Page 55 of Lone Star Longing
“Let me look it up. What’s your member ID?”
He passed over the card, and she scanned it, then looked up at him with wide eyes. “Yes, sir. I don't think I’ve ever seen anyone with this many points, to be honest. There’s a small fee, but—“
“That’s fine. Two keys, if you don't mind.”
“Of course.”
“I’m glad you handled that,” Lacey said when they walked away from the desk. “I don't think I would have known what to do. Nothing like coming to San Antonio to make me feel like a hick.”
“You would have done fine. Think that I do this almost every week of my life. More often, if we’re between events. I couldn’t, I don't know, draw blood or take someone’s blood pressure, or any of the other stuff you do every day.”
“Maybe. Maybe I’m just feeling like an idiot right now anyway.”
This time he didn't stop himself from reaching over and taking her hand.
She folded her fingers around his for a moment, reflexively, before she stilled and looked at him. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles before releasing her as they stepped into the elevator.
“Can I ask you something?”
“I guess,” she said, gathering her bag closer to her side, creating a barrier between them.
“What were you laughing about when you walked out to the truck?”
She blinked, then stared straight ahead. “Totally not what I thought you’d ask. No, I met this lady there, she was at the hospitality desk or whatever, and when I walked in I made the mistake of telling her I was there to meet Jesse, and when I walked back down, without Jesse, she kind of noticed, and she sat me down and helped me catch my breath. I let her know you were coming. When I walked out, she was watching, and she...said something. It caught me off guard and made me laugh.”
The thought made her smile. Damn, he liked her smile.
But she didn't elaborate on what the woman had said.
The elevator opened and he led the way down the hall to the room, slid the key card into the lock, and opened it to a bright room with a long, low couch, a couple of wing-backed chairs and a wide window looking out, thankfully not on the construction of the highway, but on the rolling green hills of the Hill Country.
Lacey dropped her bag on the couch, and walked toward the window. “This is incredible. So green. I mean, look at those colors.”
“That’s what happens when you live in a desert.”
“I mean, the desert can be pretty, too, but this just looks so lush. And with all the trees. Like you can reach out and pet it, you know?” She turned to look at him. “I guess this is nothing to you. You go all around the country, you see seasons and mountains and valleys and snow.”
“To be honest, I don't pay attention too much. I guess maybe I should, huh?”
“Maybe you should.” She turned back to the window, moved closer and looked down below them, where trees lined the winding path of the lazy river. “That does look nice.”
“Go see if you have something you can wear, or we can go down to the gift shop and get something.”
He hadn’t even looked around the room yet. He crossed to the door to the right of the window, and opened it to see a king-sized bed inside, and another large window with the same view.
The door off that room led to the bathroom, which had a tub with jets he bet Lacey would enjoy. Another door to the bathroom led back to the living area, and he crossed that to open another door, which was a closet, and another louvered door, which was a wet bar.
No more doors.
No other bedroom.
“I thought the clerk said this was a suite?” he asked Lacey over his shoulder.
She turned from where she was looking down on the lazy river. “What?”
He gestured toward the one bedroom. “One bed.”
“Beck, I’m not really in the mood to joke around.”
