Chapter 14: Chapter Fourteen

Madison bent over and touched her toes, then straightened, stretching her arms over her head. She twisted her upper body from side to side, groaning along with her muscles. She’d been in the car for close to twelve hours. It was now creeping up on seven p.m., and if she never had to get back in Ryder’s car, it would be too soon.

“Remind me not to drive so long next time.” Ryder laughed as he opened the trunk and retrieved their bags.

“Don’t worry, I will.” She took her duffel and flung it over her shoulder. Her stomach growled loudly. Neither of them had eaten since one, and she’d eat just about anything right then—even pizza, which she’d sworn off after a week working at the pizzeria.

“Let’s get checked in, and then we can find some food.” He opened the hotel door and nodded for her to go first. “Still feel like strolling Bourbon Street?”

“Yes.” She gave him an incredulous look. He was crazy if he thought she’d come all this way and not take full advantage of her time here. Seriously, when would she ever get back to New Orleans and have an opportunity like this?

He grinned. “My kinda girl.” He walked up to the counter and checked them in.

Key card in hand, he led her toward the elevator that would take them up to their room. Her steps faltered. Their room. Her heart raced, the erratic rhythm pounding in her ears like a drum. She swallowed hard and stepped into the elevator with him. She’d been somewhat good about keeping him at a distance, but would her self-control stand the test of spending the night with him? Granted, they wouldn’t be sharing a bed, but still. He’d be close. Too close.

“Doing okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

He shrugged. “No reason.”

She narrowed her eyes, and he held her gaze, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. “If you’re talking about that ridiculous challenge you made last weekend, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that everything is fine.”

“You’re not sorry,” he said with a hint of amusement.

The fact that he was enjoying this so much annoyed the crap out of her. Averting her attention, she stared up at the number display in the elevator, watching it climb higher and higher. “Are we all the way on the top floor?”

“Just about.” He leaned against the wall and smirked. “Is that a problem?”

“No.”

“Good.” The elevator came to a stop. He extended his arm out the door, holding it so it wouldn’t close on her, and she stepped into the hallway. “This way.” He pointed to the right.

She let him walk in front of her, considering she had no idea what room they were in. His pace slowed, and he began to read the room numbers aloud. Then, he stopped abruptly, and she almost ran into him.

“This is it.” He nodded at a door at the very end of the hall. Slipping his keycard into the lock, he opened the door and moved aside.

Madison took a deep breath and entered the room. She stood in a small foyer-like area that housed a sink, a mini-fridge, a coffee making station, and a desk with a high-back chair. Moving into the living room area, she noted the comfy looking sofa, along with two armchairs and a coffee table. A TV stand with a flat-screen television stood against one wall, and a large floor-length window comprised the other side of the room. The heavy, blue drapes were parted slightly, offering a glimmer of the fading sun.

“Does this couch pull out into a bed or something?” she asked, running her hand along the back of it.

“I don’t think so, but that’s okay. It’s more than big enough, and long.” A wicked smile lit up his face, and she knew he wasn’t talking about just the sofa.

She shook her head, failing to hide her smile. There was so much she could—and should—say to that, but she chose to keep her mouth shut. It was safer for her that way. She dropped her bag on the floor near the couch and wandered into the bedroom, which was way nicer than she could’ve imagined.

A king size bed was situated in the middle of the room, nightstands with ornate lamps hanging above them were on either side. A gorgeous oak dresser was at the foot of the bed, atop it sat another flat-screen television. Off to the left side of the room was a door that lead to the bathroom.

“This room’s impressive,” she said.

Ryder was sitting in one of the chairs, a room service menu in his hands. He glanced up. “Yeah? Any idea what you want to eat?”

“I figured we’d find someplace on Bourbon Street. There are restaurants and stuff, right?”

He closed the menu and tossed it on the coffee table. “They sure do. And I know the perfect place. Amazing food. Great music. And the best mixed drink you’ll ever have.” He stood. “I don’t know about you, but I need a shower and some clean clothes before we go anywhere else.”

“You go ahead first. I need to make a couple calls anyway.” She’d been so busy focusing all her efforts on this trip that she’d forgotten to tell Heather that she’d left Florida and was on the way.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” He set his suitcase on the couch, unzipped it, and gathered clean clothes. Then, wordlessly, he kicked off his shoes and sauntered toward the bathroom.

Madison stared at his ass for much too long, grateful he couldn’t see her. Damn he was fine. When she heard the bathroom door close and the water running, she retrieved her cell phone from her bag. She pulled up her call log and pressed Heather’s name.

It rang three times before Heather picked up. “You’re in Vegas already. What gives?”

Madison sighed and rubbed her forehead, the early signs of a headache creeping up on her. “No. But I’m on my way. I caught a ride with a friend.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a little hard to believe you with how you’ve been acting lately,” Heather snapped.

What little patience Madison had left frayed to the point of breaking. “I’m going to be there, Heather. I told you I would.” God, what was her problem? Madison thought Heather would be happy, but she was going full-on bridezilla.

Agreeing to go home and be Heather’s maid of honor was a mistake, and if Madison could turn around and go back to college, she would. She walked to the window, peeking outside. The view sucked, but the room itself made up for it.

“How long will it take you to get here?” Heather asked.

“I’m thinking Thursday or Friday sometime, but that could change. My friend decided to make this a sightseeing road trip, so I’m at his mercy.” Not that she was complaining. Taking their time getting to Vegas would give her the distraction she needed to keep her mind off what she was doing—walking back into her parents’ lives after not seeing them for three years, without the fiancé she told her mother she had.

“His mercy?” Heather giggled.

“It’s so not like that. Trust me.” Although, if Ryder had his way, they would be. Hell, if she wasn’t so set in her ways, she’d have jumped all over him by now, too.

“If you say so.”

Madison sighed. In her mind, she could see Heather winking and nudging her, exactly like she always did when they were teens and crushing on boys.

“When you do finally get here, how long are you staying?” Heather asked.

“I don’t know.” Madison went back to the armchair and sat, propping her feet on the coffee table. “A few days at the very least.” She had no idea how long Ryder planned to stay, but she hoped to be back to campus by the middle of next week, so she didn’t miss too many classes.

“Okay, well you’d better call me and let me know how it’s going and when you’ll be here. Mom’s making me clean out the guest room for you.” She grumbled something Madison couldn’t quite make out. “Anyway, be safe, and I’ll see you soon.”

“Thanks, Heather.” Ending the call, Madison dialed Lil’s number and then hesitated with her finger poised over the green call button. Her stomach tightened, and she dropped her feet to the floor. Leaning forward, she rested her arms on her knees and blew out a pent-up breath. She wasn’t ready to answer the million and one questions she knew Lil would ask.

She heard the shower shut off, and her head jerked up. This was one conversation she did not want Ryder to overhear. Pressing the end button, she tucked her phone into her pocket and moved toward the archway connecting the living room and bedroom. She leaned against the wall, keeping her gaze trained on the bathroom door so she’d be able to see if Ryder was coming out.

Yeah, because that’s not weird. He’d have a grand ‘ole time if he walked out of the bathroom and saw her just standing there, waiting for him. She moved through the room, looking at the artwork on the walls, trying to appear to be busy. But her heart was in her throat, and her entire body was on fire. Maybe, once Ryder fell asleep later, she could sneak out and sleep in his car. The distance would do her good.

Ryder chose that moment to walk out of the bathroom. Despite her best efforts not to, she spun around to face him. Yep. Her self-control was shot. There were no doubts she needed to not be locked in this room with him tonight. In the dark. With only one bed. And nothing but a wall separating them.

Ryder was dressed in jeans, a navy-blue polo shirt, and sneakers. He was clean shaven, and his hair flopped naturally, like he hadn’t even bothered to brush it. He’d put on cologne, too, and the delicious scent wafted toward her. She had to stop herself from leaning closer and taking a big whiff.

She licked her lips and allowed herself one more long look at him. “Feel better now?” she asked.

“Much.” He smiled. Although she knew he was tired from the days long drive, he didn’t look it. In fact, he looked excited and ready to take on the world. “Bathroom’s all yours.”

“Thanks.” She retrieved her bag from the living room. “So, where is it we’re going anyway?”

“Only one of the most famous places in New Orleans.” He winked. “Hurry up, I’m starving.”

Laughing, she went into the bathroom and closed the door. She’d remembered to pack her favorite wedge-heeled sandals, but beyond that, she really didn’t have any “going out” clothes. She hadn’t figured she’d need them. And, it was sort of a silent “fuck you” to her parents when she would show up wearing casual clothes she’d bought at a thrift store. Her stepmother would probably have a heart attack when she saw Madison’s new wardrobe choices.

She dug through her bag until she found her best pair of skinny jeans and a simple black top with a scoop neck. Nothing too fancy, but it would do. Now, she only hoped wherever they were going wasn’t classy. Or too expensive.

Half an hour later, Madison was showered and dressed. She’d applied minimal makeup—some foundation, a touch of blush, and a swipe of eyeshadow on each eyelid—and left her hair down. She typically wore her hair up in a ponytail because it was more manageable that way, but she was going out tonight, for the first time in longer than she could remember, and she wanted to look good.

“Okay, I’m ready,” she said as she entered the living room, dropping her bag back to the floor.

Ryder stood and let his gaze wander over her.

“What?” she asked self-consciously, glancing down at her clothes.

“Nothing.” He shook his head, then smiled. “You look…good.”

Good? Why did she have a feeling that’s not the word he really wanted to use? It was probably best he didn’t say anything else, otherwise, things might get more awkward between them.

“Thanks,” she said. “Well, I’m ready if you are.”

“In those shoes?” He raised a brow and nodded toward her feet.

She extended her right leg and twisted her foot side-to-side. “What’s wrong with my shoes?”

“Nothing.” He covered his laugh with a cough. “We’ll be doing a lot of walking tonight. You sure those are comfortable enough?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. She really had no idea how comfortable the shoes were. She’d only had them for a month, and she’d worn them exactly three times—including right now—since buying them.

“Okay.” His smile was unmistakable as he gathered the room key and his wallet, shoving both into his back pocket. “But I reserve the right to say told you so.”

Laughing, she playfully shoved him out the door. “I won’t give you the satisfaction.”

“We’ll see about that,” he called over his shoulder as he strode down the hallway toward the elevator.

Madison followed, loving the confidence in his step, the swagger that dripped off him with every move. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she could not let anything happen between them tonight. Operation Resist Ryder was back in full force.