Page 82 of Faking it with the Green Beret

“Naw, I’m set.” He wrapped an arm around Elizabeth. “Where’d you park?” He didn’t miss a step or look back, and his hand remained on her hip all the way to her car. “Keys.” He held out a hand, and walked her to the passenger side, opening and closing the door like a true gentleman.

It was nice to slip her shoes off her aching feet as he slid the driver’s seat all the way back before getting in. After adjusting his seat and setting the mirrors, she handed him her USB cable to connect his phone and display directions.

Rather than put the car into gear, John stared at her like he wanted to say something, or maybe, kiss her.

And in that moment, she wanted him to kiss her. Probably more than she’d ever wanted to kiss a man before, even though it would be a really, really bad idea. She refrained from leaning toward him—but barely—and only because she knew her reaction wouldn’t match up with any romantic fantasies. His or hers.

On the drive to the hotel, John told her how he and Nate met early in their careers through Officer Candidate school. Though they served in different units, they had been deployed together in Afghanistan, which strengthened their brother-like bond.

“Nate and I went to the mountains together after that deployment. It was his idea, so I kind of have him to thank for finding Boss.”

“You two didn’t fight over him?”

“Nate was based in Germany, so getting the dog shipped over there wasn’t practical. I got Boss. Now he’s got Cecilia.”

His gaze lingered on her again in a way that made her wish things could be different. More than platonic. That she could be the woman she’d once been.

ChapterForty-Four

SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS) – Eurythmics

Elizabeth slippedher shoes on as John navigated into the parking lot of the hotel in Uptown Charlotte. Despite stressing out prior to the wedding, everything had gone smoothly and been a lot of fun. Now that it was over, they could drop the act. After a good night’s sleep and some needed distance from John, tomorrow morning, they’d be back to status quo—friends.

John took her bag from the trunk and pulled it behind him. When they entered the lobby, she stayed at his side as he headed to the reception desk.

“I got a text that you had a cancelation and you’re holding another room for me,” he told the agent. “Last name’s Bryson.”

Cancelation? A chill swept through Elizabeth.

The clerk typed on the keyboard. “Yes. We did have a cancelation.”

Whew. Elizabeth breathed an internal sigh.

“It’s an executive suite,” the clerk paused between each word. “It’s three hundred ninety-eight for the night. Do you want that on the credit card on file?”

John hesitated a moment before reaching for his wallet. “Let me give you a different card.”

“No. Don’t do that. I can drive back home.” Elizabeth couldn’t let him pay that much.

“Not this late and after drinking.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted.

“I promised you your own room. What are the rates at the overflow hotel? They were holding a room for me there,” he asked the woman.

“I’m pretty sure we canceled that when the suite opened up. Let me see. They did cancel that, and they’re full now. I can check our other brands and see if I can find you a standard room.”

“That’d be great. While you do that, I’ll take her up and get my bag from the room. I’ll check back in a few minutes.”

“I’m sorry I’m making things difficult,” Elizabeth told him once they were in the elevator.

“No worries. I just didn’t anticipate all the celebrity-seekers.”

“I wouldn’t have either.”

When they got to the room, John set her bag on the bed closest to the window.

“You didn’t mention there were two beds.”

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