Page 24 of Resisting You
“A kiss goodbye?” he prodded. “I can almost guarantee that at least one of my siblings is watching us like a hawk right now. If you jump into your car and peel out of here without even hugging me? They’re going to know something is up.”
Dammit. He was right.
Clearing my throat, I snuck a quick glance around. With only my cursory sweep of the yard, I spotted Steve, leaning seemingly casually against a tree in the distance. His gaze was pinned directly onto me… not even us…me. I swear, if the man had had binoculars, he would have been lip reading me.
I crossed to Noah and wrapped my arms around his neck.
Strong arms cradled me in a hug that was all-encompassing. He engulfed me. One arm snaked around my hips and lower back and the other scooped up into the back of my hair. He held me like I was precious.
He held me like I was his.
And when I pulled away from the embrace, he cupped my jaw tenderly and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. “Drive safely. I won’t be long.”
He turned and headed back to help his family clean up. Meanwhile, I was left dumbfounded in the driveway… reeling from a simple, but exquisite hug.
Since I was only drivingtwo miles into town to the Maple Grove Inn, I decided to take the scenic route and stopped into a few shops and bakeries along the way.
As much as I loved living in New York City and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, Maple Grove was a breath of fresh air. It was the kind of town I could see myself buying a summer house and spending several months a year working remotely in.
Forty-five minutes later, I had half a dozen cupcakes in tow as well as a cup of cold brew coffee, and I had downed a hotdog from an adorable couple who were running a hotdog cart in the park.
I was basically eating my way through Maple Grove and I wasn’t even sorry about it.
I finally parked at the Maple Grove Inn and entered the surprisingly busy lobby. Tons of people were milling about and spilling into the lobby from the adjoining cafe.
I weaved through a small group of two women and a man and slid my way to the front desk, giving the woman working there a big smile. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Michelle. How can I help you today?”
“Hi,” I said, returning her smile. “I was hoping to reserve the suite room that is adjoining with Noah Tripp’s?”
“Oh, no. You didn’t reserve your room earlier?” The woman’s smile faltered and she clacked her fingers against the keyboard. “Well, we don’t have anyone here by the name you mentioned.And unfortunately, we’re completely booked. We don’t have a single room available.”
I blinked. Booked?
Sure, it was a tourist town here in the lakes region, but it seemed unlikely that this early in the season, they’d be completely booked. Especially since Noah had said he’d checked earlier and the adjoining room was not yet taken.
“Oh, wait… he doesn’t go by Noah in hotel reservations.” Shoot… what was the decoy name he gave me? Tim? No… Ted! That’s right.
I leaned in and lowered my voice so none of the surrounding people could hear me. “Ted, um… Wilkins, I think.Hewould like to reserve the adjoining room.”
Michelle’s smile was back and she nodded knowingly. “Oh, yes. Mr. Wilkins is a frequent guest of ours. You wouldn’t happen to be Rosa, would you?”
I nodded. “I am.”
“Oh, good. He called a little while ago and asked that we prepare an extra key for you.”
“An extra key? Tohisroom?”
“Well, he had asked for the adjoining room as well, but as I mentioned, unfortunately, we’re all booked for the next two days.”
Dammit. Did this mean I would have to staywithNoah? In his suite?
Surely, this town had to have other accommodations.
Michelle slid the keycard across the marble counter.
I stared at it, not reaching out to grab it. “Um… and Noah’s expecting me? Upstairs?”
Michelle kept her face passively smiling, but even I could see the slight twitch of her brows. “Of course,” she said, then added, whispering, “You are hiswife, aren’t you?”
