She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to banish the thoughts but failed. The attraction she felt was undeniable, and if she were ever going to have a one-night stand, this would be the perfect opportunity. They were already in bed together, unlikely to ever see each other again after tomorrow. The attraction was mutual; Mack had admitted as much earlier.
But what if Mack for whatever reason rejected her advances? The thought of facing her tomorrow after an awkward encounter was enough to keep her paralyzed with indecision, as she lay there, hyperaware of Mack’s every movement.
All Holly had worried about lately was her parents, waiting for her in Minneapolis. The reconciliation she hoped for, the conversations that needed to be had. There was none ofthat going through her head anymore and instead she was entertaining thoughts that would surely shock her conservative family.
The irony wasn’t lost on her. Had the universe thrown this curveball her way? Part of her wondered if this was some sort of test of her resolve, or maybe just her self-control.
Mack’s breathing deepened into the steady rhythm of sleep, but Holly was unable to drift off. Despite the wine and the long, exhausting day, her mind refused to settle. Every small sound seemed amplified—the creak of the bed, the rustle of the covers, the distant howl of the wind outside.
Mack shifted and turned around in her sleep, and Holly felt the warmth of her body as she moved closer. Without warning, her arm slid around Holly’s waist, and she snuggled up against her back.
At first, Holly stiffened, her mind racing with thoughts. Did Mack mean to do that? Was she just pretending to be asleep? Should she move away? But as Mack’s warmth seeped through the thin fabric of her shirt, Holly finally relaxed into the embrace. It was so long since she had been held like this, so long since she’d felt this kind of closeness. She allowed herself to sink into the moment, savoring the feel of Mack’s arm around her, the steady rise and fall of her chest, the soft brush of Mack’s breath against her neck.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges—the struggle to get home, the uncertainty of what this meant. But for now, in this unlikely sanctuary they’d found in a shabby motel room, Holly finally allowed herself to simply be. She drifted into dreams filled with teal hair, soft touches, and the lingering warmth of a kiss she had yet to experience.
Chapter 7
Mack
The hot water pounded against Mack’s skin as she stood under the shower, trying to scrub away the mix of embarrassment and arousal that clung to her. She couldn’t shake the memory of waking up half on top of Holly, her arm draped over her waist. The realization had jolted her awake, and she had scrambled out of bed, praying Holly hadn’t noticed. Now, under the steady stream of water, she tried to clear her mind.
After a few more minutes, she sighed and turned off the shower. With her skin flushed from the heat, she quickly dressed, then took a deep breath, steeling herself before stepping out of the bathroom.
Holly was up now, standing by the window with the curtains open, sipping a coffee. The morning light filtered through the thick snowfall, casting a soft glow around her. She turned to Mack, her eyes fluttering over her.
“Come and have a look,” she said. “I’ve never seen so much snow.”
Mack crossed the room and joined her by the window. The world outside was pristine white, the cars buried under a thick blanket of white. The snowfall was still heavy, but it hadtransformed the landscape into something out of a winter fairy tale.
“It’s beautiful,” she admitted, her eyes tracing the delicate patterns of frost on the windowpane. But as much as she appreciated the picturesque scene, she sincerely wished the snow would stop. Every flake that fell felt like another obstacle keeping her away from her family and the birth of her niece or nephew.
Holly nodded. “I made you a coffee.” She pointed to a paper cup on the table.
“Thank you.” Mack stirred some sugar through it. The cheap instant coffee was bitter, but she still savored her first caffeine hit.
“Did you sleep well?” Holly asked, a hint of mischief in her smile.
Mack felt herself blush, unsure how to answer. “Uh, yeah. Did you?”
“Like a log.” Holly’s smile widened. “You know,” she continued, her tone teasing, “you were getting really cozy with me.”
“Uh…” Mack stammered, desperately searching for a way to change the subject. “I, um, didn’t mean to?—”
“Don’t worry, it was nice,” Holly interrupted her with a chuckle. “Just, next time, maybe buy me dinner first?”
Mack’s blush deepened, and she was about to make a fumbling apology when a knock on the door saved her. She nearly leapt at the distraction, grateful for the interruption. She opened the door to find a cleaner standing there, her arms full of sachets of instant hot cocoa and coffee, and a large storage box.
“Good morning,” she greeted them. “Maude asked me to bring these. She also wanted me to decorate your room since it’s the only one that hasn’t been done, in case you’re staying another night.”
“Oh…” Mack shook her head. “That’s very sweet, but we’re leaving today. Decorating isn’t necessary.”
The cleaner looked doubtful. “With the airport closed until tomorrow and the roads in this condition, I think you might be stuck for a bit longer. But by all means, you should try. Maude will have a list of local rental companies.”
Mack’s heart sank at the thought of being stuck longer. “All right,” she said, turning to Holly. “Why don’t you take your time in the shower? I’ll get dressed and call the car rentals at reception. If I manage to get one, we can share.”
“Thanks. I won’t be long.” Holly turned to the cleaner. “By the way, can you tell us about the peephole situation?”
“Yeah, sorry about that.” The cleaner chuckled. “Room Fifteen is for watching, and Room Fourteen is for people who like to be watched. Watertown Motel is kind of famous for it; all. All the locals know about it. We don’t give out these rooms unless people specifically ask for them, but with the weather situation, Maude had to make use of the space she had, and I guess she forgot to mention it. I see you’ve already taken care of it though,” she added, noticing the chewing gum in the hole.
