Page 126 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

On the walk back to the motel, Jared took her elbow and Cat let him. She was still angry with him, but it was nice to feel his callused palm against her skin. It seemed like ages, instead of hours, had passed since he’d kissed her, and she missed the feel of his mouth against hers like a physical ache.

“I can take care of myself, you know,” she said, trying to pick a fight to cure her longing.

“I know,” he agreed.

“Then why...?”

“Because Cameron asked me to,” he said.

They entered the motel room silently. Cat paused. Lucy always greeted her at the door, but there was no sign of her.

“Lucy,” she called. “Lucy.”

Then she heard it. A grinding noise. Cat peered between the beds and found Lucy busily gnawing her rubber bone.

“Jared, did you give Lucy her chewy toy?” she asked.

“No, why?”

“Because she has it and I didn’t give it to her,” Cat said.

“Maybe she found it in your bag,” he said.

“Maybe,” Cat agreed, unconvinced. “Hey, why is my bag on your side of the room?”

“I don’t know,” Jared said. “Why is my bag on your side of the room?”

“This is weird,” Cat said.

“You don’t suppose...?” Jared asked, looking pointedly at Lucy.

“Nah,” they said together.

They undressed in silence with the bedspread hanging between them like a physical manifestation of the unresolved issues between them.

Good-nights were short. The light was flicked off with a snap. Cat lay in bed, studying the ceiling above her. It had all been lies, she thought. He didn’t hitchhike. There was no cabin in Maine. He probably had money, too. She frowned.

If he had money, then there was no reason for them to be sharing this room now, except that she’d miss him if he wasn’t there. But why hadn’t he taken a room of his own? He’d been uncomfortable sharing a room since day one. Now that his secret was out, he could get another room if he wanted. Why hadn’t he? She stared into the dark. Unless he just didn’t want to.

And if he didn’t want to was it because...No, it couldn’t be. She glanced at the clock. The number on the digital clock changed, and she sighed. The caffeine was keeping her awake. So much for defiance, she thought. She turned onto her side. Her thoughts refused to be shut off or ignored. Like an itch that needed scratching her thoughts turned back to Jared. Why hadn’t he gotten a separate room?

Perhaps it had been an oversight, but she doubted it. Jared was a watcher. He noticed things. He wasn’t one to overlook the details. Maybe, just maybe, he’d been telling the truth and he did care about her and was just as attracted to her as she was to him. The thought flooded her with heat. She flopped onto her back. He was lying just four feet away, probably in boxers and nothing else. She had to know. Did he want her as badly as she wanted him? And if so, what would it take to make him do something about it?

She pushed the sheet aside, and sat up in bed. She’d been saying she wanted to prove her independence and take care of herself. Well, wasn’t going after what she wanted a big part of that? And she wanted Jared. He’d lied to her, betrayed her trust, and conned her. He owed her full disclosure.

She left Lucy sleeping on her bed and ducked around the bedspread to Jared’s side of the room. She stood by his bed as silent as a shadow, just watching him. He was lying on his side, facing her, with one arm under his pillow and the sheet knotted up around his waist. Cat reached out to touch him, but her fingers never made contact with his skin.

His hand shot out and clamped about her wrist. “Don’t!” he said.

“Oh!” she started, but Jared didn’t release her wrist. “You’re awake.”

“Your tossing and turning would keep the dead awake,” he said.

“Sorry,” she lied and took a step closer to the bed.

“What’s the matter, coffee keeping you up?” he asked.

She let his sarcasm slide. She sank onto the bed, and used her free hand to trace a finger across his chest. “Among other things.”