Page 14 of Crewe
He waved at the riders as the MC guys split off along with the unattached Nelsons. Hennessy and Whiskey motioned they were heading somewhere else first. They hadn’t talked about anything, so Crewe took the main road into town, turning up Lodge Road. A couple of winding turns, and the lodge’s signMistletoeCanyon Lodge andResortappeared.
He could see why they called it a lodge and resort. The main building was exactly how he imagined, with tall pillars out front holding up an awning to keep six rows of cars out of the weather while they unloaded. He pulled under the covered reception area to find out where he’d need to put the bike. He held his hand so Ry could get off the bike, then he turned a little to steady her. Jelly legs after riding on a bike for the first time were no joke.
A valet walked up to him.
“Sir, can I help you?” he asked.
“We’re with the Nelson party. I rented a bike from the MC, but I’m not sure where I should park it,” Crewe said.
“The MC has a special garage we park their bikes in,” he said, walking behind the bike and writing down the tag number, then getting the identification number off the plate that was on the fender of the bike. He tore off a ticket. “Just bring this or call down with the number when you’re ready to take the bike out. We’ll bring it directly to the front for you. Do you need anything from the saddlebags before you go in?” he asked.
“No, thank you,” Crewe said, getting off the bike. Should he or shouldn’t he take Ry’s hand? This trying to change their relationship was maddening, not having a roadmap on the way to her heart.
“Have a merry stay,” the valet said.
Crewe walked through the entry and headed toward the registration desk. The lodge lobby was huge with tall ceilings. Windows toward the top of the walls would let in natural light during theday. A Christmas tree that had to be forty feet tall stood in the corner of the room, decorated with red and gold decorations and twinkling lights.
Crewe didn’t normally notice how a place smelled, but the lodge had a citrus with cinnamon scent that made him feel like it was Christmas. If the ride down the main street of Mistletoe Canyon Falls Road didn’t inspire the Christmas spirit, staying at this hotel did.
“How may I help you, sir?”
“I’m with the Nelson party checking in. Crewe Nelson and Ryanne Blackstone,” Crewe said, waiting while the woman typed on her computer.
“It looks like they did some moving around because of the issue with a couple rooms. It says a Burt Nelson has your room keys. The note says to send you to room 412 when you arrive. The elevators are right there. Fourth floor and then to the right,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you,” Crewe said. He wondered why they didn’t just leave the keys at the front desk. The family Trust was picking up the tab for thetrip, so he didn’t need to even present a credit card.
“I wonder why Burt has our keys,” Ry muttered as they waited for the elevator to get to the fourth floor.
“No idea. I was wondering the same,” Crewe said, then waited until Ry walked out of the elevator to follow her to room 412.
He knocked, impatiently waiting to hear what was going on.
His dad opened the door and then walked out into the hall. “Sorry, the kids fell asleep, and I didn’t want to wake them up. I’m guessing you need your keys. Here they are,” Burt handed an envelope to Ry and one to him. “Rooms are on this floor down the hall past the elevators. Also, Vivi said she has something special we’re all to wear tomorrow, and she’ll deliver them around eight in the morning. Breakfast is downstairs in the restaurant at nine,” Burt said.
“Thanks, Dad,” Crewe said and headed down the hall. All his envelope said was his name, so he tore it open to see the card inside, along with apiece of paper that said room 469. He waited as Ry opened hers, then she pointed.
“I’m that way,” she said.
“Me too,” he said, letting her get a little ahead of him so he could watch her ass as she walked. Her butt jiggled just enough to be enticing. She stopped in front of a door, and he looked up to see where his room was. She was standing in front of room 469. She used her key card, then waited a minute and stared at him.
“Are you close by?” she asked.
“Umm, yeah,” he said, showing her the piece of paper with his room number. Her eyes widened, and then she double-checked her own room number.
“I don’t know what to say,” Ry said.
Was he a complete jerk that seeing her flustered was doing something for him? He could see her breathing a little faster, and a blush had risen from her neck and filled her cheeks. Was it possible she was envisioning them sharing a room?
“How about we go in the room and see how it’s set up?” Crewe asked.
His daddy didn’t raise a fool, and he’d just been given an early Christmas gift of sharing a room with the woman he wanted with his whole being. He followed Ry into the room and just freaking barely kept from whooping in glee.
Chapter Twelve
Ry walked into the room that it seemed like she and Crewe were supposed to share, not knowing what to do. Did she accept that they’d be sharing a room and try to guard her heart while living in close proximity to the man she imagined in her life forever? Or did she march back downstairs and demand a room?
Burt had to have known they were sharing a room, hadn’t he? Did he think she andCrewe should be together? He’d never said anything but then neither had she.
