Page 32 of Risky Obsession

Kane exited the creaking door carrying a large skeleton key attached to a wooden keyring shaped into a number eight. “Let’s get our bags.”

At the back of the car, he popped the trunk.

“How can they only have one room available?” I said. “The town looks deserted.”

“Apparently, there’s an antique festival starting tomorrow in the next town over, and they get the overflow guests.”

“Right.” I tugged my case from the trunk.

“What’s wrong, Tory? Don’t you want to share with me?”

How can he have such a spectacular grin?

“Actually,” I said, “I kinda like my own space.”

“So you can fart in peace?”

“Really? We’re at the fart jokes already?”

He chuckled and I hated how much I enjoyed watching him laugh.

“Don’t make me hurt you, Kane.”

“Oooh. This is going to be fun.” He shut the trunk.

I pushed back through the heavy door and the elderly couple had gone. Kane gestured for me to follow him up the rickety staircase.

“Second floor, room eight,” he said as we ascended the narrow staircase. The floorboards beneath the weathered carpet creaked under our feet.

As we entered the tiny room, my chest caved. The dim light from the bedside lamp cast shadows on the peeling wallpaper, making the cramped room feel even more claustrophobic. My jaw dropped. “One bed. Are you kidding me?”

There wasn’t even a sofa for one of us to sleep on.

Kane chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation.

I strode to the window, tugged aside the weary lace curtain, and tried to push up the casement to let in some fresh air. When it wouldn’t budge, I yanked off my jacket, attempting to hold back the wave of heat coursing through my body.

“Hey, we’ll make it work.” Kane was way too chirpy. “It’s just one night.”

I tossed my jacket onto a rickety chair next to a tiny table beneath the window and bit back my frustration. But my mind raced with unsettling thoughts, and the weight of my lies pressed down on me like a concrete blanket.

This was going to be a test of my undercover skills.

“Okay then.” I strode to the bed and sat. The mattress was much softer than it looked. “I’ll take this side.”

“So you can run out the door quicker?”

“Something like that.”

“Cool. FYI, I sleep in the nude.”

“Not tonight you don’t, buddy. Unless you want to lose your twinkie.”

He roared with laughter and sprawled across the sagging mattress with a grin, arms folded behind his head. “Got any preferences for sleeping arrangements? We could sleep head-to-toe, like kids at a slumber party?”

“Very funny.” I tried to scowl but couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. His teasing was cute, and way too attractive.

Those piercing blue eyes seemed to analyze me.