Page 40 of The Road Trip Romance

“Hold on tight,” I whisper in her ear as she squeals, and I walk us to our room.

“What are you doing?” she laughs. And her laughter makes me grin.

I slap her ass. “Carrying you to the room to prove a point,” I state as I reach out and scan the card over the door lock. It makes an electronic noise and I open the door.

“Put me down,” she insists.

I slowly let her slide down my body as the door shuts behind us. As she steps back, she looks up and we both stare at each other. Neither one of us moves or breathes for a long moment. I swear I don’t even blink. I have no idea what is happening, I step closer to her, and she swallows hard again.

I drop my bag to the ground and my hand reaches out to her face, grazing her cheekbone. Her eyelids flutter closed, and she sucks in a breath.

“I have an idea,” she says, her voice trembling slightly. “I should go write it down before I forget.”

Without any other explanation, she turns and tosses her bag on the bed, pulling out her laptop and beginning to type.

“What idea?” I ask.

“For your grand gesture,” she explains.

“Oh?” I answer because I don’t know what else to say. I was about to fucking kiss this woman andthatgave her inspiration to write a scene where I get back together with my ex? Maybe I misread her cues. Maybe she didn’t feel what I did a moment ago.

“Just give me a few minutes. You can use the bathroom first if you like,” she says without looking up at me.

I contemplate pulling her into my arms and kissing her. I contemplate telling her that in only a few days I’ve started to fall for her. There’s something about Sophia. I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s different in the best way possible. I want that in my life. I wantherin my life. That realization has my heart racing.

Deciding I need a moment to compose myself, I grab things from my bag and head into the bathroom. I shut the door and stare at myself in the mirror. Am I losing my touch? Also, why do I feel like Rex set this up? He jumped at having me stay with Sophia. Is it obvious I like her?Shit. What a fucking mess!

I quickly shower and then groan when I realize I left my toothbrush in my bag. With the towel still wrapped around my waist, I open the door and step into the room. I come crashing into Sophia who seems to be walking toward the bathroom without looking.

She freezes with her face and hands pressed to my chest. Neither of us moves. I feel that electric current between us again as she very slowly steps back.

“I—I’m s-so sorry,” she stammers as she glances up at me, her face flushed from embarrassment.

I reach for her chin again and force her to remain looking at me. “Don’t ever be sorry, Sophia. For anything.”

Her eyes mist for a moment and her face twists before she composes herself. But it’s long enough for me to grow concerned.

I step forward, keeping my hand on her chin. “What’s wrong, gorgeous?” I ask as I search her eyes and watch as her skin flushes again when I call her gorgeous. Damn, she really doesn’t know how beautiful she is, inside and out. I need to figure out a way to make her see that.

“N-nothing. I…I’m just sad our trip is almost over. I think I have a really good idea for you though,” she says as she looks back up at me.

“I’m sure you do. You’re the expert at grand gestures,” I state.

The pink hue of her skin darkens under my praise, and something about that gives me the primal urge to kiss her. Then it strikes me, an idea.

I pull back and try to look sheepish. “So…” I trail off and chance a glance at her. She’s watching me intently and I fight a smirk, this just might work. “What does this grand gesture involve?”

Please say a kiss, please say a kiss!

“Well, I did some research and asked the guys some questions, and from what you said, it sounds like having roses delivered to the set was a thing for you guys, yes?” she asks.

“Yep,” I reply, curious as to where this goes.

“OK, well, we can get a shit ton of roses delivered the morning you’re going. Then, we find you a helicopter. I read once you took her on a romantic helicopter ride to see the Napali Coast in Kauai,” she adds.

Damn, this woman is like a freaking private investigator. “Correct,” I state.

“Great. So, we find the closest airfield with a helicopter. From what I can tell, there’s one about an hour from where they are filming. You swoop in with a helicopter full of flowers and say a whole speech…I’m working on that part…and then hopefully, if all goes well, you kiss her and you live happily ever after,” Sophia finishes.

---