3. Clint
3
CLINT
T he bathroom door was closed, and the shower was still on when Clint stepped back into the room with their bags. He’d really messed this one up. Nora liked to hold grudges, so her easy forgiveness was probably due to missing him.
Did she miss him as much as he’d missed her? If anything, seeing her at the airport only shot his already jumbled feelings into overdrive.
Too bad he’d choked. He’d spent so much time planning what he would say to her, then he’d stood there gaping like a statue. Maybe he should have used some of that speech planning time to book a hotel room.
The look on her face when she’d realized he hadn’t booked a room was one he’d seen a million times. It drove her crazy that he sailed through life on a breeze while she spent half her time readying the sails.
The shower turned off, and Clint tossed his bag onto the chair. There was approximately four feet of floor in this room, which meant he would be sleeping half underneath the bed.
He really didn’t mind sleeping in his truck. He’d done it many times out on the ranch. Something told him Nora would protest, and no one with a will to live went against Nora when she had her mind made up.
He was flipping the chairs onto the table to make room on the floor when Nora stepped out of the bathroom.
“What are you doing?”
Clint grabbed a blanket and spread it out over the floor. “Making my bed.”
She huffed, and he turned to face her. Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail that hung over one shoulder, and she wore red-and-black checkered lounge pants and an oversized T-shirt from the Cody Nite Rodeo.
Clint grabbed onto the chair leg beside him for balance. Nora was gorgeous in jeans. Nora in pajamas was a whole other dangerous ball game he wasn’t ready to face.
“Stop what you’re doing,” she grumbled. “I’m not making you sleep on the floor.”
“I can sleep in the truck. It’s pretty comfortable. ”
It wasn’t comfortable, but it was probably better than the floor.
Nora picked up the stack of blankets and pillows and put them on the dresser. “You can sleep in the bed.”
“No way. You’re not sleeping on the floor or in the truck either. I’ll be fine.”
“We can share the bed. We’re adults, and I’ll tear your fingers off if you touch me.”
Clint covered his mouth to hide his grin. He had no doubt that Nora would remove appendages if she felt the need.
She propped her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. “What’s so funny?”
Resetting his features, Clint reached for his bag. “Nothing. You’re right. I can keep my hands to myself and my fingers safe.”
Nora gave him a single nod. “Good. The bathroom is all yours.”
Grabbing the gym shorts he’d planned to sleep in, he closed himself in the bathroom and took a deep breath.
Oh no. Not good. The thick, humid air smelled like Nora. Her shampoo or bodywash. Whatever it was that filled his entire brain right now was causing all of the warning bells in his head to sound off like sirens at the same time.
Clint fumbled through changing clothes and brushing his teeth. He used a few precious seconds to give himself a pep talk in the mirror before grabbing his things and bursting out into the fresh air of the hotel room.
Nora was sitting tucked under the covers with her back resting against the headboard. Her Bible lay open on her lap. “Good grief, Clint. Were you trapped in there?”
He sucked in another cleansing breath. “What?”
“You sound like you’re busting out of jail. Calm down, Taylor.”
“I’m calm.” He brushed a hand through his hair. He hadn’t worn a hat all day, and it was like a part of him was missing.
Nora turned her attention back to the Bible in her lap. “If you say so. I didn’t think you were claustrophobic.”
“I’m not. Just…tired.”
Not tired. Maybe flustered. Whatever this was, it was new territory.
This was ridiculous. Nora was his friend, even if he wished they were more. He’d always just been himself around her. Why was he fumbling around like a lanky teenager all of a sudden?
“Are you ready for lights out?” Nora rubbed her eyes. “The words are starting to blur.”
“Yeah. I’m ready.”
Ready for what? To close his eyes and sleep? Yes. To climb into bed next to Nora? Yes. And no.
Good gravy and biscuits. Nora had him all messed up today, and he was ready for a restart. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
Nora closed the Bible and rested it on the table beside the bed. She slipped down into the cocoon of blankets and shimmied until she’d sunk into a comfortable spot.
It wouldn’t be that easy for Clint. Not with Nora so close.
When he couldn’t stall any longer, he picked up the covers and slipped into the bed. Hugging the edge, he left as much space between them as humanly possible.
“You can actually get on the bed. Just don’t cuddle me,” Nora said.
He scooted a fraction of an inch onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. His shoulders covered more than his allotted half of the bed, so he turned onto his side to give her more room.
Nora flipped off the light and settled back into the bed. The darkness was silent, except for Clint’s heart that was beating a war drum in his chest. There was no way she didn’t hear the pounding.
“Clint?” Nora whispered.
“Yeah.” At least the single word didn’t shake. Now that they were having to share a room and a bed, he was glad he hadn’t poured out his heart to her at the airport.
Thank God for small mercies.
“Thanks for coming to get me today. I know you don’t like cities, and I appreciate you driving all this way.”
The softness in her voice about broke him. He’d go anywhere for her. She should know that by now. “It’s no big deal.”
“It is. And I hate asking people for help, but–”
“But you can always call me. No questions asked,” Clint finished.
The pillow beside him rustled, and he could just make out the shadow of her face as she turned toward him. “I missed you.”
Dang. Those whispered words reached out and wrapped around his heart like a lasso. “I missed you too.”
With a heavy sigh, Nora flopped onto her other side and pulled the covers up over her shoulders. “Good night. Don’t touch me.”
Clint chuckled and scooted away another inch. “Yes, boss.”