Page 45

“Hi, Janice,” I greeted, my voice softening.

“I didn’t know you were stopping by. I didn’t see your name on the reservations,” she said, moving toward her computer, a puzzled look on her face. “I must have missed it.”

“No, you didn’t. We got a flat driving through and needed a place to stay,” I explained.

“We?” Janice’s curiosity piqued, her head tilting slightly.

I stepped aside, revealing Eleanor fully for the first time. She offered Janice a sweet smile and a small wave, a softness in her expression, a tenderness she never offered me—free from her usual guardedness.

“Oh, aren’t you beautiful,” Janice cooed, making her way toward Eleanor.

She was.

Shit. The thought hit me like a punch, unwelcome and undeniable.

Eleanor laughed lightly, extending her hand toward Janice. “Thank you.”

“Oh no, we hug around here,” Janice said, pulling Eleanor into a warm embrace.

Eleanor stiffened, her arms hanging awkwardly at her sides as her wide eyes darted to me in silent plea. I couldn’t help the deep, raspy laugh that escaped me at her clear discomfort, but I quickly regained myself.

Slowly, with visible reluctance, she raised her arms to return the hug, still wary but giving in to Janice’s warmth.

Janice pulled away from the hug, her eyes twinkling as she gave us both a pleased look before rounding the desk again to check us in.

“How is Stet?” she asked, her tone soft with concern.

“He’s doing really well. Thriving on the ranch, setting a good example for the rest of them,” I replied.

Eleanor moved to stand beside me, her hands resting lightly on the desk. At the mention of Stet, her gaze flicked to mine, curiosity sparking in her eyes. I knew she’d talked to him while at the ranch, and clearly he’d left an impression.

“He’s a good kid. You’ll keep an eye on him, won’t you?” Janice asked, her voice tinged with hope.

I nodded firmly. When I offered Stet a job, I’d promised Janice I’d take care of him as long as he pulled his weight. So far, he’d been nothing but reliable. “Of course.”

I pulled out my wallet and placed my credit card on the desk. “We’ll take two rooms for the night, please.”

Janice looked up from her computer, guilt flickering across her face. “Well, with the rodeo in town, I only have one room left with a king-size bed.” She glanced back down, clicking through her system. “But if you give me a minute, maybe I can—”

Eleanor reached out, resting a hand on Janice’s arm. “It’s okay. One room will be perfect, thank you.”

Perfect? The hell it would.

My head snapped toward Eleanor, heat rising to my cheeks. There was no way I could spend the night in the same room with her. The tension was already palpable, and being in such close quarters without an escape felt far too intimate.

Janice must’ve caught the look on my face because she grimaced, her gaze darting between us.

Now, I felt guilty.

Letting out a slow exhale, I turned back to her. “Okay, one room is fine,” I growled, the words tasting bitter.

Every other time I’d stayed, the place had been nearly empty. Now, with Eleanor here, it was fully booked. Of course.

Janice slid two keys across the counter, offering a sympathetic smile. “If you need anything, I’ll be on duty,” she said as we headed for the door.

Eleanor and I left the office in silence, the tension following us to the truck as we grabbed our bags and made our way to the room.

“So, this is where you met Stet?” Eleanor asked, finally breaking the silence as she closed the door behind us.