Our eyes lock for another moment before he turns back to the road. That warmth from minutes ago turns hotter, swarming everywhere. A tingly bubbly sensation rises over me like I drank a glass of champagne too quickly. I’ve known this guy less than a week, but I think he may be right.
He does know me. And I think I may know him too.
And that’s okay, I tell myself. He’s a friend. That’s what this feeling is all about. Friendship. It couldn’t possibly be anything more.
By the time we pull into Charleston, it’s late and we’re both fried. We had stopped for a little while in Myrtle Beach and almost stayed the night, but then we decided to just finish the drive here. The hotel we picked is right on the ocean and looks big and beautiful. I drove the last part from Myrtle Beach, and we got stuck in traffic, so what should have been a two-hour drive, ended up being more like three and a half.
Ryan is a good sport, and kept my frustration to a minimum by playing stupid games like would you rather. I now know a lot more about Ryan than I thought I would, let me just say that.
Speaking of Ryan, he’s walking toward me with an uneasy expression. He had gone to check in for both of us while I watched our stuff and stretched my legs a bit in the lobby.
“So um, bad news.”
“What?” I groan, sagging a bit. I’m so not in the mood for bad news.
“They only have one room left. It has two queen beds, but that’s it.” He’s trying to spin this with a brighter tone, and it’s absolutely for my benefit. Now I feel like a snobby bitch for my attiude. “It’s just one night or we could try to find a different hotel.”
I walk over and throw my arms around his neck, hugging him fiercely because he really is so wonderful. This man. All he’s done is try to keep me happy when I imagine he’s just as spent as I am. Ryan’s arms sweep around me and he presses me into his warm, hard chest. He smells like clean laundry and whatever heavenly cologne he wears. I didn’t expect this. For a simple hug to feel so… good.
“No,” I shake my head as I pull back. “It’s just one night. I’m sorry if I’m being bratty.”
His eyes track me, his typical bright emerald green just a touch darker. “You’re not being bratty.” I cock an eyebrow, and he smiles big. “Maybe a bit, but I get it. You’re tired.” He’s teasing me now, and I playfully smack his arm, making him laugh. “So you’re good with the shared room? They said they’ll have two rooms tomorrow should we stay.”
“Yes, Ryan Grant, I’m good. Let’s get me to bed.”
His expression shifts to something I can’t quite figure out. He stares me down for another moment, and I can feel my heart beating. Not faster. Not necessarily that. Just… beating. He’s making my heart beat. Before I can dwell on any meaning behind that, he grabs both of our suitcases, walking toward the elevator. I’ve stopped fighting him when it comes to carrying my luggage; the crazy gentleman has been insistent on doing it.
The room is large with a pretty bathroom, two beds and even a balcony that faces the ocean. Bonus.
“This is fantastic.”
He nods once, staring at the beds and then me. “You can use the restroom first if you’d like?”
“Thanks,” I grin, trying to ease the awkward discomfort I can feel rolling off of him.
He’s wary, and I get that.
We don’t know each other that well and spending the night in the same room is a bit…delicate.
I take what I need out of my suitcase, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, and change into what I plan to wear to bed. I can’t exactly call them pajamas because they’re not. Normally, I don’t wear anything to sleep, other than my panties. Eric loved it, but something tells me that wouldn’t be appropriate for Ryan. So I’m wearing a thin white tank top and boy shorts. I’d go baggier, but then I’d be tossing and turning from the discomfort of the extra material against me.
Ryan’s eyes dodge me as he grabs his stuff and walks right into the bathroom. I crawl into the bed closest to the bathroom and roll on my side away from his bed. I figure he’ll want as much privacy as I can give him. I hear the shower start and the sound of water running through the pipes.
I don’t think about the man on the other side of the wall in the shower. I don’t think about him once as I fall asleep. Nope. Not even a little.
6
Kate
* * *
I wake early—much the way I do every morning—but on this particular morning, I am instantly aware of the large body in the next bed. His soft, steady breathing fills the otherwise quiet room, making me hyperaware of every move and sound I make so I don’t wake him.
I grab my running stuff, bringing it into the bathroom with me and shut the door behind me as softly as I can. I haven’t had to deal with sneaking around in the predawn hours in quite some time, and it is a strange feeling. A sad one too, so I’m trying not to think too deeply on it right now.
Once I’m finished, I shut off the lights before opening the door to the restroom and sneak out with exaggerated tiptoe movements.
“Katie?” Ryan calls out, his voice raspy with sleep.
“Crap. Sorry.” I take a few steps into the main room. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“What time is it?” Even though the room is still pretty dark, I can make him out as he rubs his hands up and down his face, rolling over to check the clock.
“It’s early. Go back to sleep,” I whisper.
“Why are you up?” He flops down onto his back again, the blanket only covering him from the waist down, giving me a decent view of his chest.
A chest I should not be looking at.
“I was going to go for an early run on the beach.”
“Okay.” He sits up, and holy shit, his chest is large and muscular, and did I mention holy shit? His chest leads down into the hard ridges that line his stomach. And lord, he has that V thing. I think I’m drooling an embarrassingly large puddle on the floor. My face is hot, and my body is tingly, and I need to look away.
Look away, Kate!
“What are you doing?” I whisper-shriek, though I have no idea why I’m bothering to whisper, or shriek for that matter. “Go back to bed.” Whatever you do, don’t get out of bed. Don’t sit up and clench those abdominal muscles.
“Nah. I’ll come with you for the run, if that’s all right?” He’s rubbing up and down his face again, scratching his beard and reaching for his glasses on the nightstand.
“Oh. Um. Sure,” I shrug, my voice sounding a bit hyper, even to me. I think he’s oblivious to it, though, because he’s not looking at me. His back is to me now and it’s just as amazing as his chest. I really need to look away. He’s turning me into some kind of creeper.
I pivot to the door, giving him privacy, as he stands up wearing only his boxer briefs. Thank God it’s dark in here or he’d see my very obvious blush.
“Great. Just give me a few minutes.” I hear him rustling through his suitcase, and then he walks past me into the bathroom. I take the extra time to stretch out and clear him from my head. A few minutes later, he walks out wearing a sleeveless Eagles football tee, running shorts and sneakers. His inky hair is a mess and he still looks half-awake. “You ready?”