Page 47 of Faking I Do
“I’ll wait here.”
“I’ll leave it on. Back in just a sec.” I needed to say something but I had no idea what. Something that would put a smile back on her face and chase away the sadness in her eyes. One step at a time. First step—I needed to get us a room.
The clerk at the desk didn’t give me any trouble. Check-in took about three minutes from start to finish and before I’d had a chance to come up with step two, I was headed back to the truck. I hadn’t thought to pack a bag and Lacey didn’t have anything with her so there was no need to worry about any kind of luggage.
I knocked at her window to get her attention. She startled then rolled it down.
“Room two-forty-two. You want to turn off the truck and hand me the keys?”
She did before grabbing her purse and climbing out of the truck. Standing on the pavement next to me, she seemed to shrink.
“Come on. Let’s get you tucked in. Nothing that a good night’s sleep won’t cure.”
Lacey followed behind me, fresh out of attitude. The silence seemed louder than any griping she’d done before. I’d never admit it to her, but I kind of liked her loud attempts at trying to run the show better than this complacent quietness.
The room wasn’t anything special. Two double beds with a small nightstand between them.
“Which one do you want?” I asked.
“Doesn’t matter.” She tossed her purse on the one closest to the window. “You don’t snore, do you?”
I hung my jacket in the small closet area. “It’s kind of late to be asking about that, don’t you think?”
The start of a smile lifted the edges of her lips. I’d take it.
“You don’t by chance have an extra shirt, do you?” Lacey took off her jacket and turned to face me. Rows of circles lined her shirt.
I squinted, reading the print at the top. “Lick Me?”
“No thanks. When the last guy tried that I ended up in jail.” She slumped into the chair next to the TV. “I never should have come to Dallas.”
I had been waiting for a conversation starter like that to fall into my lap. “It’s not your fault. The officer said you pack a mean stomp on the foot.”
Lacey groaned as she cradled her head in her hands. “How did I not notice the difference between the stripper cops and the real cops?”
“Maybe because the real cops were just as buff as the strippers?” I tried to joke. Somehow the thought of a stranger putting his mouth on her shirt fired up a few nerves. Easy now. Even though I’d always kept an eye out for Luke’s younger sister, Lacey wasn’t mine to protect.
She snorted. “I wasn’t in the mood to check out their pecs.”
“How about now?” I flexed, first one position, then another, in trying to get another laugh out of her.
Shaking her head, she blew off my lame attempt at humor. “Can I ask you something serious?”
I put a hand on the back of her chair and spun her around to face me. The bed creaked as I sat down on the edge. I wanted to give her my full attention. “What’s up?”
“Why did you come and get me?” Her palm landed on my knee. She kept her gaze trained on the spot where her fingers rested against my leg.
My heart kicked up a notch at the contact. “Because you called.”
“But I hung up on you.” Blue eyes met mine, ratcheting my pulse up even higher.
I put my hand on hers. “I’m there for you, Sweets. Anytime. Okay?”
“Because of Luke.” She nodded, sliding her hand out from under mine.
“No.” The firm tone in my voice surprised her. Hell, it surprised me. She met my gaze again. “Because of you.”
“What do you mean, because of me? I’ve done nothing but try to boss you around since I took over as mayor. And all you’ve done is try to help me.” Her eyes reflected a combination of confusion and hurt.
