Page 105 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

“That’s ridiculous,” I say. “Itisweird, though.”

“It is.”

Noah looks pensive as we wait for our ride-share driver to show up outside the main hospital entrance.

By the time we make it back to the hotel, it’s almost two in the morning. It’s been a long, crazy day.

I sit on the bed, twirling my new ring on my finger. “How is Cassian going to fly to Bucharest if he’s still in the hospital?”

“I don’t know.” Noah pulls his wallet out of his pocket, along with some spare change and a pocketknife, and then sets his things on the nightstand. “We’ll have to see how he’s doing in the morning.”

I yawn, exhausted and worried.

“Get ready for bed,” Noah says gently. “Tomorrow will probably be another long day.”

“But it’s our wedding night.” I twirl my ring again. “Shouldn’t we…?”

Noah walks over to the bed and leans down, rubbing my shoulders. “You’re tired. I’m tired. Let’s try to get some sleep.”

I’m not going to argue. I’m practically dead on my feet. I’m not sure I’ll even stay awake long enough to make it back to the bed after I brush my teeth.

But I somehow manage it and crawl under the covers while Noah is in the bathroom. I’m out before he joins me.

We’rejolted awake by the phone. It’s the hotel one that sits on the nightstand, not one of our cells.

“What do they want?” I ask groggily, wishing it was an alarm I could turn off.

I look at the time, and I nearly groan. It’s not even six. We’ve only been asleep for a few hours.

Noah rolls toward the phone, revealing his bare torso, and reaches for the handset. “Hello?”

His voice sounds all gritty and yummy, and I’m no longer sleepy. At all.

My eyes slide over his toned back, and a giddy notion almost makes me giggle.He’s all mine.

“You sound like crap,” Noah says. “Why are you calling me on the hotel phone?”

Faintly, I hear Cassian respond, “Your phones are both on ‘do not disturb’ modeagain.”

“That’s because we were sleeping.Again.”

I rub my hand over Noah’s shoulder, and he looks back at me, his eyes darkening in a way that makes me want to get him off the phone.

But first, I need to clean up. While Noah’s busy with Cassian, I hurry into the bathroom. After I brush my teeth, I run my hand over my legs.

Dang it, I feel like a cactus.

Quickly, I get in the shower, not even bothering to wait until the water warms up. I gasp when the cold water hits my back but try to ignore it, knowing it will warm up soon enough. I have more important things to focus on right now.

I’m in and out in record time, and I didn’t even nick myself with the razor. But now my hair is sopping wet, and I look like a drenched rat.

I squeeze out as much water as possible and turn on the hairdryer, willing it to work quickly. I’m just flipping my hair over my head when Noah knocks on the bathroom door.

Teeth brushed? Check.

Legs shaved? Check.

Hair dried? Check-ish.

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