Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(45)

“Listen,” he said. “Did I mention I’m staying here tonight? I probably shouldn’t be driving. I’m going to check in and then come back here. We could have a drink or seltzer together, or I could take you upstairs, if you want to. We could watch a movie or something. Talk. Have drinks and not worry about anything. Whatever you like. Be less alone.”

“That would be completely nuts,” she said. “You do this sort of thing a lot?”

He shook his head. “Not in years. When I was younger, I was game for a lot of stupid things, but then eventually you grow up a little. Something like this didn’t occur to me when I came over here, bought you a drink. What do you think?”

“I think you’re lying,” she said. “And, it’s not a good idea.”

“I’m telling the truth. I’m not drunk, but I shouldn’t be driving. I’m getting a room.”

“And when you come back and I’m not here?”

“You’d be playing it smart, I guess. But don’t go. Wait for me and if you’d rather not go upstairs, let’s stay here a while longer, close the place down, then I’ll get you a cab, just to be safe. I like you. We’ll just sit here, talk. Laugh. Maybe kiss.”

“In a bar?” she asked, but she smiled.

He laughed. “Look around. There’s no one here,” he said. He gave her hand a squeeze and stood from the table. He leaned toward her and let his lips graze her cheek. “I’ll be right back. Wait for me—I’m not going to force you to go upstairs, you’re completely safe.” He jerked his head over his shoulder toward the bartender. “He’s watching, and he knows me—I’m certainly not going to drag you out of here.” He smiled. “Like I said, I have very good manners.”

He left the bar and did exactly as he said he would, checking in to the hotel. It was late, there was no one else around the registration desk and it took just minutes. They gave him a king-size bed in a no-smoking room with a Jacuzzi tub and a wet bar. He asked for a shaving kit and when he popped the lid on the little cardboard box, he found the essentials—disposable razor, shaving cream, toothpaste, brush, comb, condoms. Then he walked back to the bar and looked in. Of course, she was gone, as any woman with an ounce of sense would be. He was thoroughly disappointed; he shouldn’t have left the bar so soon, alone. But he should have expected this—he knew in five minutes she was intelligent and classy; such a woman wouldn’t go to a stranger’s hotel room.

But he had hoped she’d stay in the bar a while longer.

Cam could have canceled the room and gone home once he saw that his lame attempt at getting a funny, sexy, beautiful stranger into his hotel room had been rebuffed, but he wasn’t on call and didn’t have to work in the morning. He decided to take the room anyway, maybe turn on a movie and fall asleep here, rather than listen to the deafening silence in his too-big house. He walked toward the elevators and there, standing right in front of them, beautiful in a soft, gold silk cocktail dress, was the perfect stranger. Brandy. His eyes glowed with warmth. He could feel his smile reaching all the way into his chest.

Cameron walked toward her and took her hand in his. He leaned down and put a soft kiss on her forehead. The elevator doors opened and he pulled her inside, taking her gently into his arms. “You’re trembling,” he whispered. “Are you scared?”

“To death,” she said. “I never intended to do this.”

“You don’t have to be scared. I’d love it if you came with me, but you certainly don’t have to,” he said.

“This could be the biggest, stupidest mistake of my life.” Then she laughed. “Or at least the second biggest,” she added softly.

“You’ll see, it’s all right. I don’t want a woman who doesn’t want me. We already know we have plenty to talk about….” He lifted her chin and gently touched her lips with his in a very soft, brief kiss. He kissed her once more, lightly, playing against her lips. “You can change your mind and leave anytime. You won’t get any trouble from me.”

“What if it’s the biggest mistake of your life?” she asked him.

“I’m not worried. You’re beautiful and sweet and I like you. I don’t care.” He kissed her again, a little more deeply. Then the doors opened and he led her to the room. Once inside, he tossed aside the shaving kit and put his hands on her face, threading his fingers into her hair, pulling her gently to his mouth. He moved over her lips sensuously, tugging at them with his, running his tongue around them. When her tongue joined his in play, he groaned his pleasure and pushed his tongue in to taste the inside of her mouth; she tasted like champagne and strawberries. Then he felt her tongue enter his mouth, slipping around. Heaven. He couldn’t breathe.

“Scotch,” she said.

“I can change that taste to Crest, if you’d like me to,” he offered.

“I like scotch,” she said, leaning in to his kiss again. “You taste good.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “God,” he whispered against her lips. “I feel better already. How do you feel?”

“Crazy. Completely crazy,” she said.

“Yeah,” he agreed, laughing. “This is pretty crazy. But I like it so far.”

She molded herself against him, her arms going around his neck to hold him. She felt his hand glide down her back, over her butt to rest there and pull her closer still. His arms were strong, firm, but not confining. She could have wriggled out of his grasp without the slightest struggle. Instead of feeling frightened, she began to feel secure. Loved. Of course she knew it wasn’t love—it was nothing more than human contact. But while her life was spiraling out of control, this handsome stranger felt like an anchor.