Side Trip(18)

“Nah,” he said, standing. “We’re staying at the same one.”

“Oh.” She blinked, surprised at first. But it did make sense. The location to the bar was convenient given how late it was after his performance and a full day of driving.

He smiled and extended a hand toward the exit, inviting her to lead the way. It was a short walk over. The sky was clear, sprinkled with stars, and the desert night pleasantly warm. The motel had two floors where the room doors opened to the parking lot. Joy’s was on the first level three doors down from the office. Dylan still had to check in. She stopped at her door and offered him her hand. “It was nice meeting you, Dylan.”

He took her hand, and to Joy’s surprise he stepped closer. She could smell his spicy cologne and his salty perspiration from performing. She could feel his breath ruffle her hair, and a nervous flutter in her chest, as he leaned down and murmured against her ear. She held her breath. “Good night, Joy. Thanks for the ride.” He softly kissed her temple.

“Goodbye, Dylan,” she said.

He smiled and walked away.



The next morning Joy scanned her motel room one last time for any personal belongings she might have forgotten. Finding nothing, she picked up her suitcase and left the room. She closed the door behind her and stopped. Across the parking lot Dylan leaned against her car, aviator glasses on, guitar and duffel at his feet.

“Good morning,” he said, seeing her.

“Good morning,” she said.

Did he need a ride to the rental car agency? She should have offered last night. Their encounter had been brief, but admittedly, she missed him. After he kissed her good night, leaving her feelings in a warm tangle, she’d spent her entire bedtime routine—washing her face, brushing her teeth, selecting the following day’s outfit—thinking about Dylan, his vocals and that good night kiss on her temple. Then she thought of Mark, which made her feel guilty thinking about Dylan in the first place. She stopped thinking about either and focused on reviewing her planned route for today’s leg of her journey.

Joy walked across the parking lot. Dylan pushed away from her car.

“So, I was thinking.” He sauntered toward her, hands in his back pockets. “We’re both headed to New York with a similar travel schedule.”

“What are you suggesting?” Joy asked warily when he met her halfway.

“Seems pointless to drive two cars when we can ride together, don’t you think?”

Joy bit into her lower lip. Mark had offered to go with her. In fact, they’d fought over him going. He wanted to. She didn’t. She insisted on doing the journey alone. She also preferred driving alone.

As for Dylan, she hadn’t expected to see him this morning, let alone ever again.

“I’ll pay for gas,” Dylan said, sweetening his offer.

“I don’t know . . .”

“Let me ride with you to New York and you can check off another item on your sister’s list,” Dylan negotiated, changing tactics.

“What do you mean?”

He slipped his sunglasses down his nose, peered down at her, and slowly grinned. “I dare you to take me to New York.”

“That’s not fair.” Joy huffed. Dylan couldn’t be both make a new friend and do something daring items on Judy’s list. That would be cheating.

He moved in closer and lowered his voice. “I double dare you, Joy.” The rumble in his throat shot straight to her stomach and made her feel all sorts of things she shouldn’t be feeling.

She started to object when she remembered the reason she was on this trip. She could get through Judy’s list that much faster. She could get to Mark sooner. Anticipation fluttered through her chest and spread outward. Mark would be ecstatic if she arrived a day earlier.

“Fine. All right.” Joy held up her hands, giving in. “But we’re setting some ground rules.”

“I can do rules. We had them on the tour bus.”

“What sort of rules?” she asked, hooked.

“I’ll tell you when we get on the road. What have you got in mind?”

Joy went to her car and popped the trunk. “Rule number one: we don’t exchange last names.”

“Too late. You already know mine.”

“But you don’t know mine, so please don’t ask.” The last thing she wanted to risk was Dylan showing up on her porch stoop or sending an email because he found her on the internet. She’d have to explain to Mark who Dylan was and how they met.

Dylan broke eye contact and his shoulders slumped, but he agreed. “If that’s the way you want it, I promise I won’t ask. What’s rule number two?”

Joy dropped in her bag and closed the trunk. “What happens on the road stays on the road.”

“What are you expecting to happen, Joy?” His tone was teasing. The look in his eyes wasn’t. It was hot.

She scowled, because that look reminded her of that kiss on her temple she shouldn’t be thinking about. “Nothing that’s anywhere close to what’s on your mind at this very second.”

“Food, Joy. My mind is on food. I’m famished. Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

She rolled her eyes. “No, but nobody can know that we drove together. Got it?”

He frowned. “Why?”