Page 99 of Offside Attraction

“I think you’ll forgive us in about five minutes.”

Rhonda's throat tightened. “I don’t want you to think Jordan is more important?—”

“Get. Out.” Anne laughed and shoved her shoulder. “We’ll have plenty of girl time next week. You’re coming to the spa, right?” Rhond nodded. “Great, then I’ll expect a full report then.”

She couldn't think of anything to say other than “Thank you.” She opened the door, grabbed her overnight bag from the back seat, and walked up the stone steps to the front entrance. Rhonda turned and waved to Anne, then walked through the spinning front door.

The lobby was breathtaking. Rhonda walked through the double doors and stood rooted to the spot. Wooden beams stretched across a vaulted ceiling. A rustic chandelier cast soft golden light across polished stone floors, and a grand staircase with a hand-carved wooden balustrade spiralled up to the right. In a corner, a stone fireplace rose from floor to ceiling, and plush velvet sofas in deep greens sat around a refurbished farmhouse coffee table atop inset herringbone wood flooring.

She stepped forward, and a man looked up from his computer behind the counter. His face lit up. “You must be Rhonda.”

Rhonda didn’t speak for a moment. She was still processing the fact that she was there and not still in the car with Anne.

The man grinned. “Your suite is the only one on the top level. Just up that staircase and down the hall to your left.”

Rhonda’s heart pounded. “Thanks.” He didn’t hand her a key. That meant Jordan was already up there.

“Enjoy your stay.” The man’s voice echoed through the lobby as she walked up the stairs, her hands shaking.

Exquisite photographs of the Rockies hung along the walls, each one lit by a singular goosehead lamp. Rhonda’s footsteps echoed against the stone, and she tried to breathe through the rushing of her pulse.

When she reached the door, she stopped and stared at the grain lines in the carved wood. Jordan’s door.The right room.At least she didn’t have to pee this time.

She drew in a deep breath, lifted her hand, and knocked.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Rhonda

Jordan openedthe door to their suite. He wasn’t shirtless like he’d been the first time. She was only mildly disappointed.

“Hey.”

Jordan grinned. “Hey.” His eyes drank her in. “I have a bathroom if you need it.”

Rhonda stepped over the threshold and tipped her chin to look up at him. “Yes, please.” She wanted to jump into his arms, but nerves kept her arms clamped at her sides.

Jordan slapped her hip as she passed him, and she took in the room. It was a vision of modern elegance—clean lines, minimalistic decor, and a monochromatic palette of greys and whites, broken only by the occasional accents of brushed steel and gold.

Gorgeous. But ten grand gorgeous? “I’m so sorry.”

“About what?”

She turned to him. “You spent a small fortune on this.”

Jordan smirked. “I have savings.”

“But did you want to spend it on this?”On me?Her throat tightened. That was really what she was asking, but she’d never say it out loud.

The smile on his face shifted into something deep and intense. “Hell, yes.”

Jordan stood with his hands in his pockets, and the memory of seeing him for the first time hit her like a freight train. They were such different people in Medicine Hat. Each so sure they knew what they wanted.

Well, who she wanted then hadn’t changed. But how she wanted him . . . She didn’t understand then that she was only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

Which was why this felt a million times more terrifying.

---