“No,” Deke confessed with a sigh. “Let’s get our rooms, then grab some food, and I’ll tell you what’s been going on.”
“Sounds good, but can we just eat in one of our rooms? I’m too tired to go back out,” Rawley suggested, his exhaustion evident.
“Yeah, that would be best. I don’t feel like going back out either. After five hours on the road, I just want to relax. I’ve made this trip so often that I could do it with my eyes closed.”
“I’m sure,” Rawley said with a knowing nod.
They approached the gleaming front desk, the polished marble counter reflecting the soft overhead lights. After checking in, they received their keycards and proceeded to the elevator. Thesoft chime announced their arrival on their floor, and they stepped out onto the plush carpeted hallway.
“I’m going to grab a shower. Do you want to eat in your room?” Rawley asked, his voice echoing lightly in the corridor.
“That’s fine. I want a shower too. Once you’re finished, just come to my room and we’ll order from somewhere,” Deke replied, already envisioning the comfort of a hot shower.
“Alright, I’ll see you in a little while.” Rawley nodded, striding purposefully to his room.
Deke paused in front of his door, the keycard in his hand. He slid it into the slot, and the door clicked open with a soft beep. Stepping inside, he was enveloped by the quiet solitude of the room. He set his duffle bag down on the neatly made bed, the bedspread crisp and inviting. From inside the bag, he pulled out a comfortable T-shirt and a pair of soft sweatpants before heading into the bathroom, eager to wash away the road-weary fatigue.
Two hours later, Rawley and Deke sat hunched over a table in Deke’s room. A half-eaten pizza sat between them, steam still rising from its cheese-slicked surface. The tang of tomato sauce mingled with the faint scent of beer from the four empty bottles on the table.
“So,” Rawley said, leaning back against the chair and wiping grease from his fingers with a paper towel, “you have a daughter.” He arched an eyebrow, then picked up another slice and bit into it.
Deke rubbed his jaw. “Yes, and I love her already.”
Rawley’s grin was half teasing, half sympathetic. “Why wouldn’t you?”
“True,” Deke said, pushing aside the pizza box to make room for his elbows. “Ava and I are going to do our best to make this work. I just hope my job doesn’t interfere too much. You know how it is, we’re on call twenty-four seven. Weekends off doesn’t necessarily mean weekends off.” He sighed. “You know we get called in when needed. Hell, I was on a date one night when I got a call.”
Rawley chuckled, tossing a slice of pepperoni into his mouth. “I was at dinner with someone I was hoping to have breakfast with. Then my phone rang, and that was that.”
Deke watched Rawley’s face, trying to read his thoughts in the dim light.
“Honestly,” Rawley finally said, “it’s not like she can’t come back here sometimes to visit or her family could see her in Clifton. Does she work?”
“She handles the ranch’s bookkeeping and payroll.”
Rawley snagged a pepperoni from the pizza again. “She can probably do that from anywhere.”
“Yep.” Deke shrugged, snagging the last slice. “She said she will.”
Rawley sat back, brushing crumbs off his jeans. “Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word of this.”
“I know, Rawley. My brothers and my dad know, but I’m not ready for anyone else to know until they get moved in with me.”
Rawley pushed himself upright, stretching his arms overhead with a long groan. “I’m beat. What time for breakfast?”
Deke slid a chair back and stood. “Seven in the dining room?”
“Seven it is. I’ll see you in the morning, Deke.”
“Later, Rawley.” Deke flicked off the overhead bulb, leaving the room in soft moonlight as Rawley closed the door behind him.
****
Ava gently lifted Ellie and set her on the floor, watching as the child darted out of the room with a burst of laughter that echoed off the walls. “Ellie, please stop running. You could fall and hurt yourself,” Ava called after her, shaking her head at the sound of Ellie’s giggles trailing behind.
“Let’s go see Papa,” she suggested.
“Papa!” Ellie exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
