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I laughed all the way into the inn.
NINETEEN
neo
“We can combine the rooms,”I told the receptionist. “Does either have a king?”
“They both do, Mr. Grado. The original booking was for our Falls Suite, which features stunning views of Cayuga Lake. It has heated hardwood floors and a full Carrara marble bathroom with a four-head shower. It is the premier accommodation of the Victorian Inn. I’m afraid if you cancel that one now, there will be a fee as it’s booked out for months.”
“You had me at four-head shower,” I said, with a pointed look at Thayle.
“That’s going to be a tough one if you’re planning to win our bet. Or maybe,” she shrugged, “you’d rather just concede defeat now?”
There was zero chance I’d last an hour, never mind the entire night, without touching her. But I didn’t let her know that. If she wanted to play this ruthlessly, I would make Thayle squirm a bit before I conceded defeat.
“I’m good, but thanks for the offer.”
“Okay, you’re all set. The restaurant is through those doors,” the receptionist said, “and your room is in the building next to us. To get there, just head back out the front, where you came in, and walk around to the building to our right. Go through the lobby of that building, to the second floor. Yours is the corner room with a view of the falls. Although,” she said, apologetic, “you won’t see much of it until morning.”
“Do you offer room service?”
“We do. The menu is in your room.”
“Do you happen to have one here as well? I’d love to place the order right away.”
“Of course.” She reached down and handed me a menu. “If you let me know what you’d like, I can call the restaurant right away.”
We moved off to the side as I laid the menu on the counter.
“How did you know I was starving?” Thayle asked, leaning into me and flipping the menu’s page.
“Because you’re always hungry.”
As she peered at the menu, I looked at one section specifically.
“Can you order a filet, medium, for me? Going to hit the little boy’s room,” I said, knowing how long Thayle could take with a menu. She ordered as if it was her last supper, every time. Before I left, though, I pushed back her hair, loving the way the strands felt between my fingers, and whispered, “Can you also order the chocolate cake? Extra whipped cream.”
Her head snapped toward mine. “You don’t like chocolate. And it doesn’t come with whipped cream.”
“I will like it tonight,” I promised her. “And have them add it. Please.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What about the dare?” she taunted, half smiling.
I pretended to have forgotten. “Ahh, crap. Forgot about that.” I shrugged. “Go ahead and get both for yourself, in that case. I’ll just find something else for dessert.”
Reveling in her intake of breath at that, I hit the men’s room. When I returned, she had just finished ordering. We made our way to the room, which was as luxurious as the receptionist had made it sound.
The best part?
The woman I was sharing it with.
Thayle immediately took off her boots and socks as we entered, looking at the wall. Finding a switch, she turned it on.
“I’ve never felt heated floors before,” she explained.
I tossed my bag on an oversized armchair. The lamps had already been lit, casting a warm glow on the navy and yellow tones of the crisp, well-appointed suite.
If I had to spend every waking hour developing a wine that would make Grado more successful than it was already to give this woman heated floors in every room she entered, I would do it. It was insane, really. A few days ago, being with Thayle had been nothing more than a pipe dream. Now I knew, without a doubt, this was it. For her. For me.
