Page 14 of Riding with the Secret Billionaire

Trish is a complication I hadn't anticipated, one that's becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Dressed and ready, I make my way downstairs to find Trish chatting animatedly with Dawn in the dining room.She laughs at something Dawn says, the sound making my chest tighten in a way I refuse to examine too closely.

"Ready for breakfast?" Trish asks, looking up as I enter."Dawn says Kathy's famous for her pancakes, and that we'd be committing a cardinal sin if we left town without trying them."

Dawn nods in agreement, a knowing twinkle in her eye as she glances between us."The Hearty Breakfast is worth every calorie.Though you might want to share one, the portions are enormous."

"I can handle large portions," Trish says with a grin, then immediately blushes as she realizes how that sounds."I mean, I'm hungry. For food.Pancakes specifically."

Dawn's smile widens. "Of course, honey.Just pancakes."

I clear my throat. "We should go if we want to stay somewhat on schedule."

Outside, the morning has fully bloomed, sunlight warming the cobblestone streets as we make our way to Kathy's Diner.The place is significantly busier than last night, nearly every booth filled with locals starting their day.

Kathy spots us immediately, waving us over to two reserved seats at the counter."Morning, travelers! Dawn called ahead, said you needed the works before hitting the road."

"You have amazing friends in this town," Trish observes as we take our seats.

"Small towns," I explain. "Everyone knows everyone's business."

"Which means everyone's already talking about the tall, mysterious stranger and his gorgeous companion passing through," Kathy confirms cheerfully, sliding coffee in front of us without asking."So, two Hearty Breakfasts?"

"Just one," I cut in before Trish can answer."We'll share."

Trish raises an eyebrow at me."Worried about my calorie intake, Jake?"

"Worried about food coma while driving," I counter."Trust me, you haven't seen the size of this thing."

Kathy laughs. "Man knows what he's talking about.One Hearty Breakfast with extra bacon coming up.You can fight over who gets the most pancakes."

As Kathy moves away, Trish turns to face me fully on her stool."So, where are we headed after this?Still planning to make it all the way to Kansas tonight?"

"That was the plan," I confirm."There's another small town called Basic Plaines, about ten hours from here if we maintain a good pace.Not much there except a rest stop and a high school football team they're apparently very proud of."

"Sounds exciting," she says dryly."What's our accommodation situation there?"

"There's a motel off the highway.Basic but clean, according to the reviews."

She nods, taking a sip of her coffee."And after Kansas? Where's our next stop before Nevada?"

"Rustic Junction, Colorado. It's a tourist town designed to look like an old Western movie set.Staged gunfights, saloon girls, the works."

"That actually sounds fun," she says, brightening."I've never been to one of those Old West towns."

"It's mostly for tourists," I warn."Very manufactured nostalgia."

"Still better than another generic motel.Where are we staying there?"

"Place called the Rustic Love Hotel." I immediately regret the name as her eyes widen slightly."It's the only accommodation in town," I add quickly."Separate rooms, of course."

"Of course," she echoes, but there's a teasing glint in her eye."Though that might raise some eyebrows, Mr. Control.Acouple checking into the 'Love Hotel' but requesting separate rooms?Scandalous."

"We're not a couple," I remind her, more sharply than intended.

Something flashes across her face--disappointment?Hurt? It's gone too quickly to identify.

"Believe me, I'm well aware," she says, her tone cooling."Just making a joke."

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