“Jess is right.” Rain joined her side. “We’ve had a fantastic trip so far, and this is a minor blip. Consider it an adventure we’ll look back on and laugh about.”
She eyed Joel again. “What are the realistic chances of finding any rooms?”
“At an establishment open for business? Slim.” He took a deep breath. “However, I might be able to help you out.”
“How so?” She eyed him with a wary glance. Her gut said she could trust him, but trust wasn’t high on her capabilities at the moment.
“I’m in the process of remodeling a motel. It’s small and nothing fancy, but I have eight rooms that are finished.”
“How much?” Bridget asked.
“My treat.”
Lark shook her head. “We’ll pay you. It’s only right.”
“You ladies obviously have had a rough night, so let me do this nice thing for you.” He grinned. “Maybe I’m entertaining angels unaware.”
Rain laughed. “We’re definitely not angels, though I wish we were instead of stranded motorists.”
“I bet.” Joel chuckled then sobered. “Back to the payment—I’m not officially open for business, and can’t offer you the amenities of an opened business so I wouldn’t feel right accepting your money. However, you’ll have a comfortable bed for the night, and the pool is open so you can swim if you’d like.”
“I don’t think we have much choice unless we want to sleep under the stars.” Before officially accepting the offer, she got the approval of her friends through nods. “Once again, if you’re absolutely certain you don’t mind, we’d be grateful for your assistance.”
Joel had joked about them being angels, but she started to wonder ifhewas their guardian angel. He’d helped them out tremendously twice that night. If he hadn’t stopped, they might still be sitting on the shoulder of the interstate.
He doesn’t look like an angel. The thought caught her off guard as she hadn’t realized she’d noticed his appearance. It had been a subconscious observation that she’d stored away. His dark hair grew longer on the top than the sides, but was still short overall. His jaw sported several days’ worth of neatly trimmed facial hair, and his eyes were a dark gray that spoke volumes. In a different outfit and situation, she could see him playing the role of a bad boy, though nothing about his demeanor indicated so.
She lowered her gaze to his shirt and stifled a laugh when she saw a ketchup stain on his shirt. Considering his otherwise tidy appearance, she figured it had happened recently, within the last few hours.
His eyes met her gaze, and he moved a hand to cover the stain.
Did he read my thoughts or was my stare that obvious?
“My place is down the road a mile, right off the main strip.” He strode toward the driver’s side of his truck.
The girls all followed, and Cassidy took the front seat while the others crammed in the back. “What’s the name of your hotel?”
“It’s a motel.” Joel started the engine, issuing his correction without a sideways glance. “The name is Route 66 Roadside Lodge.”
“Cute and effective.” Her marketing degree kicked in. “Why not motel instead of lodge? Won’t some people assume a log cabin type accommodation?”
That’s what had first come to mind when she heard it, but it could actually be a log cabin for all she knew. However, even in the dark, she could tell such a building would look out of place.
“In some areas, I could see that as a valid point, but most of the guests who come to Seligman are here for nostalgic purposes and will see the name as a throwback to Route 66’s heyday whenmotor lodgewas used more than motel.”
“Gotcha.”
He came to a stop in front of a plain building. If she’d been searching for a place to stay and had options, she would have passed up this quaint motel. Constructed of bricks painted white, the motel had one level and eight rooms along the front. From her vantage point, she couldn’t tell how many rooms were in the back and side. A cement sidewalk passed in front of the rooms, along with an awning supported by white aluminum columns.
“It’s cute. Quaint.”
“It’s not much, but it’s a work in progress.” Joel laid a hand on the door handle. “By the time I’m done, she’ll look much better.”
Worried she’d hurt his feelings, she hurried to come up with something more positive to say. “I see lots of potential. A touch of landscaping in the front and some Route 66 nostalgia will go a long way in sprucing it up.”
Why were the others so quiet? It wasn’t like them unless they were that tired. Not that she could blame them if they were—her own eyes grew heavier by the minute. On any given day of their trip, they’d stayed up later than the current time, but the vehicle problems and subsequent trouble getting it towed and finding accommodations had worn her out.
Joel shrugged. “Like I said, it’s a work in progress.”
