Libby grinned and pulled the goodies she had purchased at the gas station from the glove compartment. “Food,” she announced.
“What have you got?” Tony asked eagerly.
“Gummi Bears, peanut-butter cups and M&M’s.”
Tony groaned. “That isn’t food,” he protested.
“Mmm, it’s ambrosia,” she exclaimed, ripping open the Gummi Bears and popping a red one into her mouth. “What is your pleasure?” she asked.
“My pleasure would be a juicy steak and a baked potato, but I guess I’ll take a peanut-butter cup. However, the first decent restaurant we see, we’re stopping. Maybe you can be happy with little bears and chocolate, but I need a real meal.”
Libby laughed and popped another candy into her mouth.
It was nearly an hour later when they pulled into a town large enough to have not only a café but a motel of sorts, as well. The town was called Muddy Creek, and the sign outside of town said it had been established in 1824.
The motel was the Muddy Creek Motel and boasted ten little housekeeping cabins. “It’s not exactly high class, is it?” Tony asked, obviously dismayed by the ramshackle appearance of the place.
Libby eyed the unpainted, ill-kempt buildings. Surrounded by overgrowth and tangled vines, they didn’t exactly radiate welcome. She swallowed her dismay. “As long as they have beds and a good hot shower, they’ll be all right for a night or two.”
“At least it’s off the beaten track.”
She nodded, knowing they’d traveled almost twenty minutes off the main road to find the out-of-the-way town. Surely they’d be safe here. Surely those men wouldn’t be able to find them. She looked at the forlorn buildings. “If the owner looks like Anthony Perkins, we’re finding another motel,” she said, scenes of an old horror movie playing in her head.
“It’s a deal.” Tony laughed as he got out of the car.
She waited in the car while Tony went into the office and took care of the necessary paperwork. While he was gone, she looked around again, wondering how the motel managed to survive in this remote area.
“I asked them for the cabin farthest from the office,” he explained as he joined her back in the car. He grinned at her sheepishly. “I told them we were newlyweds and didn’t want to be disturbed or disturb anyone else. I figure if we are in the farthest cabin, we can park the car where it can’t be seen from the road.”
“Did you get a double?” she asked. “You know, a room with two beds,” she continued as he looked at her in confusion.
“Libby, that would have been rather suspect. First, I tell them we’re newlyweds, then I ask for a room with two beds?”
“Oh, of course. I wasn’t thinking,” she said, feeling a hot flush sweep over her face as she thought of sharing the same bed with Tony. “It really doesn’t matter. I mean, we’re both rational adults.”
“Certainly,” he agreed confidently. “If you’re worried about that scene in the car earlier this morning, I think we both agree that was nothing more than a reaction of sorts to the stress of the situation. Isn’t that right?”
“Oh, yes,” she readily agreed. “It was just a fluke, a momentary lapse of sanity.”
“But, of course, if you’re worried that you might lose control once again…” A twinkle glittered in his eyes.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Libby snapped. But there was something about the idea of sharing a motel room with Tony Pandolinni that made her sense danger…a danger that was strangely evocative…and extremely appealing.
