Page 30 of Never You

I mean, I’m really just thinking about her right now.

“Don’t worry, my plan is to drink enough to make me pass out so I’ll be able to ignore a fucking bomb attack, but I wouldn’t want to mess with your good night’s rest. After all, you are the one driving.” I keep my face straight, although I’m doing my best to suppress a grin.

My ego is too big to tell her straight up that I would rather go to another hotel, but my ego is definitelynottoo proud to manipulate her into getting on the same page with me.

She furrows her brows, probably discussing with herself if she should take the bait or not.

Leaving her hanging to think over my words, I slide my phone in my pocket and reach out to open the door of the car.

“But you are right, it’s probably nothing. Besides, you have already slept here, right?” I don’t wait for her reaction and get out of the car, then open the trunk.

While I reach for her bag, acting like a gentleman, she gets out and joins me, casually dropping her hip to the tailgate, her arms crossed in front of her body. Her face is relaxed, but her eyes flash me the seed of uncertainty I just planted in her head and I suppress any movement of my lips.

Mission accomplished.

“Exactly what kind of stories did you hear?”

I ignore the snickering of Bodi, who is still in the car, pretending to be working on his phone. I know the son of a bitch is listening to our entire conversation.

“There are a lot.” I shrug.

I push a few boxes to the side, then drop my ass on the tailgate to sit next to her, holding her suspicious gaze.

“A lot? Likewhat?” She nervously swallows, and I push my smug grin to the back.

I have her exactly where I want her. When I’m done telling her all the spooky details, we will be booked in the Marriott around the corner.

I’m a spoiled boy; I want a good bed, a clean room, and the option to dip into the indoor pool would totally make my night—and I want it minus the poltergeists of Arizona.

“Let’s see,” I say, mirroring her body language. “There is the story about two people who were murdered there and tossed onto the street below. There is the Phantom Bellboy.”

“The Phantom Bellboy?”

“Oh yeah, rumor is, he knocks on everyone’s doors in the middle of the night, calling out for room service.” The blood seems to leave her face momentarily, and it’s getting harder to keep a straight face.

“And there is this lady that was known to always be sitting in front of the window in her room. She sat in this old rocking chair the entire evening. Then when she died, multiple people onthe staff claimed to have seen the rocking chair start rocking,” I pause, “by itself.”

The horrified look on her face tells me I hit the jackpot, but as quickly as the fear came, it’s gone. I hold her gaze, pinning her with my eyes until the sound of a plane makes her look up.

Her face grows stern, and I cock my head, watching how her eyes stay fixated on the sky.

For a couple moments her features tense, her brows knitting together.

“You okay?” I ask, curious.

She blinks, snapping her attention back to me as she releases her breath.

“You are just trying to scare me, Jensen. Nice try, though.” She takes her brown leather weekender out of my hands. “Come on, Bodi, move your ass out of my car.”

Stunned, I stay in place, wondering what the fuck just happened.

Is she kidding me?

“I’m not trying to scare you.” I try again, shoving Bodi's laptop bag into his arms as he exits the car, then pushing the button to close the trunk before trailing behind the blonde pain in the ass prancing away from me. “It's just common knowledge about Monte Vista.”

“I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Cursing, I follow her as we walk into the most haunted hotel in Arizona. Or is it the fucking country? I’m not sure, I just know it’s a stupid plan.

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