Page 5 of Illinois Innkeeper
As I move to unzip my pants, a trio of sharp raps at the door startles me.
“What the…?” I mumble as I resituate myself and head toward the door, already frustrated and furious with whoever is causing this unwanted intrusion into my big plans for the evening.
I fling the door open without bothering to look through the peephole, and the sight before me nearly bowls me over.
Miranda is standing on the other side of the threshold, looking fresh-faced and gorgeous in jeans and a soft hoodie. She’s holding a large pizza box and a six-pack of bottled beer.
My eyes nearly pop out of their sockets as I try to determine if this is my overactive imagination playing tricks on me, since I’ve finally given it free rein for the evening.
Offering me a pretty smile, Miranda says, “After the day you’ve had, I figured you deserve a greasy pizza and some ice-cold beers.”
“It’s like you read my mind,” I respond as I move to the side of the doorway to give her access to the room.
“Whoa, it’s no Charming Falls Inn, is it?” she says as she takes in the room’s cheesy décor.
“No, but there is no Charming Falls Inn anymore,” I remind her in a flat tone.
Her face crumples as if she has made a huge faux pas. She gives her leg three nervous taps before she mutters, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Wincing at the knowledge that I’ve made her feel guilty, I say, “No, don’t worry about it. I have to get used to the fact that I’ve lost everything. Not talking about it won’t change that harsh reality.”
“No, I suppose not,” she says, with her eyes still angled downward.
Hoping to lighten the mood, I say, “Lets dig into that pizza and beer. I think it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.”
Her eyes brighten as she moves to set the food and drinks down on the chipped, fake wood table.
We sit down on the avocado green, vinyl-covered chairs. Mine sports a giant rip that allows the foam padding to spill out.
Once we’re situated, she flips open the pizza box, and we each grab a large, loaded, and greasy slice. She says something about forgetting plates, but I assure her that there’s no need for them as I fold my piece in half and take a large bite.
She follows suit, and I find myself impressed that she digs right in and doesn’t bother to pretend to be a dainty eater. She works hard at a physically demanding and emotionally draining job. She should eat pizza like a hungry trucker.
We each crack open a brown bottle of chilled beer and take a hefty swig. Our satisfied ‘Ahhs’ emerge in tandem and have us grinning like fools at each other.
“This is truly the perfect meal. It hits the spot.” I pat my belly before taking another bite of the gooey and delicious pizza.
“Absolutely,” she agrees, adding, “I could eat pizza every day for the rest of my life without getting sick of it.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” I lightly tease her.
Comfortable silence settles over us as we finish our meal.
After she swipes her mouth with a paper napkin, Miranda looks at me with nervous excitement dancing in her gaze. Breaking the silence, she says, “I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”
My heart skips a beat. As much as I know this simmering tension between the two of us shouldn’t turn into anything more, I can’t stop myself from hoping that it will. Unable to stand the suspense, I say, “Go ahead.”
When she speaks, her voice is huskier than normal. “From the day we met, I’ve felt like there is an undeniable, magnetic attraction between us.”
I give the faintest of head nods. While I don’t want to lead her on, she doesn’t deserve to have her feelings hurt.
She swallows as if she’s summoning the courage to continue. “Why haven’t you ever acted on it?”
It’s a bold question. I guess I should expect nothing less from the strong, no-nonsense woman.
I clear my throat in an obvious attempt to stall for time. She keeps her unwavering gaze locked on me, not letting me off the hook for a moment.
Rubbing my hand along the back of my neck, I finally answer, “It’s not that I haven’t wanted to pursue a relationship with you. It just isn’t a good idea for us to be together.”
