Test Drive - Samantha Chase Page 0,65

to dinner. Willow had Googled local hotels, and they found one with a good rating that was only fifteen minutes from where they were. And the entire time, they had been happy and carefree and…two completely different people from the ones who were just snapping at one another.

What the hell changed?

The bathroom was steamy, and standing and staring at himself in the mirror wasn’t getting him anywhere, so he stripped and stepped under the hot spray. It took several minutes for him to relax and a few more minutes for him to reach for the soap and shampoo. He cursed as he used the hotel brand that was stocked in the bathroom because he hadn’t taken the time to go through his luggage.

Which reminded him…

He hadn’t stopped to get himself a change of clothes either.

It wouldn’t be the worst thing to throw his jeans back on for just a few minutes so he could get his suitcase. No big deal.

By the time he stepped out of the shower, he felt much better, and if Willow was still awake, he figured he’d be the one to go to sleep early. It wouldn’t kill him to get a good night’s sleep. Lord knew it had been quite a few nights since that had happened. Between Nat’s floor, Katie’s couch, and then sharing a bed with Willow, it was shocking he wasn’t dead on his feet by now.

He toweled off and sighed as he picked his jeans up off the floor and slid them on. It was pointless to button them, so he scooped the rest of his clothes up and walked back out into the room. Willow was sitting on her bed…

Shit.

She was crying.

Well, she did warn you on the first day that she cried easily. Who knew she’d wait to prove that until now?

Walking over to his suitcase and fighting the urge to go to her, he asked, “You okay?”

With a sniffle, she looked up at him and her eyes went a little wide. “Um…yeah.” But then she shook her head. “No. No, I’m not okay.”

Levi pulled a pair of shorts out of his bag but didn’t make a move toward her. “What’s going on?”

It took her a minute to get herself together, and then she stood and faced him. “I hate this,” she finally said. “I thought it was going to be okay, that I could handle it, but…I can’t.”

His heart started to race, and he began to sweat. Did he really want to hear the whole “Let’s be friends” speech followed by the “It’s not you, it’s me” one?

Hell no.

“Willow…”

But she wasn’t listening. Instead, she walked over to him and didn’t stop until they were practically toe to toe.

She was killing him.

Before he knew it, one of her hands was on his chest. She wouldn’t meet his gaze and he had to grit his teeth to keep from asking her what she was doing.

“I don’t want our last night to be spent like this. Fighting,” she clarified, studying his chest. “Ever since we met, you’ve always been so sweet and gentle and kind to me. I really thought I had blown it earlier with the car, but…even then…you were incredibly gracious.”

Just say we’re going to be friends and put me out of my misery!

Then those big, beautiful eyes slowly looked up at him and Levi knew he’d never be able to think of Willow as just a friend ever again. It wasn’t possible. Hell, he had no idea how they were going to move forward from this, but…he’d put on a brave face and do the honorable thing and get her home without putting any pressure on her. And then…well, then he had no idea what he was going to do. Probably bury himself back in his work like he had for the last two years.

If nothing else, she gave him an incredible break from the monotonous existence he’d been living for so long. He should be thankful for that.

Her hand smoothed down to his stomach and he couldn’t help the low moan that escaped his lips. “Willow…”

Placing a finger over his lips, she shook her head. “We have one more night, Levi,” she said quietly. “We agreed to be boyfriend and girlfriend for this trip and…the trip isn’t over yet.”

Um…say what now?

Looking down, he saw her swallow hard. “I’ll get another room if that’s what you want or I’ll sleep in the other bed and never bring this up again, but…I really want–need–to be with you tonight.” She