn. "Come on, soldier. Race you back."
His curse followed me down the trail.
Room service arrived at seven. I'd showered, changed into clean clothes, tried and failed to focus on anything other than the memory of Code's mouth on mine.
We ordered enough food for four people. Burgers, fries, chicken strips, two different salads and apple cobbler. Sadly, there were only three of Bonnie’s brownies left.
Code emerged from his shower looking marginally more composed. His hair was still damp, droplets clinging to the ends. He'd changed into jeans and a fresh T-shirt.
We set up the food on the small dining table around his equipment, carefully avoiding each other's eyes.
My phone rang. Angelica.
"Put me on speaker," she said before I could even say hello.
I did. "You're on speaker."
"Good. Hey, Code."
"Hey, Angie."
A massive yawn came through the line. Completely fake, so overdone it bordered on theatrical.
"Oh my God, I am so tired.”
“They pay you to act?” Code asked.
Angelica continued as if he hadn’t said anything. “The visit to the orchard wore me out. The twins had so much energy, and we picked like a million apples, and I think I'm just going to go to bed super early tonight."
Uh-huh. I was totally buying into this. I looked over at Code. He looked like he was going to burst out laughing.
"You poor thing,” I commiserated.
"Yeah, so I'm just going to crash. Don't worry about me. You two have a nice dinner." Another ridiculous yawn. "Hey, Code, are there any brownies left? You should eat some."
Code choked on his water.
I gave him, and the phone, a suspicious look.
"Gotta go. So tired. Sleep well, you two. Separately. In your separate rooms. Bye!" She hung up.
I set my phone out of the way. "What’s up with the brownies, Code?"
"Nothing." Code grabbed a french fry, suddenly very interested in the ketchup, trying not to smile. I was obviously not in on the joke.