Page 32 of The Biker's Brother

“I guess we’ll see if we can get a room in the last town. What was the name of it?”

“Claremoor.”

By the time they made their way back to Claremoor it was dark, but even through the sheeting rain they could make out the bright pink neon VACANCY sign at the motel beside the road.

They pulled in under the overhang and went inside.

“We need two rooms. Connecting.”

The clerk smiled like that was funny.

“There’s a road block south of here. The bridge is out. Word’s gotten around and people are scrambling for a place to stay. We’ve got one room with a queen-sized bed.”

“We’ll take it,” Brandon said.

Cami was shaking her head vigorously.

“No. No, we won’t.”

“Yes. We will.” Brandon did his best impression of an authoritarian figure, but it didn’t faze her in the least. She continued shaking her head.

“Just a minute.” He held up a finger to the clerk and pulled her aside. “What’s the problem?”

She motioned between the two of them. “We can’t share a room.”

“Why not?”

“Because it would be extremely inappropriate and, I might add, unprofessional.”

“You’re worried that I may put moves on you.” She looked a little offended that he sounded like the idea was preposterous. “You have no worries on that score.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Oh really? And why’s that?”

She was daring him to say she wasn’t attractive or sexually desirable and he knew he’d have a hard time selling that. So what came out of his mouth next was even more preposterous.

“Because I’m not interested in girls.” He knew she’d believe him because he was telling the truth. He wasn’t interested in girls. He was interested in women. Like Camden Carmichael.

She took in a sharp breath. “You’re gay!”

It was a statement, not a question, and said loud enough that the clerk looked their way with an amused expression.

Brandon watched her face as he neither confirmed nor denied.

“Well, that explains a lot,” she said.

“What does that mean?”

“You’re not bi?” she whispered.

He looked her directly in the eyes.

“I am definitelynotbi. And what did you mean, ‘that explains a lot’?”

Just then the bell over the door rang and another weather-weary traveler trudged in. Brandon sprang for the check-in counter to get there first and spread his arms like he was claiming the entire length of it.

“We’ll take it,” Brandon announced in no uncertain terms.

The clerk smirked and pushed a registration card across the counter for Brandon to fill out.