having a good time.”
“You’re right. And I’ve always meant to see Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone.”
“And the Grand Canyon.”
Her eyes widened. “Xavier, no. There is enjoying ourselves on the way to Oregon, and there is driving around aimlessly. We don’t have time to drive two days south and then backtrack. Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, not both.”
Without a word, he walked around to his side of the car, climbed in and started the engine. No point in worrying about a fight that was at least a day away, or wondering what he’d want to do then. He’d be able to talk her into anything.
Because they wanted exactly the same thing.
Chapter Nine
“We are not staying in South Dakota for four days.” Jaime’s whisper had the passion of a scream and she punctuated her tirade by shoving him squarely in the back.
Xavier continued to ignore her rant and climb the stairs in the remodeled flophouse. According to the package he’d signed them up for, they’d be staying in a suite crafted from five flop rooms used by miners, complete with period décor. The lobby, doubling as an antique mercantile, had been perfect Old West, so he was eager to get to their room and see what they’d envisioned for the Mayor’s Suite.
“We’re only halfway across the country. We cannot stew here forever.” Her voice rose into the audible region as they climbed the second flight.
“It’s a package deal, J’aime. Four days lodging and unlimited attractions.” He reached the landing and turned to watch her dark ponytail sway while she climbed the final few steps. He forced a stern look on his face to keep from smiling at how flustered she’d been when she found out what he’d booked. “You could try to be gracious about it.”
“I’ve got a deal for you. I’ll be gracious if you’ll be reasonable.”
“I don’t make out well in your deals.” He turned and pushed the antique key into the lock.
“This place is giving me a serious case of déjà vu .”
“Relax, there are no ghosts. We both asked. So, if you want to spend the night in my bed you’ll have to think up a new excuse.”
He pushed the heavy door open and felt his cheeks lift in a smile as he stepped back in time. From the vintage photographs on the walls to the wide-plank wood floor, the owners had spared no detail in creating the perfect image of the life of a very affluent Old West official. The suite wasn’t large, but every inch had been employed to create the effect.
A long bar hugged one wall, polished to a gleaming shine with two burnished barstools beneath. An ornate wooden accent table sat between two leather-upholstered wingbacks. But the bed had been what called him to this particular suite. A king-sized round mattress with custom upholstery. It made him want to scour the town for burlesque lingerie so he could talk Jaime into completing the feel of decadent opulence.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Jaime dropped her bag to the floor and slipped past the bedroom to a narrow bathroom and back again. “There is only one bed.”
“We only used one last night.” He stepped to the wall to get a better look at the elaborate stained-glass window. “And the night before that.”
“Other worldly influences caused the first incident, and you were being nice and rational last night. Today, you’re anchoring our forward motion in South Dakota of all places.” She put her hands on her round hips, pulling the material of her buttery cotton sundress tighter across her breasts. “We don’t have to stop here at all. We could head out to Mt. Rushmore right now and have an hour of exploring before sunset. I don’t mind driving to Yellowstone tonight.”
“J’aime, you need to slow down. You’re not ready to go back to Oregon.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
He shrugged. “You have the means to get home on your own at any time. You don’t want to. I don’t want you to. So why bother going until you know why you’re
“You’re right. And I’ve always meant to see Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone.”
“And the Grand Canyon.”
Her eyes widened. “Xavier, no. There is enjoying ourselves on the way to Oregon, and there is driving around aimlessly. We don’t have time to drive two days south and then backtrack. Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, not both.”
Without a word, he walked around to his side of the car, climbed in and started the engine. No point in worrying about a fight that was at least a day away, or wondering what he’d want to do then. He’d be able to talk her into anything.
Because they wanted exactly the same thing.
Chapter Nine
“We are not staying in South Dakota for four days.” Jaime’s whisper had the passion of a scream and she punctuated her tirade by shoving him squarely in the back.
Xavier continued to ignore her rant and climb the stairs in the remodeled flophouse. According to the package he’d signed them up for, they’d be staying in a suite crafted from five flop rooms used by miners, complete with period décor. The lobby, doubling as an antique mercantile, had been perfect Old West, so he was eager to get to their room and see what they’d envisioned for the Mayor’s Suite.
“We’re only halfway across the country. We cannot stew here forever.” Her voice rose into the audible region as they climbed the second flight.
“It’s a package deal, J’aime. Four days lodging and unlimited attractions.” He reached the landing and turned to watch her dark ponytail sway while she climbed the final few steps. He forced a stern look on his face to keep from smiling at how flustered she’d been when she found out what he’d booked. “You could try to be gracious about it.”
“I’ve got a deal for you. I’ll be gracious if you’ll be reasonable.”
“I don’t make out well in your deals.” He turned and pushed the antique key into the lock.
“This place is giving me a serious case of déjà vu .”
“Relax, there are no ghosts. We both asked. So, if you want to spend the night in my bed you’ll have to think up a new excuse.”
He pushed the heavy door open and felt his cheeks lift in a smile as he stepped back in time. From the vintage photographs on the walls to the wide-plank wood floor, the owners had spared no detail in creating the perfect image of the life of a very affluent Old West official. The suite wasn’t large, but every inch had been employed to create the effect.
A long bar hugged one wall, polished to a gleaming shine with two burnished barstools beneath. An ornate wooden accent table sat between two leather-upholstered wingbacks. But the bed had been what called him to this particular suite. A king-sized round mattress with custom upholstery. It made him want to scour the town for burlesque lingerie so he could talk Jaime into completing the feel of decadent opulence.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Jaime dropped her bag to the floor and slipped past the bedroom to a narrow bathroom and back again. “There is only one bed.”
“We only used one last night.” He stepped to the wall to get a better look at the elaborate stained-glass window. “And the night before that.”
“Other worldly influences caused the first incident, and you were being nice and rational last night. Today, you’re anchoring our forward motion in South Dakota of all places.” She put her hands on her round hips, pulling the material of her buttery cotton sundress tighter across her breasts. “We don’t have to stop here at all. We could head out to Mt. Rushmore right now and have an hour of exploring before sunset. I don’t mind driving to Yellowstone tonight.”
“J’aime, you need to slow down. You’re not ready to go back to Oregon.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
He shrugged. “You have the means to get home on your own at any time. You don’t want to. I don’t want you to. So why bother going until you know why you’re
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