Remy looks out the window at the darkening sky. “So, we’re stuck here.”
Tomas pulls out his phone. “Looks that way. I’ll coordinate with the crew and find us hotels for the night.”
“I’ll have Sherina take care of it, Tomas,” I tell the pilot. He has enough to worry about without having to book hotels.
I dial our executive assistant while Tomas makes a call to a mechanic. She answers on the second ring, and I explain the situation. Fifteen minutes turn into twenty, and when she calls back, her pitch is apologetic.
“Bad news. There’s a ranching convention in town this week. Everything’s booked solid. I managed to get three rooms forTomas and the crew at a hotel ten miles from the airport, but the only option for you and Miss Ray is a bed-and-breakfast twenty miles out. They have two rooms left.”
“Book them.”
“Already done. I’m texting you the address now.”
I end the call and turn to Remy. “We’re staying at a bed and breakfast. Sherina booked us two rooms.”
Remy raises an eyebrow. “A bed and breakfast? That’s very... quaint.” She pauses. “I assume there will be doilies. Possibly a cat named something like Whiskers or Chairman Meow.”
I smirk. “Blame the ranching convention.”
She laughs, and I forget what we were talking about. Fuck, I need to get my shit together before I do something stupid.
Luckily, we still have the rental car. The drive to the bed and breakfast takes us through fields and mountains, the landscape growing more rural with each mile. Remy watches out the window, and I catch myself glancing at her reflection in the glass more than I watch the road.
The bed and breakfast is a converted farmhouse surrounded by open land.
The innkeeper—a woman in her sixties with kind eyes and flour on her apron—greets us at the door. “You must be the folks with the plane trouble! Come in, come in. I’m Kelly. Your assistant called ahead.”
I confirm what should be waiting for us. “Right. Sherina booked two rooms.”
Kelly’s smile falters. “Oh, dear. I’m afraid we had some miscommunication on our end. The guests who were staying in the second room booked for an extra night, and our front desk clerk didn’t make the changes in the system. So, we only have one room available.”
Remy and I exchange a glance.
I repeat her answer flatly. “One room.”
“Yes, but it’s our largest room! King-sized bed, private bathroom, and beautiful mountain views. And I promise the bed is very comfortable.”
One bed. One room. Remy and me. For an entire night.
Remy’s response is no-nonsense. “It’s fine. We’ll make it work.”
No. It’s not fine. Nothing about this is fine. But I nod anyway, because what other choice do we have?
Kelly grabs two toiletry kits, knowing we are stranded without overnight necessities, and leads us upstairs to a room that is, admittedly, beautiful. Hardwood floors, antique furniture, and massive windows overlooking snow-capped mountains. And right in the center, a large bed with a white quilt and too many decorative pillows.
Kelly closes the door behind her. “I’ll leave you two to get settled. Dinner is at seven, if you’re hungry.”
Remy sets her bag down and surveys the room. Her gaze lands on the loveseat in the corner.
I gesture to the so-called furniture. “I’ll take the couch.”
She walks over and examines it. “You think you’ll fit on that? That’s adorable.”
“I’ll manage.”
“You’re six-foot-three. That thing is maybe five feet long.” She crosses her arms. “That’ll work great. You can just tuck your knees under your chin and hope for the best. If nothing else, it should be entertaining.”
“I’ve slept in worse places.”
