Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Well, you’re a better man than most,” she says.
We chat for the next hour and a half, until I finally see the lights of Fort Irwin in the distance. As I enter the small town, Faith seems to sit up straighter in her seat as she takes it all in.
“We’ll go on an official tour this weekend when you can actually see it in the daylight. It’s a pretty cool place,” I tell her, heading to the center of town where the hotel sits.
I park in the lot and shut off the ignition. “Ready?”
She nods, eagerness filling those alluring green eyes. “Ready.”
I step out of the car, Faith meeting me at the back before I can open her door. While I grab her large suitcase, she pulls her carry-on out and slips it over her shoulder. “I can get that.”
She shrugs and doesn’t make a move to hand over the duffle bag. “I’ve got it.”
I take her hand and we walk through the front entrance. When she realizes I’m bypassing the front desk and heading straight for the elevator, she gives me a curious look. “Don’t we need to register?”
I press the Call button, and the elevator immediately opens. “I did that before I went to pick you up,” I confess, waiting for her to enter the small car before following her inside.
“You did?”
I nod, refusing to tell her why. She’ll see in a few minutes. “You’re on the third floor. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t on the ground level, because it’s statistically the most unsafe floor in a hotel. Not that I anticipate trouble here. I mean, you’re near an Army base. Chances are this is one of the safest areas in the state.”
The door opens, and she steps out. “What room?”
“Three fifteen,” I reply, pulling a key card from my pocket and handing it over. The second one is tucked securely in my wallet.
We proceed down the short hall until we find her room. Faith slips the key card in the door and pushes it open. The room is already lit with soft lighting, since I turned on the floor lamp over by the table when I was here earlier. Aware we’d arrive well after dark, I didn’t want her to have to stumble around for a light. I also spot my surprise sitting on the bed, waiting.
I hang back, letting Faith take the lead as she checks out the room. It only takes a second before she notices the extra touches I added to the place she’ll be staying for the next two weeks.
She drops her bag onto the floor and walks toward the bed. “What’s this?” she asks almost absently to herself as she picks up the note. Once she reads the words, she turns and rewards me with a breathtaking smile. “Thank you, Chad.”
“You’re welcome,” I reply, even though saying more is on the tip of my tongue.
Faith pulls the gifts out of the basket. Sour Patch Kids, Goldfish crackers, and soft caramel candies—her favorites—along with a murder mystery book she’s been talking about reading before it comes to the big screen later this year. “I can’t believe you remembered,” she says, setting the book beside the snacks.
I don’t tell her I remember everything. Everything.
Next, she grabs the folded piece of paper and opens it. Once she scans the words, she turns wide eyes my way. “This is too much,” she insists.
“Never,” I state, shoving my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her. “I wish this place was a little fancier so you could do that stuff here, but since it’s not available, I found it somewhere else. One of the men on my team’s wife works there. Her name is Hannah, and she’ll do the nails portion of your appointment. He assured me the other ladies you’ll see are great at their jobs and very trustworthy.”
She turns and heads my way, placing her hands on my forearms. I can feel the warmth in her touch as she goes up on her tiptoes and places her lips against mine in the softest kiss. Every ounce of blood I possess rushes south of my belt, landing firmly in my groin, and despite wanting to take her in my arms and control the kiss, I remain rooted in place.
“Thank you, Chad,” she whispers, her breath warming my chin as she gazes up at me. “No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”
“You’re welcome.” It takes all the strength I have not to kiss her again.
She slowly drops her hands from my arms and turns back to survey the room. As much as I want to stay with her tonight, I can’t, and she needs time to get settled.
“Do you need anything before I go?” I ask, shoving my hands back into my pockets like a buffer to keep from touching her.