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I bit my lip. “I don’t know.”
“Well, it’s up to you. I’ll do whatever you want.”
Of course it made sense to just stay here, both financially and timewise. Yet the thought of spending the night with Holden made me nervous. Then again, I wouldn’t be spending the night with him. We’d get two rooms. Even if they were right next to each other, it would be no more inappropriate than the apartments we lived in. I was just overthinking things.
I nodded. “Staying the night makes more sense. But I insist on paying for your room and mine. You wouldn’t be in this predicament if it weren’t for me.”
“How about we make sure they even have rooms before we fight over who’s paying.”
“Fine. But I’m paying.”
Holden’s lip twitched. “We’ll see.”
We locked up the van and walked the block or so to the Holiday Inn. The registration desk was empty, and the eyes of the pretty woman behind it lit up when she got a look at Holden.
“Can I help you?” She smiled.
Feeling like she hadn’t even noticed me yet, I answered. “Yes, do you have two rooms available for tonight?”
“Just for the one night?”
I nodded. “Yes, please.”
She began typing into her computer. “We’re pretty booked up because the boat show opens down the road tomorrow, and we’re the sponsoring hotel. But let me check.” She looked up after a minute. “We do have a room, but only one.”
Holden and I glanced at each other. “Does it have two beds?” he asked.
The woman shook her head. “Sorry, just one king.”
Holden pointed over his shoulder toward the door. “It’s fine. I’ll sleep in the van.”
“No way. I can’t let you do that.”
“I’ve done it before. It’ll actually be a treat sleeping in it all by myself. Usually I’m stuck in it with the guys from the band after a show because we can’t get a hotel room for one reason or the other.”
“I’m not letting you sleep in the van, Holden.” I looked at the clerk. “Are there any other hotels nearby?”
“Not really. That’s why we’re all booked up. There’s a Days Inn, but it’s about a twenty-minute drive. Though they might be booked up too since they’re usually cheaper.”
I sighed and looked at Holden. “I’ll just sleep on the floor. You can have the bed.”
“I’ll sleep on the floor. You can have the bed.”
“No, Holden. This is all my fault.”
The clerk motioned between us. “I take it you two aren’t a couple?”
“We’re old friends,” I said.
She smiled and spoke to Holden. “I get off at twelve, if you want a place to sleep, and I won’t make you sleep on the floor.”
Seriously? I felt like punching this ballsy woman. I dug into my purse and pulled out my credit card, giving her a big, fake smile. “We’ll take the room and figure it out.”
***
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” I said, fishing through my overnight bag.
Holden had taken an Uber to my car to get a few things I needed and talk to the clerk at the gas station. Then he’d stopped at Wendy’s to grab us some dinner on the way back.
“Is something missing from your bag?” he asked.
“No. I just realized I don’t have anything to sleep in.” I shrugged. “It’s fine. I’ll just sleep in what I’m wearing.”
“You don’t have a T-shirt or something?”
“I do. But it won’t even cover my butt.”
“Well, I usually sleep naked, but I’ll spare you and keep my boxers on.” He reached for the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head, tossing it to me. “You can use this. I just put it on before I left the apartment. It’ll be a nightgown on you, you’re so small.”
I swallowed at the full visual of Holden’s naked chest. He was tall and lanky, but damn, he still had that great six pack that I’d loved to check out when I was a teenager. When he caught me ogling, I rushed into the bathroom to get changed and put some distance between us. But when I slipped on his T-shirt, it felt like he was all around me. The damn thing smelled so good, so very, very Holden, and I couldn’t help but lift the fabric to my nose and take a deep whiff. After, I berated myself silently in the mirror for what I’d done.
You’re engaged.
You love your fiancé.
Don’t be an idiot.
It helped. For about two seconds. Until I walked out and saw Holden making his bed on the floor wearing nothing but tight black boxers. I froze.
God, he’s beautiful.
So damn sexy.
I bet he’s sooo adventurous in bed, too.
“You okay?” Holden looked at me funny.
I blinked a few times before darting to the bed and burying myself under the blanket to cover up. “Yeah, fine. I just didn’t want to interrupt you while you were setting up.”
