Page 27 of From Wink to Kink

He taps a few more keys, his frown deepening. "According to our records,SeñorNewcomb called to make the reservation. He specifically asked to be placed with Ruby Brooks. You,Señorita."

I'm about to protest when an annoyingly deep voice cuts through my confusion.

"What's going on here?"

I turn to see Chuck hustling toward us, his hair damp from what I assume was a much-needed shower. His glasses are fogged up from the humidity, giving him a comically bewilderedlook, made even funnier by his towering height. Despite my anger and frustration, I can't help but notice how his t-shirt clings to his still-damp skin, outlining muscles that... nope. Not going there.

"Apparently," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "you made us a couples' reservation, Chuck. Care to explain?"

His eyebrows shoot up so high they nearly disappear into his hairline. "I didwhat?"

The clerk looks between us like he wished he’d stayed in bed all day. "SeñorNewcomb, when you called to book, you asked to be placed with Ruby Brooks."

Chuck shakes his head vehemently. "No, no, I didn't. I just wanted to be on the same retreat her brother said she was going to because I didn’t know anything else about it. I never asked to share a room. I never said we were coming together. We barely even know each other."

My brother’s a dead man walking. That’s all there is to it. He’s a good guy. He practically raised me after our mother died.

But that counts for nothing now. Nothing.

Chuck grimaces. "You misunderstood me," he says to the clerk.

The man looks between the two of us, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "But... you two know each other, no? You are not friends?"

I snort. "Friends? With him? I'd rather befriend that possibly rabid monkey I saw earlier."

Chuck clutches his chest in mock pain. "Ouch, Brooks. And here I thought we were really bonding back in my bungalow."

I feel my face heat up again at the memory. "We are never speaking of that again, remember?"

The clerk clears his throat, drawing our attention back to him. "Perhaps... this is an opportunity, no? Maybe you could become friends..."

Oh forfuck’ssake.

Chuck and I exchange a look, a silent agreement passing between us. We turn back to the clerk in perfect unison.

"No," we say together.

The clerk sighs, shaking his head. "Well, regardless of the mix-up, I'm sure you'll both enjoy our couples retreat this week. It will be lovely, even though you are too early for the fabulous librarian one,Señorita."

Rub it in, why don’t you?

Wait. Did he just say couples retreat?

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself.Ruby, you can handle this. You're an adult. A professional. You can find a solution.

"Fine," I say, my voice surprisingly calm. "Just give me my own room, and we can pretend this whole mix-up never happened."

I glance at Chuck, and he nods. At least we agree on something.

Now it’s the clerk’s turn to grimace.

What’s going on?

He tap-taps on his keyboard, his expression morphing from concern to frustration, back to the cordial one he was wearing when I first arrived. Through an insufferable smile, he shakes his head. "Ah, about that... we don't have any other rooms available. The retreat is fully booked."

For a moment, there's silence. Then…

"What?" Chuck and I exclaim in unison.

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