Chapter 10
chapter ten
Mia
“That’s one hell of a bed.” I try not to gawk at the single bed. If that bed could talk, I bet it would spill a lot of secrets. I blush at the thought. Sexy, sultry, and salacious secrets. This is a room where babies are made.
Get your mind out of the gutter.
You are not here to make any babies.
I sneak a peek at Luke and attempt not to salivate.
Luke and I are in the middle of our hotel suite; a king-size bed takes up half the room.
It certainly looks comfy, with its oversized down pillows and plush comforter.
The room itself screams luxury and smells like vanilla pods.
It’s a pleasant scent, but it also makes me want to eat something delicious, like a cupcake.
“It sure is.” Why does his voice sound like that? Has it always been that deep? That smooth. Like some old-time crooner sitting in a smoky bar and playing a piano. And why does his shirt fit him so tight, like it’s ready to be ripped off.
I want to sit, bounce up and down, and see if it’s as relaxing as it looks, but I daren’t do that while I am still wearing this dress.
I know it will ride up my thighs and expose my panties as soon as I lie back.
And who knows what the top would do? I was already close to having a nip-slip scandal, and that is the last thing that I need right now.
I also barely made it through the night without getting into an argument with bitchy Talia.
“So, how are we doing this?” I turn to Luke, who I suddenly realize has been watching me keenly for the last few minutes.
His blue eyes look intense, with a slight twinge of humor in his irises. There’s a hint of a five-o’clock shadow on his stubborn jawline, and he’s undone the top button of his shirt.
“Ah, jeez, I just realized you traveled all day. You must be tired.”
I realize that he must be exhausted; it’s been a long day, and he’s likely out of it.
I’m likely out of it as well because he is very much looking like a man I wouldn’t mind taking a nibble out of, but I’m almost positive it’s because of sleep deprivation and that I am a little buzzed.
And now I am hungry, for actual food. Darn that delicious vanilla scent filling the room.
“I’ll live.” His lips twitch as he continues to gaze at me.
It’s weird how much it’s affecting me. It’s unsettling, and it feels like his eyes are penetrating every fiber of my being.
I wonder if he’s a mind reader and trying to infiltrate my brain. Wouldn’t that be a cool trick? Hey, Mia. Just came back from NYC, and now I can read your brain.
I will myself to not think about how hot he looks in his crisp light-blue shirt and how silky his dark hair looks, falling in front of his eyes.
Oh shit, my mind was wandering again.
“What am I? An amoeba under a microscope? You’re looking at me like you’re trying to find my nucleus.
” I push past him and sit on the edge of the bed.
Partially because my feet are killing me.
I am not made to wear high heels for hours.
And partially because being too close to him is making me think thoughts I absolutely do not want to think about Luke.
“Find your nucleus?” He mocks.
I wonder if he’s going to remind me of how poorly I did in our Biology and Chemistry classes in high school. He still randomly teases me about crying for Kermie, the frog I nicknamed right before we had to dissect it. I knew then, and there, med school was never going to see me.
“It’s not funny.” I can’t resist leaning back on the bed.
It is even more comfortable than it looks, and my body is rejoicing in the soft cushioning.
“I’m hungry.” I look around the room. “Do they have any snacks in here? I need something to eat. With all the drama tonight, I didn’t remember to grab any actual food.
Just drinks.” I yawn. “And before you say anything, yes, I should just go to bed first, but I don’t want to wake up hungry. ”
“Noted.” Luke takes a few steps forward until he’s looking down at me, lying on the bed.
His expression is amused, and I’m taken back to our teenage years—when we’d go camping in his vast backyard, watch movies on his iPad, and I’d moan and groan for him to get me snacks to munch on while we watched B-horror movies that he loved and I hated.
It was the popcorn and chocolate that made the movies palatable to me; I’d spend half the time eating, half the time burying my head in his shoulder, trying not to see the gruesome, bloody scenes of multiple people being beheaded and eaten.
I hated those movies with a passion, and yet those movie nights were one of the best parts of our shared relationship.
“Popcorn, chocolate, ice cream, or Pop-Tarts?”
“I’m not fifteen anymore. I need more sustenance right now.”
“Like?” He takes a seat next to me, and I roll over to look at him, feeling my skirt rolling up as I shift on the bed. He leans down and casually brushes my hair back out of my face, his eyes crinkling as he smiles at me. “I’ll go out and grab you something now.”
“No, you don’t have to do that.” My heart races a million miles a minute.
Why is he looking at me like that? “You should get ready for bed. Seeing as you were traveling all day, I will let you have the bed tonight, and I’ll take the couch, but from tomorrow on, I’m taking the bed, and you’re taking the couch. ”
“Really, Mi-Mi? Neither one of us needs to take the couch. We’ve shared a bed many times.”
“Yes, but never as a fake dating couple.”
“So?” He rolls his eyes at me. “What does that have to do with anything? We have the rules, right? Plus, it’s us. It’s not like we’re suddenly going to be all over each other …” He pauses, and his eyes search mine, a sneaky expression on his face. His blue eyes appear to be laughing at me. “Right?”
“Well, duh.” I sit up and groan as my stomach gurgles.
I brush my hair back and attempt to straighten my dress.
“There is no way that anything is going to happen.” I jump off the bed and head to the side of the room.
“Ooh, look, they have a menu. We can order room service.” I survey the list of options.
“I think I’m going to get a cheeseburger and fries. You want anything?”
“I’ll have the same.” He looks around the room. “You know what I just realized?”
“What?”
“We don’t have any change of clothes. My luggage is at my grandparents’ house, and all your stuff is still at home, right?”
“Yeah, I didn’t bring anything. I wasn’t even thinking about it. I thought we weren’t getting our rooms until tomorrow afternoon.” My stomach growls again, and I look down at the menu. “Maybe I’ll add some onion rings as well.”
“Onion rings?” Luke doesn’t look impressed. “I guess that means we’re not having a practice make-out session tonight then, sexy Mia?”
“Very funny, Luke.” My stomach flips at his words. I try not to look at his lips. “I don’t think we need to have any practice sessions. I think we’re both adults who know how to kiss. Now, let me order this food before I fall to the ground from hunger.”
“I think you’ll be okay for an hour.” He shifts closer to me and then stops. “But if not, I can head down to the lobby and grab you a bite from the deli. I think it is twenty-four hours.”
“You don’t have to do that, but thanks.” I shake my head. “Though, do you think they have clothes?”
“You want to go clothes shopping now?” He raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
“No, but I want to sleep in something other than this dress. It’s cute, but I can’t imagine it will be comfortable to sleep in. Nor do I think your outfit is going to be comfortable to sleep in.”
“Oh, I’m not sleeping in this.” He laughs, undoes all the buttons on his shirt, and takes it off, so he’s now standing there shirtless.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Luke shirtless. And not even the first time I’ve seen him shirtless in a bedroom, but it has never felt like this before.
“What are you sleeping in then?” I pick up the phone, ready to press the room service button so I don’t have to look at him. It’s not that I don’t want to look at him, but I don’t want to ogle him.
Luke has gone and gotten himself a lean, muscular physique over the last couple of years. He is built, has a six-pack, and my brain is appreciating them far too much. I feel like a sad sack, staring at my best friend like that. I suppose it is the consequence of not having a boyfriend for ages.
“I was going to sleep naked.”
“What?” My tone is loud. “Ain’t no way you’re sleeping naked, Luke.”
“But I’ll be on the couch. It’s not like I’ll accidentally touch you with all my naked bits and pieces.”
“I said I’ll take the couch, but if you want the couch, I don’t mind taking the bed. It looks comfy.”
“It sure does.” He eyes me. “Remember when we shared a bed as teens, and no one had to take the couch? And we’d watch movies and fall asleep telling stories, and then in the morning you’d wake me up by hitting me with a pillow.”
“We didn’t share the bed that often, but yes.”
“I think best friends can share a bed and not worry about it, don’t you?”
“Really, Luke?” I place my hands on my hips. “Is this your way of saying you don’t think anyone should be on the couch?”
“This is my way of saying we’ve slept in beds together, plenty of times. Why not on this trip as well?”
Because you’ve never looked this sexy before.
“You can sleep in the bed with me. It’s large enough, and we can build a pillow fort between us.”
“A pillow fort?” His lip twitches. “What is the fort keeping in or out?” He stands up and walks over to the large French door and opens it.
He steps out onto the balcony, and I follow behind him.
We both take in the ocean in the distance and the swaying fronds of the palm trees that run down the side of the property. It’s a beautiful night.
“I don’t know.” I shrug, and I lean back against the wall. “Ooh, look.” I head over to a hammock on the far end of the balcony and glance back at him. “Want to give me a push?”