Page 17 of Inked Devotion

“Yes. I couldn’t just leave it behind.”

“I’m glad that you didn’t.”

“Either way, I think since you already did some emails, you can drive, and I will work on my business stuff before I set it aside and just relax.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I’ll work on your bagel if you make my coffee?” she asked as she handed me her mug.

I nodded, “Two sugars and two creams?”

“Yep. Thanks for remembering me.”

“Paige is better with things like that, but I sometimes remember certain things.”

“Paige is a maniac that probably has color-coded binders for each of us.”

“That is true.” I filled up our travel coffee mugs and we made our way past the front desk, dropping off our keys in a little box before heading to the SUV. We got situated, set up the GPS, and were on our way. It was odd that we’d already fallen into a routine considering this was the first time I’d ever been in a hotel with Brenna—even if it was in different rooms.

“We can make it tonight since it’s still decently early. However, I do have a refundable hotel set up for tonight in case we can’t make it.”

“I remember. We’re doing good.”

“That way, in case we see something on the side of the road, like the largest ball of twine, we can enjoy ourselves.”

“Why would we like seeing the largest ball of twine?” I asked honestly as I got on the highway.

“Because it’s ingenious? Someone’s hard work?”

“You’re right. Somebody loves it, did a lot of work to get others to see it. If I see a large sign for it, then sure, we’ll go visit the huge ball of twine.”

“Sounds good to me.” She sipped her coffee, grinned, and I shook my head as I took a bite of my bagel. I hadn’t even realized when she set a napkin on my lap, and she blushed, removing her hand quickly.

I ignored the heat in my groin at the action.

Maybe I needed to get laid if that touch had made my dick twitch.

“Sorry, force of habit.”

“I don’t mind,” I whispered, doing my best not to think about what her fingers had just been near. This was Brenna, for God’s sake.

We were on the road for about an hour before finally she set down her phone and rolled her shoulders back. “I should probably draw just because I have the itch for it, but I also want to take a nap.”

“Do whatever you need to. We’ve got a bit until we should pull off to get some gas.”

“And then it’s my turn to drive?” she asked, and I nodded, getting out of the way of a dumbass going twenty miles over the speed limit.

“My favorite part of that,” Brenna said, gesturing towards the asshole driving past us, “is that sometimes we’ll see them pulled over on the side of the road with a cop behind them.”

“Only in a just world,” I muttered.

“That is true.”

We drove in peace for a few miles before she squirmed in her seat. “You haven’t asked why I needed this road trip. Of course, I’m glad you’re here with me, and not merely because you’ll be keeping my mother off my back.”

I cringed. “That’s going to be interesting.”

“I’ll protect you.”

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