Chapter 12 Megan
MEGAN
Travis, Luke, and I stood side by side at the reception desk of Delia’s Hotel as we filled out the form with our personal information. It was right across from the convenience store I’d noticed when we first arrived in the square.
I was super aware of Luke's presence next to me. He was still completely soaked. Knowing we were going to spend the whole evening and tomorrow morning together was making me jittery. I’d been counting on yet another long bath tonight, with a juicy bath bomb, to unwind.
"Here are your keycards," the receptionist said, giving the first one to Travis. "You’re on the second floor." Then she gave me mine. "You’re on the third floor." Luke was the last one. "And you’re on the fourth."
"Thanks." I looked around the lobby and noticed they had a basket full of umbrellas. Perfect. I would need one later.
The three of us headed to the elevator, and no one spoke while we rode up to Travis's floor.
As soon as he got out, I felt even more aware of Luke. His words from this morning floated back to the forefront of my mind. “Lucky for us, my brother is with us today.”
But Travis wasn’t here right now.
"What are your plans for the time being?" he asked.
"I need to go shopping. I saw a general store across the street. I need to buy toothpaste and a toothbrush and things like that. But I want to look in the room first and see if they have shower gel and a few other things."
"I'm sure they do," Luke said.
"Yeah, I think so too, but I still need some supplies."
“You'll get sick if you go out there. I was checking the weather app, and the temperature has really dropped." His voice was strong and commanding, dripping with authority.
I crossed my arms over my chest. "They've got umbrellas downstairs."
"Megan, with this wind, you'll get wet anyway. Go later."
"You're a bit too bossy, boss. You know that?" I was trying to deliver my message while keeping it lighthearted, but I needed to go to the store, and I wasn’t sure how long they’d stay open in this small town.
A sound reverberated from his throat. He took a step closer to me. On instinct, I moved back and felt the elevator’s mirrored wall behind me.
"I'm not your boss outside of working hours, Megan. I can barely keep myself in check while we're on the clock. I won't pretend I can do it once we’re off."
My breath caught. We were so close that I felt his breath on my cheek. I could practically feel his chest expanding with every inhale, and his cologne completely overwhelmed my senses. Thankfully, the elevator doors swung open.
"My floor," I whispered. The things he was doing to my body were tantalizing, and I needed to get away. I had no control over myself when I was around him.
He took a step back, holding his hand out toward the door. "Please."
I stepped out, walking toward my room with determined steps. What was it with us and elevators?
My floor had five rooms, and mine was at the end of the hall. I was excited about having a corner room; it should be larger and possibly come with a view.
Unlocking the door, I went inside. Pity there was only one window facing streetside.
I couldn't remember if there was a building adjacent to this one.
It didn't matter anyway. I was just going to sleep here, so I wouldn’t have time to enjoy the view, especially since it was raining.
I put my bag on the bed, massaging my shoulder a bit. It felt sore after carrying my laptop.
I went into the bathroom, inspecting the contents of the toiletries: shower gel, shampoo, and body lotion.
I couldn’t use hotel shampoos—I had a very sensitive scalp and risked waking up tomorrow with red and itchy skin.
I’d buy a small shampoo and conditioner along with toothpaste and a toothbrush.
I also needed panties for tomorrow, maybe hose.
I was pleased that they had a giant hairdryer.
I turned it on and used it to dry my damp hair.
The little bit of rain that had wet my hair made me feel cold.
I knew I had to wash my hair when I got back from the store because it looked dreadful.
The sooner I did it, the better. I assumed we'd have dinner in about two hours, which didn't leave me much time.
I didn't bother taking my bag, just took my wallet to go shopping.
Hopping in the elevator, I headed down to the reception area, keeping my fingers crossed that Luke wouldn’t be there.
I wasn't sure if I could control myself if he tried to boss me again about not leaving the hotel. If he went into sexy beast mode as he’d done in the elevator, I was liable to jump him in the middle of the lobby.
I liked strong, confident men, but I didn’t like being told what to do. Though there was something about Luke that made me want to obey, which I found extremely strange. I’d have to think about that more later.
I headed straight to the reception desk. "May I borrow an umbrella?"
"Sure, but we only have these small ones left." She pointed to some that were tiny but extendable. They weren't the sturdiest ones, but it was better than nothing.
"That's fine. I'll take one."
"Here you go, miss."
"I'll have one too."
I turned around to face Travis.
"Hey, where are you going?" I asked him.
"I'm going to the general store across the street."
"So am I."
After he got his umbrella, I nodded toward the door. "Let's go together."
We both stepped out of the hotel but stayed under the glass arch.
"We're going to have to make a run for it," Travis said.
I nodded. “We’re still going to get wet. This turned into a wicked storm.”
"You know what? Let’s do this—tell me what you want, and I'll grab it for you."
So he’s protective too, huh? Figures.
"No, thanks. I need to buy some personal stuff."
"Got it." He grimaced a bit before grinning. "Didn't want to make you uncomfortable. Okay, three, two, one. Let's go."
We both broke into a run.
The umbrellas were useless. Water was getting everywhere: into my eyes, my mouth, my ears, all over my hair, not to mention all over my dress. We reached the entrance of the general store quickly, and then we shook ourselves off, as well as the umbrellas. Travis was just as soaked as me.
"Maybe we can find some decent umbrellas in the store," he said.
"Yeah, maybe," I replied.
I looked around curiously. I'd never been inside a general store in a small town.
It was far bigger than I thought it would be, extending to two floors.
Everything I needed was on the ground floor, which was helpful.
I quickly bought a toothbrush and toothpaste.
I didn't find my usual shampoo and conditioner from Garnier, so I bought one that was for sensitive scalps.
I also bought tights, a tee to sleep in, and a pack with two panties.
They only carried one kind—unsexy period panties—but who cared?
I went straight to the cashier. Travis was already there.
"You're quick," he said. "I already asked about umbrellas. They’re out of stock. But I got us these two plastic ponchos.”
“Thanks.”
The cashier started scanning Travis's items, and he grinned when he saw me looking. "Yeah, I know, looks like I bought the whole store. I got some stuff for Luke too. He didn't ask me to, but he's going to be grateful."
"I still can’t get over the fact that you just volunteered to fly us here," I said.
He shrugged. "Why not? I enjoy flying, and I've got more time for my family than I've had in like a million years, so I'm using it."
"You’re one of the most decent guys I've ever met," I said.
Travis chuckled. "Don't let me deceive you. Tate and Declan are the only decent ones, at least when we were growing up," he said, making air quotes around the word "decent," which made me laugh.
"Luke was always the chief troublemaker,” he continued.
“Tyler, Sam, and I sometimes listened to Tate and Declan but mostly followed Luke’s lead.
I would definitely not describe him as decent.
More like indecent. But then, I shouldn't be saying that.
I don't want to discredit him in front of a team member. "
I grinned. "I quite like knowing these tidbits of information."
Finally, he paid for his purchase and then looked out the front door, possibly to give me privacy. The cashier scanned my items, putting everything in a bag.
"Dang, is the storm even worse?" I said, looking outside.
"Yeah."
"Well, nothing we can do about it. Let's make a run for it. I'm soaked anyway."
He nodded, and we stepped outside, putting on the ponchos and opening our umbrellas.
As I was about to break into a run, the wind completely ruined my umbrella, turning it inside out.
I tried to hang on to the handle with both hands, but the wind was strong and grabbed it, completely blowing it away.
I let go when I felt a sharp sting on my thumb where the metal pressed into my skin.
"Ah!" I exclaimed. Damn it, that thing had been totally useless. Well, actually it had shielded me somewhat. Right now, I couldn't even see, let alone walk. My body was somewhat protected from the rain because of the poncho, but my face wasn’t spared.
Then I felt a warm arm around my shoulders.
"I've got you," Travis said. He was holding his umbrella a bit higher so it sheltered us both somewhat. The result was, of course, that half my body and half of his were completely out in the rain. It was an improvement for me but surely not for him.
We walked as fast as possible to the hotel. As soon as we stepped under the glass arch, he closed his umbrella and burst out laughing.
"This was a shit idea," he said.
I couldn't help it. I started laughing too. I was completely drenched, despite the poncho.
"Yes, it was." I was sure that the contents of my paper bag were equally drenched. That was okay. I only needed the panties tomorrow morning, so I could hang them up to dry in the bathroom. As for tonight’s clothes, I could dry them with the hair dryer.