Page 17 of Mensa's Match

I crossed my arms. “Here’s an idea, drop me at Aunt Nadia’s, and I’ll get a girlfriend to take me to my place in the morning.”

“It’s late. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t shoot you.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’ll chance it, Mensa.”

“Maybe I can’t.”

My head tilted. “Like you care about me.”

He cocked a brow. “No, but I’ll feel guilty about Nadia blaming herself for shooting you. Besides, I’m gonna have to walk you up, make sure it’s safe.”

I tossed an arm out to my side. “For crying out loud, they wouldn’t know anything about Aunt Nadia.”

“You don’t know that. Rod came off like a trigger-happy idiot, but—”

“But you’re paranoid.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t.”

I sighed. “Let me call Aunt Nadia, then we don’t have to worry about freaking her out.”

“There’s no need to worry her right now.”

My gaze wandered to the property across the street and I spied a fast food restaurant. A Holiday Inn Express was nestled behind it.

Mensa blew out a sigh and tucked his phone away.

I met his gaze. “This truck stop makes me feel like we’re sitting ducks. Since taking me back to my place isn’t an option, we could see if that Holiday Inn Express has rooms. Then in the morning, I’ll get a ride home from someone.”

Mensa turned his head in the direction of the hotel, then I watched his lips bulge as he ran his tongue over his teeth. “Might be the best idea you’ve had all day, Blume.”

I let that go. “Seriously, though, before we head over there, I’m raiding this convenience store. I’m hungry enough, roller food won’t bother me tonight.”

“There’s onlyoneroom available? You’re kidding, right? The parking lot isn’t even that full,” Mensa groused.

“Sir, there are three tour buses in the back lot,” Rose, the front desk clerk, said.

My earlier raid of the convenience store had been thorough, and I shifted the two cellophane bags to my other hand and leaned on the counter. “He’s doesn’t mean to be rude, but is this last room a double? Or better yet a suite for some privacy?”

Rose looked at me, her expression dry. “The suites were all taken by the guests on the tour bus, miss.”

I tugged Mensa toward the double doors. “I appreciate you getting me to safety, but how about you leave me here and someone else can get me in the morning?”

He raked a hand through his wavy hair. “I should say yes to that, but I got a bad feeling you’re gonna be cornered at your place tomorrow. So if the person picking you up isn’t an FBI agent or someone with some street smarts, I’m sticking around.”

That was quite admirable of him.

“My gender doesn’t factor into your protectiveness, does it?”

He gave me a pointed look. “Your lack of a weapon is the only factor. I’d like nothing more than to ride back to the clubhouse without you, but I won’t leave you here like a sitting duck.”

I bit my lower lip. “This is overkill.”

“Overkill trumps being killed.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Do you want the room?” Rose asked.

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