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“You paid for the rental,” I pointed out as I slid the money to the clerk.
“And you’ve paid for gas,” she countered. “And considering the cost of gas these days, you’ll probably end up paying more than I did.”
“Trust me, Trisha,” I said with a smile. “I can afford it.”
She narrowed her eyes and folded her arms, giving me a look that said she was still going to argue.
Unable to stop myself, I tapped the tip of her nose. “I’m doing this.”
She sighed and glanced at the doors, clearly dreading getting back on the road more than letting me pay off the clerk for the room.
Seconds later, the clerk handed me two keycards.
“Room 214.” She pointed to the other side of the lobby. “Elevators are over there. Take a right on the second floor. Checkout is at ten, and we have a complimentary breakfast from seven to nine.”
“Thanks.” I handed Trisha her key, and we headed for the elevators.
As we entered our room, I was relieved to find it tidy despite its modest size and slightly worn appearance.
“Were you expecting it to be dirty?” Trisha tossed her bag onto the dresser. “I sure was.”
I almost agreed with her, but then I realized we had forgotten to ask about one crucial detail during our room negotiations.
The number of beds.
“Well, that figures.” I motioned toward the single double bed when Trisha looked at me. “Looks like we’ve stumbled into a Hallmark movie scenario, after all.”
Trisha chuckled. “Is this where we fight over who gets the couch?”
“I would take it,” I replied, “except there’s no couch, just that chair.”
And sleeping in that chair was out of the question for both of us.
“It’s fine. We can share the bed,” Trisha offered. “But I call first dibs on the shower.”
“Go ahead,” I replied. “I’ll text Theresa to let her know we’re running late.”
While I waited, I distracted myself by searching for faster routes for San Ramon to make up for lost time. But when Trisha emerged from the steam-filled bathroom, my focus on travel evaporated. Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks rosy with warmth.
“Don’t mock my reindeer.” She pointed her finger at me.
I only noticed then that she wore long-sleeved flannel pajamas adorned with reindeer wearing Santa hats. I laughed and raised my hands. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Your turn,” she said. “Got a favorite side of the bed?”
“The right,” I answered without thinking. “Unless it’s your side.”
She shrugged. “I don’t really have a side. I’m good wherever.”
Her words brought up an image of me lying on my side of the bed as she sprawled on top of me, wearing considerably less than those pajamas.
I quickly locked myself in the bathroom and began reciting lesson plans as I showered. I only had a pair of sweats to sleep in, and if I went out there even half-hard like I was, she’d notice. I was arrogant, but I knew I was well-endowed enough that even a partial erection was going to be … awkward.
The moment I opened the door, all that work clearing my head went to hell because the sight of her sitting in bed, her mass of curls in a messy braid, had my cock twitching. Holding the towel in front of me, I closed the bathroom door halfway so we could have some light, but not so much that we wouldn’t be able to sleep.
And the dim light would, hopefully, hide my arousal.
Sleeping was going to be a bitch.
