Page 40 of Reckless Skye

‘Do you need to go home?’

She sighed and let her head fall against his collarbone. And she said, ‘Hotel.’

Chapter 12

Skye couldn’t say why she’d expected TJ to book a mid-range hotel, probably by the hour. Only that she had.

So, she was surprised when he pulled his truck into the crescent-shaped drive of the Savant Hotel.

The Savant line was five-star rated, and the Scottsdale location was no exception. The hotel had been built in the southwestern style, using terracotta-coloured adobe, stucco, and natural stone. The landscaping was comprised entirely of vegetation native to Arizona, yet somehow, the prickly cacti, alien-looking succulents, and desert scrub had been artfully arranged to still look beautiful.

Everything was pristine, and Skye, feeling self-conscious, tried to rub off the last of her mascara smudges in the rear-view mirror before climbing out of the truck.

TJ passed the keys to an immaculately dressed valet with a name tag identifying him as Mike, who asked, ‘Checking in, sir?’

‘Yes. Last name’s Jones.’

TJ linked his hand with Skye’s, so he could lead her into the hotel.

He checked them in quickly, and in less than five minutes, they were waiting for the elevator in the lobby, their linked hands heating, forging a connection that was as new as it was exhilarating.

The elevator pinged. Skye looked up right as the doors slid open to reveal another cowboy. And though Skye preferred TJ’s rugged good looks, the man she was looking at now was undeniably beautiful. Almost too beautiful. He was dressed all in black. Unlike TJ, whose hair was cut military-style and short, this cowboy’s thick black hair fell in waves to his shoulders beneath his black hat. His eyes were dark brown in the dim light; they focused on her face, flickered appreciatively down her body. His smile was devilish, but the cocky tilt of it told her that he undoubtedly thought himself God’s gift to women.

Beside her, TJ tensed. She felt it in the air around them, in the quick jerk his hand gave in hers. He greeted the other man coolly. ‘Savage.’

‘TJ.’ The cowboy grinned, but he didn’t look at TJ, just kept those wicked eyes on Skye. He tipped his hat, said, ‘Ma’am,’ as he made a show of exiting the elevator, sweeping off his hat, and extending his other arm to hold the door open for her.

Skye walked forward, despite the prickle of unease that whispered over her skin. It wasn’t that she thought the other man dangerous, necessarily, just that the odd energy between the two seemed volatile. Like a pair of wolves circling. As if one of them might pounce on the other at any moment – with her in the middle.

TJ made a predatory sound from deep in his throat, but he followed her inside. As Skye turned, she caught the cheeky wink the other cowboy sent her but didn’t have time to roll her eyes as the doors slid closed again.

‘Who was that?’

‘Matthew Savage. He’s the world champ bronc rider at the moment.’

‘You don’t like him?’

‘I didn’t mind him until today.’