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“What?” My heart hammers like something’s gone seriously wrong. Is she alright?

But then, Sofia holds up one remaining set of key cards, and I realize why she looks like a deer about to be hit by a car. There’s only one room left.

I hold my hand up and go back to the clerk. “I think someone’s miscounted. We need one more room.”

The clerk doesn’t look the least bit flustered as he holds up a finger and starts tapping away at his computer. After a minute, the slight shift in the man’s stance broadcasts the bad news before he delivers it.

“It looks like you booked eleven rooms for your visit, and the rest are already full. We can bring in an extra cot to accommodate additional guests in the meantime?—”

I hold my hand up to stop him and remind myself to breathe. “No. That’s fine. Thank you.”

When I return to Sofia, she looks me over and knows before I even have to say anything. We shuffle into the elevator together. “How many rooms?”

“Just the one.”

15

SOFIA

We stand on opposite sides of the elevator, staring at each other as we fly up and up and up to the tenth floor. Usually, elevator rides make me dizzy, but that’s not the reason I’m clinging to the handrail behind me.

It’s the heat in Knight’s eyes, how he is staring at my mouth like he was on the bus.

God, the tension is palpable after that long bus ride, the teasing play of his fingers against the back of mine with his desire as clear as day. He wanted to hold my hand.

Okay, let’s be honest, he probably wants much, much more than that, but he’s more than aware of how that can turn out badly for both of us.

I can’t imagine how far gone we might be if not for Leann. She sucks to be around, and might be a sucky person from my perspective, but she does keep us semi-grounded in reality.

By the time the doors open on the tenth floor, my heart is pumping so hard.

Thankfully, the hallway is clear so no one has to see or can make a comment on the fact that Professor Knight and I will be sharing a room.

Together.

Alone.

Unsupervised.

I suppose it’s better than having another guy and gal on this trip double up. We are the ones in charge here. We can keep this professional.

Even if he’s been slowly chipping away at my first opinion of him, showing how respectful and intense he can be. It only amplifies how attractive he is.

My heart is pumping so hard that it’s difficult to breathe.

No, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

What other choice do we have?

We both hesitate. Orion jams his hand between the doors when they start to close and he’s out in the hallway, holding it open for me and searching my eyes for something.

“What room?” I ask.

“1049.” Knight points to the right. “That way.”

I nod and start down the hall, conscious of every footstep and how it thuds or echoes in this hall. Fear over being caught—as ridiculous as that is—heightens every noise. I can scarcely breathe when we stop in front of the door and Knight reaches around me to slide the keycard into the slot.

He opens the door and gives it a push, but I walk in first.