Five minutes later, we had two key cards in hand and our new receptionist friend wished us luck as we headed for the elevator. Our room was on the third floor, so I swiped the card and pushed the button to take us there.
I half-expected Alec to ask me if I was okay after our run-in with Coral and Thad, but perhaps he’d decided it was best not to mention anything that might ruin my mood, because he stayed quiet.
We followed the directions to room 324 and I pressed the card to the electronic reader by the handle, waited for the green light to flash, and opened the door.
Through the window opposite us, the ocean glimmered turquoise as it stretched into the horizon. Gauzy curtains softened the view, but it wasn’t the riot of greens and blues that captured my attention.
It was the bed.
Singular.
As in, there was one bed.
The bottom dropped out of my stomach. It was at most a queen, with just enough room for a couple who didn’t mind getting nice and cozy but not at all enough space for a woman who was trying her hardest not to be enticed by her absolutely gorgeous best friend. It certainly wasn’t large enough for him to feel comfortable with the situation.
Oh god, would he think I’d done this on purpose?
“I’m sorry.” I turned to him, tears stinging my eyes. “I swear it didn’t cross my mind that we might have to share a bed. I’m so stupid. I should have called and asked to change my room to a double. Now we’re stuck and the sign out front said no vacancy.”
“Hey, cocobug. Take a breath.” Alec guided me to the bed and I perched awkwardly on the edge of it. “It’s all right. We’ll manage.”
“But this is all my fault. If I’d been thinking clearly, I’d have remembered to plan ahead, but I just… I just…” I squeezed my eyes shut, so angry with myself for being overwhelmed and failing to do something as simple as changing the room booking so Alec wouldn’t feel obligated to share a bed with me.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said quietly.
But it was. At least, it felt that way to me.
I looked around, desperately searching for a solution. There was no pull-out couch. We could potentially ask for one at reception but what if someone overheard and then our whole deception fell apart?
“I’ll sleep on the ottoman,” I declared, grateful to the idea for springing into my mind. It wasn’t as good as a couch, but it would do.
He snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
I glared at him. “I’m not. I’m trying to fix this.”
His expression softened. “We’re adults. We can share the bed without it having to be a big deal.”
Could we? Because honestly, it seemed like a big deal.
Alec was sexy. Right now, he was serving as my white knight. I could retain a shred of control over myself while I was conscious, but once I fell asleep, there was every chance I’d wrap myself around him like an octopus.
“What if I cuddle you in my sleep?” I asked. “I’m a cuddler. I can’t help it.”
There. I’d set up a little plausible deniability in case I found myself drawn to him while asleep.
His lips quirked with amusement. “Tally, it isn’t as if we haven’t cuddled before. I’m sure we’ll survive.”
Perhaps, but would my heart emerge unscathed?
“Would you like me to sleep on the ottoman?” he offered, and the guilt settled inside me like a leaden weight.
“No, of course not. You’re a professional athlete. You need a proper bed.” Not to mention that he was doing so much for me already.
“I won’t sleep in the bed if it’s going to cause you this much stress.”
I sighed. “I’m being dramatic, aren’t I?”
He held up his thumb and finger an inch apart. “Only a little.”
