Page 23 of Shades of Mercy

She blinked. “Don’t they all say that?”

“Depends on whotheyare, I guess.”

“Players,” she said in a sing-song voice. “Mateo swore he would never be ready to commit until Adriana waltzed into his life.”

“And look where they are now. Anyway, the things I’ve witnessed have made me an old man,” he said solemnly. “Someone my age doesn’t want to be with an old man.”

“You’re being dramatic. Many men and women who’ve served in the military have relationships. Mateo doesn’t talk about his time in the SEALs, though. He says he’d rather not.”

“It’s easier not to share some things.” He slowed the truck as they entered a small town.

“Where are we?” She looked around and saw only a rundown motel with free Wi-Fi and a dingy-looking diner that was closed.

“About thirty minutes outside of Shades Cove. We’ll stay here tonight. It’ll give us some time to make sure our story is believable. You go onto the ranch wearing that dress and they’ll think I met you on some corner and threw you into a mud puddle for a bath.” He winked.

“Wow. Was it difficult to come up with that joke?”

“Probably about as easy as it was when someone told you sequins are attractive.”

She gasped, “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You’re not the sequins type.”

He drove the truck through the parking lot, and they hit every rut known to humankind. “Are you hitting the potholes on purpose?”

“How’d you guess? I enjoy the scenery.” His gaze dropped to her chest for a millisecond.

She pulled the neckline of the dress up higher, but it did little good. “You want to stay here at the Bates Motel?” The motel looked straight out of a scary movie.

“Yes, here.” He parked between two cars.

“Is this up for debate?”

He shut off the engine. “You have two options. Sleep in the truck or a room. Choice is yours. I can sleep anywhere. I’m not a princess.”

“I’d rather have a bed, thank you.”

“You stay. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

“There goes my plan of taking a midnight stroll through a cornfield.”

“Glad we have that worked out.” He slid out.

He entered the lobby through the double doors, and Mercy watched as he spoke to the woman at the counter, who looked quite flustered. While Jag might not be labeled charming, he certainly had a ruggedly handsome appeal.

When he returned, he said, “Our room is just around the corner, and there’s a back entrance.”

“Our room?” Why did he say “room” instead of “rooms”?

“Yeah,our room.” He circled the building and parked under the security light.

“We’re sharing the same room?”

He didn’t even look at her when he said, “I promised Mateo I wouldn’t leave your side.”

She should have demanded a second room, but why couldn’t she get her tongue to work? How many times had she fantasized about sharing a room with Jag again?

She climbed out of the truck, and he grabbed her bag from the back and even carried it for her.