“I can’t,” he says, oozing charm. “You’re too cute.”
“Cute? Boy, you must wanna die.” I brush his hand off my leg. I try, anyway. It goes right back to where it was two seconds later. It’s driving me wild to feel his rough, callused hands on my shaved leg. Thank God I did two passes with my razor in the shower. There will be no stubble between me and his touch, no sir. Yay, three cheers for Gillette!
“Sexy. You’re not cute, you’re sexy. Is that better?”
I nod. “Yeah. I like that better.”
“Beautiful,” he says.
“Now you’re laying it on a little thick,” I say wryly. I’m scanning the road for hotel signs.
“Where are we going, gorgeous?”
I’m starting to get suspicious. Why is he suddenly all happy-handsy on me after dancing with fifty girls? I wiggle my legs and push him off at the same time. “Stop. I’m trying to drive. I need to find a hotel.”
“A hotel?” He sits up and slides over closer to me. “What a great idea.” A wave of beer breath flows in front of my face. I don’t hate it.
He’s pushing into me, trying to kiss my neck, making me lean towards the door too much. I jab him with my right elbow. “Do you mind? Get in your seat and put on your seatbelt.” My brain is warring with my heart. I don’t know if I’m happy or mad all of a sudden. I want to believe he’s all turned on because he saw me and not because he was getting lady parts rubbed all over his body and spelunking into boogie cleavage caverns five minutes ago.
“Are you mad about something?” His voice has lost some of its sexy purr.
“No. I’m just tired. And annoyed.” Shit. That last part slipped out.
“At me?”
I sigh heavily. “No. At myself. Would you help me find a hotel, please?”
He points off to the right. “How about that one?”
I shake my head as we pull into the parking lot. I’m blind obviously. I almost drove past a glowing yellow sign that can be seen a half-mile down the road. Mick has my brain in a spin-cycle.
“Want me to go in?” he asks.
“No, I’ll do it. You’re drunk. They’ll probably turn you down once they smell your breath.”
“I’m not drunk. I’m just buzzing. Come on, I’ll go in with you.” He’s out the door before I can protest.
I grab my purse off the seat and join him at the front of the car. “So, what’s our story, then?” I ask.
He drapes his arm over my shoulder as we walk towards the front doors of the reception area. “How about … we’re a young couple looking for a place to make sweet, sweet love …”
I jab him in the ribs again. “Seriously. Stop.” I can’t help but giggle at him, though. He’s making me nervous. I can totally picture his naked chest right now, and it’s making me want to leave a pregnant girl out in the car while I get busy.
We get to the doors. “Just let me do all the talking,” I say.
He nods. “Sure. Absolutely.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Mick, I’m dead serious. Do not say anything.”
He gets all businesslike. “I’m dead serious too.” He frowns and only sways a little on his feet.
I roll my eyes. “This should be interesting.”
We go inside and a sleepy clerk welcomes us to the Super 8. “And how many are in your party?” he asks.
“Four. We need two double beds.” I nod.
“Actually, we need two separate rooms,” Mick says. “Double beds in each.”
My head jerks to the side. “Mick. I told you …” I give the clerk a fake smile before going back to Mick with a lower tone. “I don’t have the money for two rooms.”
He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a wallet, dropping a credit card on the counter with a flick of his wrist. “My treat.” His smile has way too much going on. Seconds ago he was joking around and silly. Right now he’s anything but silly. He’s sexy. He’s mostly sober. And he’s very, very determined. Oh boy.
I laugh nervously. “Ahhh … ha, ha … okay, then. He’s paying.” I try to smile at the clerk, but my mouth doesn’t want to cooperate. Instead, the poor guy gets my constipated expression.
He doesn’t seem very impressed about it either. His lip curls as he runs the credit card through his machine. When he’s done, he looks at the front of it. “Okay, Mister … Mikhail Ivanov … the charge will not be put on your card until you check out. If you leave without returning the key, we will charge the room rate plus ten dollars for the key deposit.”