Page 22 of Marvelous

I felt him watching me from the corner of his eye, “You know this song?”

I nodded, “Yeah, it’s one of my favorites.”

“Travis was a legend.” He said.

I shook my head, “Hush. Don’t tempt fate.”

He chuckled.

Then he flipped his turn signal and pulled into a parking lot.

I watched as his eyes scanned the parking lot, then he asked, “Sure you have a reservation?”

I took in all the cars, bit my lip, and nodded.

He looked at me and said, “Okay. Well, fuck it. I’m going in with you. Have a feeling.”

I sighed, because I had the same feeling.

I went to open my door, but Alec said, “Another thing. Women never open their own doors. Hang on, okay?”

At my nod, he winked, then he got out of the truck.

And honey, hush.

The power of a wink.

I watched him as he rounded the hood, and then he was there opening my door.

“Thank you,” I said as I climbed down.

He nodded, then he offered me his hand, “Come on.”

And like a cool person, I placed my hand in his.

The moment his long fingers wrapped around mine, he gave a light squeeze as he guided me through the parking lot, and up to the front steps.

He shook his head, “Why the fuck didn’t George throw salt on these?”

He stepped carefully, then held my hand in such a way that he was prepared to keep me from falling or slipping.

The snow was coming down now, not hard, but decent enough.

Alec opened the door and then gestured for me to go in front of him, and then he closed it.

I was shaking the snow from my hair, as Alec was dusting off his shoulders, then he jerked his chin to the front counter.

I headed to it, and a man sat behind the desk with white hair that was combed over to make it look like he had more hair than he actually did.

He had on a blue flannel and a white shirt underneath.

He looked at Alec first and said, “Well, hey there, Alec. Been a while. Don’t have your usual room available.”

I frowned.

Then I looked up at Alec, whose cheeks were a light color of pink, then he coughed, “Been three years, George. And this isn’t about me.”

Then he looked down at me and mouthed, “Sorry about that.”