Page 53 of More Than a Helping Hand

“Anderson is definitely fodder for a romance hero. He’s practically perfect.”

Her eyes twinkle as she looks at me. “Pay attention to the way he looks at you.”

Blinking, I mumble, “Okay.”

Once he’s played switcheroo with the vehicles, we get in the truck. He glances over at me, and I swallow.

There is more in his look than I bargained for, and I’m about to spend the night with him.

Well, notwithhim. Just in the same hotel room.

He clasps my hand when he hits the highway. “Two-bedroom hotel rooms are not easy to find, so I rented us a place that’s here in the Hill Country. It’s on a ranch. And it’s about a mile from the hosts’ home. The pictures looked nice.”

“A hideaway.”

“Yeah. But with comfy beds, a pool, and a hot tub.” He squeezes my hand. “But we’ll only get in the pool and hot tub if you’re comfortable with the idea. No pressure.”

He exits the interstate, and soon, we are driving down a two-lane road that has barbed-wire fences running along each side. We pass the occasional gathering of cows. Then he turns and stops outside a gate.

After checking his phone, he keys in a code, and the metal swings open.

The summer sun is still shining bright even though it’s nearing eight in the evening. A small cottage nestled into a stand of trees is easily visible from the road, but there isn’t any other sign of people around.

“It’s very private.”

“I figure the chances of anyone we know seeing us out here are slim to none.”

I pull his hand to my lips and kiss his warm fingers. “Thank you.”

“When I first asked you out, it was based on sheer attraction. But then I got to know you little by little, and I like you, Prim. This gives us a chance to forget the rest of the world exists, relax, and enjoy each other’s company.”

“Yeah.” I rub his arm. “I’m not sure which part shocks me more—that you were attracted to me or that you like my personality.”

A deep robust laugh bubbles out of him. “I need to up my game it seems.”

“Oh no. I need to be able to set boundaries with you. If you get any more perfect, my brain will stop working.”

Grinning, he rolls to a stop. “Let’s go in and look around, and then I’ll grab our stuff.”

The living room is a good size and open to the kitchen. Just off the main room are two bedrooms with a shared bathroom in between.

“This is nice.”

“Yeah. Tandy, the lady who helped me, packed some things for us. Remember that when we go through the bags.”

It’s evident that the woman has Anderson a bit concerned. “You worried?”

“She’s Dallas’s aunt. And since retirement she’s been writing romance novels. The shirtless-cover kind. Before that, she was a sex therapist.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

He brings stuff in, and thankfully, there is nothing frightful in the bags. There are, however, some luscious desserts and groceries.

Anderson stashes food in the fridge. “I worked it out with the guys to cover for me tomorrow, so I’ll get up and make you breakfast. You can sleep as late as you want. If you want to wander somewhere for lunch, we can do that. Or I’ll cook again.”

I cross the room and tug on his shirt. A low and sexy chuckle escapes as he leans down and meets my lips. Being pampered is not something that happens often. Or at all. It’s not that my parents don’t try to give me time to do stuff by myself and for myself, but I’m not good at accepting help.

On this date, I will not make that mistake.

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