Page 39 of Dragon Charmed

The man shook his head. “If you have a ways to go, you would be better off getting a room. You don’t want to be driving on unfamiliar country roads at night. Especially with your family.” He looked past Ben’s shoulder, and Ben turned to see Evelyn, Lily, and Tessa heading toward the truck. He didn’t correct the man. Didn’t really want to, to be honest.

“The next exit has a couple of decent motels. You might want to head there now before the rooms get snatched up.”

“What are you doing?”

The man jabbed his thumb toward a tractor trailer in the parking lot. “I’m staying in the truck tonight.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

Ben walked toward Tessa, who was frowning at her phone. “The navigation just sent me a warning that the highway is being shut down.”

“Yeah, that trucker just told me the same thing. He said the next exit has some motels we can get a room in for tonight. Said they would fill up quickly.”

She nodded. “Okay. Let’s get some rooms, and I’ll make my call once we’re settled.”

Twenty minutes later they were parked in front of the second motel they had stopped at since the first was already full. Luck was on their side, and Ben was able to get the last two rooms. Evelyn and Lily were sharing a room with a queen bed. They had dropped them off next door a few minutes ago and planned to be ready to go by first light.

Ben pushed open the door of the next room and found that it had one queen bed also. What happened to two beds for every room? “Uhm. I can sleep…” He looked around and there was no couch. The only chair was a desk chair that he would not be sleeping in.

Tessa smiled at him. “No worries. I know these were the last rooms available. You don’t have to sleep on the floor or in the truck.”

Happy she wasn’t going to make this an issue, he walked farther into the room.

She opened the bathroom door and peeked inside. “You can sleep in the tub.”

He jerked to a stop.

Tessa burst out laughing. “Oh, the look on your face! Priceless.”

She set her bag on the bed and then pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I’m going to make that call. I think it will be best if I call from the truck.”

A knock on the adjoining door had her walking over and opening it. “Evelyn, is something wrong?”

“No. Lily wanted to say good night before she goes to bed.”

Tessa and Ben followed Evelyn back into the room where Lily sat on the bed. She had on a cute little tank top and pajama bottoms with unicorns on them. She gave him a gesture to come closer.

“She wants you to tuck her in,” Evelyn said.

A lump formed in his throat as she climbed under the covers and he pulled the blankets up for her. He had known her for less than a day, but he already knew he’d fight to protect her. She grinned at him.

He couldn’t help but smile back at her. “Night, little bit.”

Tessa also wished her good night before they headed back into their room.

He cleared his throat. “You still wanting to make that call? I can go for a walk. Text me when you’re done.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“And then you can fill me in on what you’re not telling me.”

She had a calm expression, but her denim eyes were revealing a different story.

He would take a walk around the building and make sure he didn’t see anything suspicious. There was more than just Lily to protect. Although he was sure Tessa would insist she could take care of herself, that didn’t matter.

Lily wasn’t the only person whose blue eyes made his throat close up.

Chapter 15