“It’s not a love nest,” I muttered.
Diego winked at the clerk. “Ignore him. He’s just mad because I forgot our anniversary.”
The clerk laughed as she processed his payment. I wanted to die on the spot.
“Here are your key cards,” she said, sliding two across the counter. “Room three-zero-two, top floor. The elevator is around the corner.”
Diego pocketed both cards. “Much obliged, ma’am.”
We didn’t have any bags, so we just made our way to the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, I punched Diego in the arm.
“Ow! What was that for?” He rubbed his bicep, though I knew damn well I hadn’t hurt him.
“Forgot our anniversary? Really?”
Diego’s laugh echoed in the small space. “Relax, Freckles. She doesn’t care who we are or what we do. Besides, it got a smile out of her on what’s clearly a shit night. That’s more important.”
I couldn’t argue with that even though I wanted to. The elevator dinged and we stepped out onto the third floor.
“This is going to be weird,” I said as we walked down the hall.
Diego shrugged. “We’re both adults. We can share a bed without it being a thing. Hell, maybe I’ll just sleep in the tub.”
But it was already a thing. At least for me. I’d been fighting my attraction to Diego since the day I met him at the ranch. The thought of lying next to him all night, hearing his breathing, maybe accidentally touching him in our sleep… It was going to be torture.
We reached the door to our room at last, and I held my breath as Diego slid the key card into the slot. The little light turned green, and he pushed the door open, holding it for me.
“After you,” he said with a mock bow.
I stepped inside and immediately froze. The room was... well, it was exactly what you’d expect from something called amarital suite. The king-sized bed dominated the space, covered in a plush white comforter with decorative red pillows arranged in a heart shape. A bottle of champagne sat in an ice bucket on a small table by the window, with two glasses beside it. The jacuzzi tub was visible through an open doorway, large enough for two people and surrounded by electric candles.
“Holy shit,” Diego muttered behind me. “This is...”
“Horrifying,” I supplied.
“I was gonna sayextra, but sure.”
I walked further into the room, noticing the rose petals scattered across the bed and the complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries on the nightstand. “Does all this bullshit just come with the room?” I asked. “You didn’t pay for this, did you?”
Diego picked up a small card from beside the champagne. “Compliments of the management. We hope your stay is romantic and memorable.” He looked up at me with a grin. “Yeah… I think it just comes with the room. It was like three hundred dollars per night.”
“Jesus Christ,” I sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. It wassinfully comfortable, which somehow made this whole situation worse. “This is just...great.”
Diego ran a hand through his dark hair. “Look, I know this ain’t ideal for either of us. But we’re stuck here, so we might as well make the best of it.”
I watched him move around the room, trying not to notice how his jeans hugged his ass or the way his shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. This was going to be a long night.
“I’m gonna grab a shower,” he said, already pulling his shirt over his head. “Unless you want to go first?”
My mouth went dry at the sight of his bare chest, all tanned skin and dark hair trailing down to his belt buckle. “I... no, you go ahead.”
“You sure? You look a little flushed there, Freckles.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, turning away before he could see just how not fine I was. “Just tired.”
I heard him chuckle as he disappeared into the bathroom, and a few moments later the sound of running water filled the room. I flopped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and trying to get my hormones under control.
This was exactly what I didn’t need. Being trapped in a romantic hotel room with Diego Mendez, the most infuriatingly attractive man I’d ever met. A man who seemed determined to break down every wall I’d built around my heart. A man I wanted so fucking bad I could taste it, not that I’deveradmit that.
