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“Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but tease. “You know whose fault that is?”

She widened her eyes, all innocence. “Those crummy beds?”

“That too. Sit with me at dinner?”

Her slow smile released some of the tension that had tightened my shoulders throughout the day. I slid into the seat next to her on the shuttle, noting our quiet group. A much different vibe from the night before, when we were cutting loose in the bar.

The weight of the decision in front of us had taken hold, choking off the light atmosphere of the previous night. I glanced at Andi, silent beside me, as the shuttle pulled away from the curb. The temptation to ask her how she voted wouldn’t leave me alone, but I suppressed it.

Dinner was a somber affair. None of us seemed able to shake the burden of our pending vote, but we also weren’t in a place to talk about it and work out our differences. It left me feeling restless and dissatisfied as we returned to our rooms.

I watched Andi as she swiped her card. Soft dark waves framed her face and the expressive lips I loved so much.

“Sleep well.”

“You too,” she said, hesitating at the door.

Was she going to invite me in? I glanced around the hall. Most of our fellow jurors had already escaped into their rooms, probably ready for a break from the pressures of the day. The faint hope for an invitation died as she slipped inside her own room, shutting the door softly behind her.

Without my phone or the TV for distraction, all I had to think about was the work I was missing and our case. And Andi. So close, and yet so far away. We’d been carefully monitored at dinner, contributing to the dour atmosphere. Moving into deliberations, unsure where the others stood on the verdict but not able to talk about it, added extra tension to the evening. I couldn’t believe we needed an extra day. To me, the evidence was obvious. We could all be returning to our jobs and regular lives right now if we’d been on the same page. My time away from dispatch had been what I needed to help me reset. Oddly enough, hearing testimony on the emergency response, knowing it got Mrs. Larson help quickly, had reminded me that though I’d never see the results of my guidance, it was critical. If it weren’t for the need for more deliberations, I could be free to return to work and date Andi for real. Touch her. See her.

The knock on my door served as a welcome distraction. Opening it to find Andi standing in a T-shirt and sweatpants brought an involuntary smile to my face. She reminded me of teenage Andi, swimming in the too-large clothing.

“Everything okay?”

She shook her head with a grimace. “A pipe burst above my bed. It’s been dripping on my mattress all day. My bed is soaked.”

“Did you call the front desk?”

“No phone, remember? I walked down and spoke with them, but they don’t have any other rooms available. There’s a large group of railway maintenance staff in town for a project.”

“What about Ramon or Shelly?”

“I’m not sure what room either is in. I don’t want to knock on all the doors and disturb everyone.”

Of course, she’d thought of other solutions already. Andi was no fading flower. In other circumstances, I had no doubt she’d start knocking on doors until she found a dry bed. Swallowing hard, I didn’t know if I should be thankful or panicked that she’d known my room number. It made me, and my one bed, the logical choice.

“Do you want to stay here?” I asked, hoping my voice didn’t sound as hoarse to her ears as it did to mine.

Obviously, doofus.I’d be cheering the opportunity to sleep next to her if we didn’t still have to come to a decision tomorrow. But turning her away wasn’t an option. Not if she needed me. Lying down next to Andi would test my honorable intentions to their limit. Even now, her soft curves called to me.

She nodded reluctantly. “It’s either that or sleep in the desk chair.”

“I can sleep on the floor.” More like, I could lie awake all night on the floor … but desperate times yadda, yadda.

“No, you can’t. We’re adults and well past floor sleepover age. There’s no reason to be uncomfortable.”

Right. Because sleeping beside the woman I had growing feelings for would be a total breeze. Last night’s sleeplessness would pale in comparison to the tossing and turning I’d do lying next to Andi.

She seemed to sense my discomfort. “If it’s too much to ask, I can keep knocking until I find Shelly and sleep with her.”

“No, you don’t need to do that.” I forced a grin. “I’m just thinking about how hard it’ll be for you to keep your hands to yourself.”

Her soft snort turned my smile into genuine mirth. That was the Andi I knew and loved. Competitive to a fault.

“Joke’s on you, Ty. I sleep like the dead. You have nothing to fear from these wandering hands.”