Taste (Cloverleigh Farms, #7)(46)

So really, staying one more night was the responsible thing to do, right? And as long as I could get her back by her first tasting tomorrow, which was usually at eleven, she might not even be mad. In fact, she might prefer the safer drive. She’d probably even thank me if she knew how protective I was being. She’d liked it when I said I’d always have her back, right? That’s what this was. I was keeping her safe.

Of course, that was total bullshit, and I just wanted her to myself for one more night, but what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Besides, if she ever found out the truth and hated my guts for the rest of our lives, so be it. I had the feeling it would be worth it.

And really, what was my crime—wanting to be alone with her so badly I was willing to lie for it?

With my mind made up, I got out of the car, strapped into my snowshoes, and set off down the road to the gas station.





TWELVE





ELLIE





When I woke up, I was disoriented. The surroundings were unfamiliar—the room didn’t smell like home, the bed didn’t feel like mine, and the total silence was strange.

I sat up and blinked. The room was gloomy and cold and unfamiliar, but as my eyes wandered left to right—the kitchenette, the knotty pine walls, the buffalo plaid drapes pulled across the window—the memories filled in.

I wasn’t home—I was at the Pineview Motel with Gianni. We’d spent the night together. But where was he now? Shivering, I made my way over to the window and peeked out.

His SUV was still buried in the snow, which blanketed everything in sight and continued to fall. The wind whistled at the windowpanes, and the neon motel sign cast an eerie glow through the white.

“Gianni?” I called, walking toward the bathroom. But the door was open, and he wasn’t in there. I checked the closet and saw that his coat was gone, as were his boots from the rug by the door. He must have walked somewhere.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I perched on the edge of the bed and listened to the howling wind, hoping Gianni was okay. Why would he leave without letting me know where he was going?

I grabbed my phone to see if he’d texted, but he hadn’t. My mother had called again, and Winnie had sent a message saying lunch had gone great, Mr. Lupo had arrived and was working with Felicity on dinner, and if anything else happened with Gianni I had to text her right away.

I plugged my phone back in and sat there biting my thumbnail. What if it got dark and he wasn’t back? What if he got lost? What would I do if he didn’t return?

I was still huddled there, my heart drumming with concern, when the door opened and Gianni came in on an icy gust of wind, several white plastic bags in his hands. He slammed the door behind him, but a bunch of snow drifted in anyway.

I jumped to my feet, taking in his red, ruddy face. “Where were you?”

“Hunting and gathering. Acquiring provisions.”

“Where?”

“First, I went to the gas station.” He traipsed over to the kitchenette and set the bags on the counter, getting snow all over the floor. “Plenty of canned and dry goods, although woefully lacking in fresh organic produce and artisanal cheeses. But I managed to find enough things for dinner.”

“Why do we need dinner? What happened to the tow truck?”

He shrugged. “Can’t get to us until tomorrow.”

“Shit!” I put my hands in my hair. “You mean we’re stranded here another night?”

“Looks like it. But the snow is going to slow down after midnight, and the towing guy said he’ll get to us first thing in the morning. And don’t worry, we have groceries and good wine, and I will prepare and serve a delicious emergency feast for you.” He pulled out a box of pasta and a couple cans of tomato sauce from the bags. “When I stopped in the office to book another night, I even asked Rose if I could borrow a few things from her pantry, and she graciously provided them free of charge. You might not dine like a queen tonight, but I’ll do my best to make you feel like one.”

I folded my arms, watching as he stuck a couple things in the mini-fridge. “Thanks.”

“And . . .” He opened another bag and pulled out a sweatshirt. Unfolding it, he held it up against his chest. “Tada. Clean clothes. I bought one for each of us.”

I laughed as I took in the logo on the front. “Merch from the Pineview Motel?”

“Exactly. Now we’ll have a souvenir of our romantic time here together.” He tossed the sweatshirt at me. “Sorry about the size, XL is all they had.”

“It’s fine. Thank you.”

“And.” He pulled out a pair of navy blue snow pants. “They’re from the motel lost and found, but Rose says they’re clean. She washed them.”

“Thanks.” I took them from him. “Am I supposed to sleep in them?”

“No. But I thought we could take a walk.” He balled up the empty plastic bags and stuck them in his duffel. “Unless you’d rather stay in, get naked, and let me do unspeakable things to your body.”

“Let’s take a walk,” I said, stepping into the snow pants. “I could use some fresh air.”

“Sounds good to me. Maybe we’ll find some truffles in the forest I can use for our dinner.”