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“That’s what he claimed.”
She snorted in disbelief, proving he’d been right to question the sincerity of the manager’s refusal to offer him a room.
“There might be a few visitors for Christmas, but I wouldn’t call it a mad rush. More like a slow trickle.”
“Not only is the motel full, but there’s not one room available in the entire county,” he continued.
“That’s impossible.”
He sent her a quick glance as they passed by the park. She was truly baffled.
“I’m guessing it’s deliberate. Someone doesn’t want me hanging around town.”
Kaden didn’t mention the mayor, although Tate Erickson was the obvious choice. He would have enough leverage to force the local businesses to do what he wanted, and he was obviously reluctant to have anyone digging into the past. But while he wasn’t a real investigator, Kaden knew it would be a mistake to leap to conclusions. It was always possible it was someone else pulling the strings.
Lia seemed to agree as she turned the conversation away from who was responsible for the change in his plans.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll drive to a few of the nearby towns. There has to be at least one hotel that isn’t overrun with guests.”
Lia hesitated; then her words came out in a short burst. “If it’s just for a night or two, you can crash at my place.”
Blindsided by the offer, Kaden pulled into the alley and parked behind Lia’s SUV. This was a conversation he wanted to have face-to-face. Not only because he feared she felt obligated to make the offer but because he needed to be sure he could accept without making an idiot of himself.
He couldn’t explain the intensity of his attraction to Lia. Without false modesty, he knew he could have his pick of women. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, sent him messages through social media on a daily basis. But he’d never experienced such an immediate sense of connection. Not with anyone.
The thought of staying beneath the same roof was creating all sorts of dangerous fantasies.
Unlocking his safety belt, he turned in his seat. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“You wouldn’t be.” She offered a stiff smile. “I live above the store, but I have a bedroom attached to my office with a full bath. It’s pretty cramped, but it’s a place to sleep.”
He quashed the tiny pang of disappointment they would be on separate floors, sternly reminding himself that they were virtual strangers. He was lucky she trusted him enough to let him stay in the same building.
“That’s quite an office you have,” he teased, letting her know he didn’t see her offer as anything more than kindness toward a stranded traveler.
Her tension seemed to fade as she accepted she hadn’t made a huge mistake.
“I had the rooms upstairs opened into a studio apartment, which is great when I’m on my own, but it makes it awkward when my mother and her new husband come to stay.”
“You don’t like her husband?”
She blinked in surprise at his question. “I like him very much. My mother devoted her life to taking care of me and keeping a roof over my head when I was young. I was thrilled when she started taking bus tours to see the country. She’d never been out of this area before then. And I was even more thrilled when Everett started to join her on the tours. He loves to travel and read and cook. All the stuff my mom loves.”
There was no doubting the sincerity in her voice and Kaden hid a wry smile. His own parents had been . . . a challenge. His father was a violent drunk and his mother had abandoned ship when he was still a kid. She’d randomly show up, bringing presents and promising they could come and live with her just as soon as she got settled. Both he and his brother knew it was a lie, but a part of him had harbored a futile hope.
“Where are your mother and stepfather now?”
“Everett bought a cottage in Colorado where they spend most of their time. But he also has an RV they take to Arizona during the winter months.”
Kaden glanced toward the sky, which was beginning to cloud over with the threat of more snow.
“Smart man.”
“Mom does insist on flying home to make sure I’m taking care of myself.” She rolled her eyes, as if being able to take care of herself was a running joke between her and her mother. A sure sign they were close. “And it’s nice for them to have some privacy when they stay with me.”
He studied her delicate features. She’d gone to a lot of trouble to make sure her mom was comfortable, but he suspected it wasn’t just for the older woman.
