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“Always a plus.” I was pretty sure the dog would actually eat regular kibble from the general store near the cabin, but if it helped Ambrose feel prepared, I wouldn’t knock it. “Let’s head up and get our stuff so we can check out on time.”
“Cressida will freak when I tell her I’m not heading straight home.” Smiling, he accepted my hand. “But that’s probably a plus too.”
“Irritating the big sister is usually a win. I bet you guys make up though.” Toting the dog, I led the way to the elevator.
“Of course we will. I’m annoyed right now because she’s not as invested in the show as I am.” He leaned against the rear wall of the elevator, looking far too exhausted for the early hour. “Which makes sense. It’s about the thrill of the deal for her. But the show is my baby. I like it more than anything I’ve done before.”
“It’s pretty special.” I rubbed his arm before we reached our floor. He wasn’t the only one annoyed at Cressida. Her timing sucked, and her lack of sympathy wasn’t making anything better.
“It is special.” His eyes went soft and sentimental. “I’ve always had a soft spot for time-traveling shows, especially ones that try to right wrongs. The idea of Bishop, this courageous lone wolf, simply took hold of my brain and wouldn’t let go until I had three notebooks full of ideas before I even attempted to pitch the show to Cressida.”
“He’s sort of your alter ego,” I mused as he unlocked the door for our suite.
“What? Bishop? No.” Ambrose made a scoffing noise. “He’s a badass who thrives on danger, loves them and leaves them, and keeps his heart on lockdown. Trust me, he’s not based on me.”
“You always sell yourself short, boss.” I busied myself collecting our bags and checking for overlooked belongings as I tried to find the right words. “I meant, maybe he’s who you are inside… Wait. That sounds dumb.”
“No, go on.” He retrieved a phone charger from beside the bed and stuck it in his bag.
“You’re both filled with courage. And good at hiding anxiety. And you care deeply about your people. And you make the right choices.” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “I guess what I’m trying to say is you have the same moral core, so it makes sense the character means so much to you even if he’s not exactly a clone of you.”
“How you’re not a philosophy professor is beyond me.” Abandoning his bag, he came over to wrap me in a hug from behind.
“Nah. I don’t even have college.” My neck heated. His touch felt so good, but I wasn’t convinced I deserved the praise.
“Now who’s selling themselves short? You don’t have to be book smart to be wise.” He kissed the back of my neck, turning a warm spot into a power plant, electricity zooming throughout my body.
“Aw.” I shifted, still not the most comfortable with his kudos. “You don’t have to butter me up, boss. I’m a sure thing.”
“Now?” He used the tip of his tongue to trace a line from my hairline to the start of my collar, dipping under it and making me shiver.
“Later.” I tried to sound firm, but my shudder likely gave me away. “Delayed gratification, remember?”
“You’re going to edge me into crossed eyes and a perma-erection.” Ambrose released me with an exaggerated sigh.
“Oh, trust me, this isn’t hardcore edging.” Turning toward him, I danced a finger down his chest. “You just wait until we stop for the night. I’m gonna do you so slowly you come apart completely.”
“Somehow, you manage to make waiting until I’m a puddle of goo sound sexy as fuck.”
“Because it is.” I allowed myself a fast, hard kiss before resuming collecting our things. We checked out on time and hit the road with a good-natured tussle over who was driving first. We passed the time talking about how the Vette would likely do on the hills and debating which sports cars were best adapted for mountain handling. The hours passed quickly, each stop for gas bringing us closer to the part of Northern California I knew like the back of my hand.
As the sun shifted to a late-afternoon gleam, Ambrose stretched in the passenger seat. He’d managed a brief nap with the dog in his lap while I took my turn behind the wheel. Yawning, he fiddled with his phone.
“As well as I planned for the dog, I didn’t plan so well for the human food. It’s coming up on dinner, and my review app isn’t showing me much.”
“I know a place.” I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel. I’d been alone with my thoughts his whole nap, and as much as I thought I had a plan, my neck still tensed. “It’s a bit off our route, but not too bad.”
