hang out with you, and that’s not using you. I’ll spend time with my family, but I also want to have a little fun on this trip. Okay?”
“Okay. Except I’m not supposed to be here.”
“But you are, so let’s make the most of it.”
We go into the lobby lounge for a drink. A bunch of convention people are in there, and we run into the group we talked to earlier at the pool. They invite us to sit with them. Molly and I exchange a “why not” look, and I pull chairs up to their table.
Once again, I’m the center of attention, but, with amusement, I watch Molly run interference for me. It’s like she’s protecting my right to privacy. It’s kind of sweet. I don’t mind talking to fans, as long as it’s not all about me, and it seems she knows that. She distracts Justin by talking about trivia.
“No, no,” she says to Justin. “It wasn’t Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who started the fire.”
“Yes, it was.”
Molly shakes her head. “No, that’s a myth. Nobody knows exactly what started the fire.”
“Everyone knows what started the fire,” Justin argues. “The cow that kicked over a lamp.”
“I’m from Chicago,” she says. “I should know.”
I hold up a hand and shake my head at Justin. “Don’t argue with her. She’s always right.”
She shoots me an exasperated but amused glance. “Yes. I am.”
The others laugh, because she’s so damn cute.
Eventually we call it a night and go back up to the room. And once again, I’m faced with the predicament of sharing a room with Molly.
“Do you want to take the bed tonight?” I ask, because this morning she commented that she was stiff and sore as she stretched and worked kinks out of her back with boner inducing moves. “We can take turns sleeping on the chaise.”
“There’s no way you can sleep on that. Let’s do what you suggested…share the bed. We can make a wall of pillows down the middle.”
I swallow a sigh. “Okay.”
It doesn’t matter. So she’ll be a little closer. I still can’t touch her. Or think about her. Or think about touching her.
No playing five-on-one tonight though, since she’ll be right in the same bed. But that’s okay. I don’t need that. I’m fine.
We take turns using the bathroom again and I’m trying to disregard the intimacy and closeness of the hotel room. It’s hard to ignore the aroma she leaves in the bathroom, though…that fresh and totally addicting grapefruit and flowers scent. It’s hard to ignore her dressed in that night shirt, her face freshly washed and dusted with golden freckles. It’s hard to ignore the way she bites her lip as she studies her phone.
What’s she reading? More about Steve on their honeymoon?
I catch the flick of her eyelashes as she glances my way once, then again. I’m bare-chested as I kneel on the bed and stuff pillows beneath the duvet. Her glance flicks to my thighs.
I’m not the only one trying to pretend indifference at sharing a room.
We settle beneath the duvet. Molly turns out the lamp on her side of the bed, sinking the room into velvety darkness. The fan of the air conditioner is the only sound. My body is alert, my senses hyperactive. I focus on slow breaths. My obstinate dick is half hard again, goddammit. In the dark, I’m picturing Molly down by the pool, that turquoise bikini plumping up her sweet tits and sitting low on her hips, her long legs bare. Christ.
Maybe one more night after this. The convention ends Wednesday and hopefully another room will open up.
But can Molly afford it? This resort is, like, five hundred bucks a night. That’s pretty steep for a schoolteacher. But I don’t know her financial situation.
Shit.
I close my eyes with resolve. There is no sweet, soft woman in bed with me. I’m alone. I need to sleep.
Then Molly lets out a soft little snuffling noise and a sigh, rolls over, tugging the duvet, and I’m back on alert.
The beach sounded like a good idea. Until Molly takes off the shorts and tank top she’s wearing to reveal that bathing suit again. There’s a little bow between her breasts, and one on each hip. It would be so easy to pluck one of those ties and whisk that bottom off…
I need a quick dip in the Pacific Ocean, which I know is going to be cold. Perfect.
I leave Molly settling onto one of the resort’s lounge chairs under a white umbrella. This little