Taste (Cloverleigh Farms, #7)(21)

“We don’t have much choice. I can’t drive in this.”

“Okay.”

“And I think we should get some groceries. Given what’s coming our way, things might not be open tomorrow. And who knows how long we’ll be stuck here?”

Her eyes widened. “You really think it’s that bad?”

I shrugged. “I can’t say for sure. And I’m starving.”

“Me too.” Groaning, she dropped her head back on the seat. “God, why didn’t I cancel that stupid dinner?”

I opened my mouth and closed it again. No point in saying I told you so—she was miserable enough.

“And why did you have to talk so much? If you hadn’t stood around regaling them with the story of how you dunked me fifty times, we’d be home by now.”

Okay, fuck nice.

“Excuse me, but I was the one who said you shouldn’t try to drive three hours north in a blizzard.”

She fumed silently for ten seconds, but she couldn’t argue.

“Come on,” I said, taking the edge off my tone. “It won’t do us any good to fight. Let’s grab some snacks. We’re both hungry and tired.”

We hurried into the store, where I waved at my friend Milton behind the counter. After grabbing some chips, cookies, protein bars, a toothbrush and toothpaste, I placed everything on the counter and found Ellie in an aisle stocked with protein bars and bags of granola. She studied each package, occasionally picking one up, reading the ingredients, and putting it back, like we had all day.

“What are you looking for?” I asked her impatiently.

“I don’t know. Something that hasn’t been on this shelf for two years?”

“Pick something, okay? I want to get over to that motel and see if they have room.”

She looked at me. “What will we do if they don’t?”

“Just hurry up.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Stop bossing me around. I’ve had enough of you.”

“Well, sorry to say, we’re stuck with each other for at least the night, maybe longer.”

“Great.” She snatched a couple of bars off the nearest shelf without even looking at them. “There. Happy?”

“Do you want me to buy a toothbrush for you?” I asked.

“I have one. But I need something I can wash my face with.”

“Go find it.”

She stalked over to another aisle, and we met up at the register, where she refused to look at me as she set her things on the counter—two protein bars, a bar of Ivory soap, and a giant bag of M&M’s.

Milton eyed us with interest. “You two married?”

“No,” we both said at the same time.

I looked at her. “We just work together.”

Ellie stared right back at me. “We don’t even like each other.”

Milton chuckled. “Heck of a night to be out with somebody you don’t even like.”

“I’m having that kind of day,” she told him.

“Well, hope your luck turns around soon.”

I grabbed the plastic bags full of junk food. “You said the motel is up the road?”

Milton nodded. “Yup. The Pineview Motel. Got a big sign. Normally, I’d say you can’t miss it, but tonight might be another story.”

“We’ll find it.”

“It’s run by Rose and Bob Jenkins. Good people. They’ll take care of you.”

“Thanks, Milton.”

He lifted a hand. “Be safe.”





SIX





ELLIE





The Pineview Motel was one of those classic roadside motels with a big old sign out front boasting about its kitchenettes and swimming poo.

“I think someone stole their letter L,” Gianni said as we pulled up in front of the office.

“I certainly hope so.” I tried to relax—I’d been holding my breath for the entire five minutes it had taken us to crawl half a mile up the road, hazards blinking, both of Gianni’s hands gripping the wheel.

He put the SUV in park. “I’ll go in.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to be alone out here.” I looked around—nothing but snow-covered evergreens surrounded the motel. “We’re in the middle of the woods. Someone with an axe could jump in the car and abduct me.”

He laughed. “The way you jabber, they’d bring you right back.”

We got out of the car and entered the lobby, which was small and shabby, but clean and tidy. It even smelled nice, like hot chocolate. The grandmotherly lady behind the desk looked up in surprise. “Oh,” she said. “Did you decide not to cancel?”

“Cancel?” I glanced back at Gianni, but he looked as confused as I was.

“Are you the Witherspoons?” she asked.

“Depends,” Gianni said. “Does that mean we could have a room for the night?”

“Two rooms,” I put in. I wasn’t about to spend the night in a confined space with Gianni Lupo.

“Oh, dear. We definitely don’t have two rooms,” said the woman, whose name tag read Rose. “In fact, an hour ago, we were totally booked. But we just had a cancellation.”