Three Brides, No Groom

Before she allowed herself to think what she was doing, she broke away from him, shifted position and knelt in front of him. His questioning gaze met hers in the dim light afforded by the fire. Smiling, she placed a hand on either side of his face and leaned forward to kiss him.

The surge of desire she experienced when their lips met was enough to make her bold. She wrapped her arms around his neck as their mouths worked together in a frenzy of tongues, lips and unmistakable desire. She offered and he took, greedily.

Abruptly Josh jerked his mouth away from hers. He sat back, panting, his shoulders heaving. “What was that for?” he demanded.

Gretchen’s eyes remained closed. “Don’t ask. Just kiss me like that again.”

“No.”

“No?” Disappointed, she opened her eyes. “Why not?”

“Because you don’t have a clue what you’re doing.” He stood, and she was pleased to note that he didn’t look very steady. She felt decidedly off balance herself, but somehow it was a good feeling.

“Wipe that silly grin off your face,” he muttered.

If she hadn’t been so happy she would have been downright insulted. He’d kissed her and it had been the most wonderful experience of her life. Now he didn’t seem able to hold still. He circumnavigated the blanket three times. She was getting dizzy watching him.

Suddenly it dawned on her, and it was all she could do to keep from giggling. “Joshua Morrow, I tempt you, don’t I?”

He started to deny it and then appeared to think better of it. “I’m getting you that hotel room, and I don’t want any arguments, understand?” His voice was hard and unfriendly. “You’ll sleep alone, too.” She wasn’t sure if he was saying that for her benefit or his.

Gretchen covered her mouth in an effort to contain a brewing fit of laughter.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he demanded.

“Like what?”

“Like…that.” He shrugged as if at a complete loss for words.

She had never seen Josh unnerved, had never suspected she would be one to shatter his cool. It told her that their kisses had affected him as much as they had her. She felt almost giddy with a sense of wonder and power.

“Come on,” he ordered brusquely.

“Where are we going?”

“I told you. I’m getting you a motel room for the night.”

“Josh—”

“Don’t argue with me.” From the tight set of his mouth and his combative stance, she wasn’t inclined to do so.

“Oh, all right, but you’re being ridiculous.”

She rolled her eyes, and then, feeling happier than she had all day, she gathered up her personal items and obediently followed him to the bike. They set off and didn’t find a vacancy until their third stop. Although she was the one who registered, the man at the desk handed the room key to Josh. He hesitated before accepting it; he obviously didn’t want the man to think he would be spending the night with her. Finally his hand closed over the key, and he escorted her outside.

The room was small, the furniture cheap, but overall the place looked clean, despite the faint stale scent hanging in the air. Gretchen set the tote bag holding her belongings on top of the bed.

Josh stood outside the room, his arms crossed in a defensive way that defied her to even try to talk to him. She’d seen him assume that same stance at college a hundred times. The hard-edged look that said he didn’t give a rip about anything or anyone, so you had better keep your distance.

“This OK?” he asked.

“It’s fine,” she assured him.

“Good. I’ll be going, then.”

“You won’t leave me, will you?” she blurted without pausing to think he might take her question differently than she intended. “In the morning,” she clarified. “You’ll still be here, won’t you?” The thought of not seeing him again hit her with a pain she hadn’t anticipated.

His features softened fractionally before he spoke. “I’d never do that. I said I’d deliver you to your family, and I will.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Out of gratitude, or perhaps relief, she walked across the room and hugged him. He returned the gesture with what felt like reluctance. Once she was in his embrace, she closed her eyes, savoring the closeness.

“Good night,” he whispered, and kissed the top of her head.

“Good night,” she returned, stopping herself from asking a series of unnecessary questions, which she knew would only have been an excuse to delay him. She didn’t want to think of him out there alone on the beach, but she couldn’t stop him from going, either.

After what seemed like an inordinate amount of time, they dropped their arms and stepped away from each other. “I’ll shower here in the morning, if you don’t mind,” he said.

She nodded and clenched her hands, already missing him—and he hadn’t even left.

He hesitated for a moment, then was gone.

Alone in her room, Gretchen was certain he’d wanted to tell her something. She’d recognized the look in his eyes. But whatever it was he’d decided to keep it to himself.

She showered, enjoying the glorious sensation of standing under the spray and letting it splash over her face. She slipped into her pajamas and used a sweater for extra warmth. Then, sitting on the bed, she watched TV and brushed her hair, or what there was of it. She wondered how long it would take her to get used to its being this short. Josh had worked miracles with the hack job she’d done. She sighed. For two days they’d spent nearly every minute together, and without him there to share these quiet moments, it felt as if a part of her was missing.

The program ended, and she was about to turn off the television and go to sleep when a loud knock sounded against her door.

She scrambled off the bed, wondering who on earth could be coming to her room this late. “Who is it?” she called, making her voice sound strong and confident.

No response.

“I’m not opening this door until I know who’s there.”

Another moment passed before the answer came.

“Josh.”

Chapter 4

“Josh!” Gretchen undid the locks and threw open the door. Why was he here, especially after acting as if he couldn’t be rid of her fast enough?

“Hi.” He stood on the other side of the door, looking decidedly uncomfortable, as though he wasn’t entirely sure himself why he was there, either.

“Come in.” She stepped aside to let him pass, yet he made no move to venture farther than the doorway.