Chapter 7
Hayden
Miranda pulls into the parking lot of a small hotel about ten miles from the ranch we’re picking the horses up from.
It’s the first time I’ve been in this town other than driving through on my way to a rodeo event back in my traveling days.
Miranda didn’t ask me to drive, and I didn’t offer more than that one time when we first started.
I won’t let her drive the entire way there and back without trading once we have the horses loaded.
She can get as pissed as she wants; it’s not easy pulling a loaded trailer.
Especially if we get the weather we’ve been expecting.
“Is this okay with you?” Miranda asks once she shuts off the ignition. “I know it’s early, but I’d rather leave super early in the morning since that’s the way I planned the trip back.”
“I’m just along for the ride. Whatever you planned is fine with me.”
I reach for our bags, slinging the strap of my bag over my shoulder before grabbing hers.
When she reaches out a hand to take her bag from me, I simply shoot her a look before continuing to walk to the hotel entrance.
I love that she’s determined to do things on her own, but some things just aren’t going to happen when I’m around.
I open the door and then step back so she can enter.
“Oh, let me hold the door; you have the bags,” she offers as she takes a step toward me.
Once again, I say nothing, but my face must say it all because she rolls her eyes and then enters the lobby. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate the view of her walking ahead of me in those tight jeans that show off the perfect curve of her ass.
“Your reservation was only for one room, ma’am. We did upgrade you, though,” the old man behind the counter says as I join Miranda.
Miranda looks at me with wide eyes before returning her attention to the balding man. He looks so nervous and apologetic that I almost feel bad for him. I raise my eyebrows at Miranda when she looks back at me.
“There’s only one room available. I didn’t even think to call and change it before we left this morning. What are the chances this small hotel in the middle of nowhere is booked?”
I place a hand on the small of her back in what I hope is a soothing gesture. “No worries. We can check the next hotel. It’s early.”
“Um,” the man says before clearing his throat. “The next hotel is an hour and a half south. But I can call them if you want?”
Miranda’s level of panic over the idea of sharing a room is nearly comical, but I work hard to hold in my laughter. “That would be great, thanks.”
With my hand still on her lower back, I lead her a few steps away from the desk. Once we’re off to the side, she takes several measured breaths, and I offer her a reassuring smile. As if understanding that I’m trying to give her a moment to compose herself, she eventually gives me a nod.
“Better?” I ask, only continuing when she nods again.
“It’s not a big deal. If that other hotel has two rooms, we can just leave extra early in the morning.
There’s plenty of time to get to bed and get enough sleep to make the long drive back.
And if they don’t, we can share a room. I’m not a neanderthal.
You can trust me not to bash you over the head so I can have my wicked way with you. ”
Her laughter fills the small lobby, and I find myself joining her, my quiet rumble mixing with hers.
She visibly relaxes under my gaze, and I take her hand as we make our way back to the desk.
George, according to his name tag, is still on the phone, absently rubbing his gray mustache as he listens to the person on the other end.
Frowning, George hangs up the phone and looks between the two of us. “Bad news…”
I grab Miranda’s hand again and give it a squeeze before I finish George’s sentence. “They’re all booked.”
His smile is sympathetic. “Well, not completely. But they also have one room.”
Miranda’s shoulders sag, and I return my hand to her back, giving it a comforting rub.
I give George a nod and accept the key. Our room is at the end of the short hallway.
When the lock clicks, I push the door open with a flourish.
It’s nice. There’s a loveseat in front of the large picture window.
A small table with two chairs. And in the middle of the room sits a king-sized bed. One king-sized bed.
At this point, there’s no holding back my laughter. Of course there’s only one bed. When I turn around, I’m relieved to find Miranda laughing right along with me. It’s the only thing we can do. I toss our bags onto the loveseat and then sit down at the foot of the bed.
“I know I should be a gentleman here and offer to sleep on the floor, but today is the first day in a long time that my shoulder hasn’t ached…”
She lets out a nervous laugh as her eyes dart between me and the rest of the bed. “I wouldn’t let you sleep on the floor. I trust you.”
“If you aren’t comfortable with it, just toss me your keys and I can sleep in the truck like I used to back when I was on the rodeo circuit.”
“Like I said, I trust you,” she repeats.
Those three words shouldn’t affect me the way they do.
I had worried that all trust was lost after I allowed something to happen between us.
I felt guilty as hell when Roger asked me to come along on this trip.
Knowing he trusted me to keep her safe, when Miranda likely didn’t trust me at all, made me feel like the biggest asshole on the planet. But I couldn’t tell him no.
“Here,” I say, tossing her my wallet. “That looks like a menu for a pizza place on the table. Order us something while I take a quick shower?”