“Happy to.” Pulling it shut he studied the hardware.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to find the lock.”
She laughed. “We don’t need to lock it. I didn’t bring you in here to make out.”
“Ifmake outis what I think, that’s exactly why I’m here.” He turned around and found her only inches away. “If that’s not what you’re after, you’d better step back. Way back.”
“I am after exactly that, but not now.” She held her ground.
“Why not?”
“I have something important to tell you.” Her breath came in quick little gasps. “If we start kissing, I won’t get it said.”
“Go on.”
“Rance figured out how we can spend the night together.”
The news smacked him in the chest and started his heart to racing. “Tonight?”
“Maybe, but I have to get Lani to go along with the idea, so we might have to wait until tomorrow night. Anyway, you’d probably fall asleep on me tonight if we?—”
“I willnotfall asleep on you. If you’re saying there’s a chance that we could?—”
“Just be quiet and listen. Rance is talking to Desiree right now. He wants you to stay in his cabin this week instead of here at the house.”
“Why?”
“So he and I can switch places after everyone’s asleep. He’ll be here for the night and I’ll be in his cabin. With you.”
His body hummed with anticipation. “How will you manage it?”
“He’ll drive over here and I’ll drive his truck back to the cabin. Before it gets light, I’ll drive back here and he’ll take his truck home again.”
The thud of his heart echoed in his ears. It was a bold plan but it might work.
“But first Lani has to agree not to squeal on me. There’s no way I could creep in and out of the room we’re sharing without her waking up.”
“Can you talk her into it?”
“I don’t know. I’ll do my best. This all hinges on my powers of persuasion.”
“What if Desiree says no? I got the idea she really wants me to stay here.”
“She probably does, but Rance will prevail.”
“How do you know?”
“Ask him to explain it. Just go along with the plan to stay with him, okay?”
“I’d be a fool not to.”
“I’ll text Rance as soon as I know something one way or the other. Now we should get back out there.”
“Without a kiss?”
“It’s a bad idea.”
