He pulled up in front of a building that looked like it should have been left in the early eighties. It was built with red bricks, hadwooden chairs and a table in front and it looked like it came straight out of a historical novel.
Darius went to unhook our car while Nathan helped me down from the truck. He offered to walk us in but I convinced him not to by reminding him that he probably needed to get home to Marla. He promised to be back around noon to pick us up and take us into town to get the car fixed.
I made my way inside and I felt so out of place. Everything was simple and down to earth and I was in the most extravagant lace dress with a face full of makeup and heels.
“Hi,” I didn’t notice the lady at the counter until she spoke, “We don’t get many visitors at this time; I’m Carly and how can I help you?”
“I would like two rooms for the night, or morning, depends on how you see it.”
“Unfortunately; we have just one room available,” Nathan chose that time to walk in holding his duffel bag and my box,
“You have got to be kidding me,” I mumbled, “Does it at least have a pull out couch or something?”
“No; but the room comes with a double bed,” she offered, “Unfortunately it’s all we have tonight. We had a huge influx of tourists from the neighboring town. “But I’m sure you and your boyfriend wouldn’t mind, right?”
“He is not my boyfriend,” I inhaled deeply before continuing, “We’ll take it; can I pay with my card?”
She winced, “We are a cash only establishment ma’am.”
I fought the urge to bury my face in my hands and scream. What establishment in this age and time do not use a card to pay andwhere the hell am I supposed to find cash at this hour of the day. If I was superstitious I would say that the universe was out to get me and this was karma for something I had done at some point in my life.
“Is there an ATM?” I heard Nathan asked from behind me and she nodded.
She directed him on where to go and I watched as he set down our things and left. She offered me a warm smile as I made my way to one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs to wait.
Nathan returned after a while and when he had paid her, she handed him a simple key. She directed him to the room and he thanked her then gestured for me to follow.
The room itself wasn’t as bad as I would have thought. It was fairly spacious although still small by my standards but there was a double bed in the middle of the room, a cupboard to the left where Nathan put our stuff and another door right next to the cupboard that I am assuming leads to the bathroom.
“You’re probably itching to get out of your clothes,” Nathan said, “You can use the bathroom first.”
I didn’t waste any time after he said that. I grabbed my box of wipes and my emergency toiletry kit and made my way into the bathroom.
Pulling my dress off was difficult without help but I was able to do it after about ten failed tries. The next thing to go was my makeup and I took a long and well deserved hot shower before finally drying myself off with a towel.
It was after that I realized that I didn’t come into the bathroom with any clothes. I wrapped myself with the towel and slowly made my way back into the room.
Nathan was seated on the bed when I walked in and I saw his eyes rake over my body slowly before finally coming to settle on my face.
“I think I finished up all the hot water,” I said in an attempt to break the ice and he chuckled softly.
“I would have been surprised if you didn’t.”
He stood up and as he walked towards the bathroom, I stepped aside to allow him pass. I must not have moved enough because his hands still brushed up against my side and the sheer heat from him skin had me clenching my thighs together.
As soon as he disappeared into the bathroom, I rushed to put on my nightclothes but cursed when I realized what I had packed.
I didn’t plan to be stuck alone with Nathan so I had packed a very short pair of pajama shorts that barely covered my ass cheeks and a tight tank top. I knew I had limited options so I put it on and just in time because I was pulling down my shirt when Nathan walked out.
Thankfully, he was fully clothed in sweatpants and a plain grey tee but it also made me feel awkward because he was clothed and here I was practically half naked.
Once again, he raked his eyes over me and I saw them linger at my exposed legs before he cleared his throat.
“What happened earlier with Mark during the break?” it was a clear deviation from whatever was happening but one I was grateful for.
“He was just being a dick to a contestant, it’s nothing special.”
“Is that why you stood up to him; because he was being a dick to a contestant?”
