Page 6 of Riding Rough
“You coming?”
Every instinct in my body is screaming to lift her over my shoulder, carry her up those stairs, and show her what it feels like when a real man loves you, but that’s the insanity talking. This woman is and always will be, off limits.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I force my body back to reality and stare down at the screen as heavy rain begins to fall unexpectedly on the hotel’s roof. Concert goers rush in laughing, covering their heads with whatever they have as though they’ll melt from a bit of water.
“Kane!” Amber yells again. “We should get upstairs before everyone swamps us. I want to order dinner and take a bath.”
I step toward her as the crowd herds in behind me. I may as well get lost in the crowd, because going upstairs can’t happen. I stare down at my phone ringing in my hand. The name on the screen… her father.
Chapter Five
Amber
Dinner was weird. Kane disappeared for like twenty minutes and didn’t come back until I was in the shower. I swear he did it on purpose. It’s like he’s trying to stay away from me. Which is weird because at the very least, I thought we were friends. I mean, I know the whole ‘share a hotel’thing is weird, but it’s going to be fine. We don’t need to make a thing out of it.
I step out of the bathroom, passing by Kane who’s still fully dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and his leather jacket. He sits in the corner of the room, his eyes glued to his phone as I hold a towel tight around my chest and search through my bag for a nightgown.
Maybe he has a girlfriend he needs to contact. It has been a while since we caught up. I’m probably keeping him from her.
Oh God. What if he has a girlfriend and I’m just some charity case he came out to‘rescue?’I contemplate the reality of that thought. It’s probably the most logical explanation given he’s easily the most desirable bachelor in Colorado.
I slide the nightgown down over my towel, then strip the cotton away, tossing it into the bathroom before looking at Kane again.
I need to sleep. No more thinking about him allowed. Not today, not ever. “Did that lady have someone bring up the roll away? I don’t mind sleeping on that tonight. You drove all the way out here—”
“She made a mistake. There was only one, and she gave it to another family.” He groans. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
I laugh. “Kane, you’re not sleeping on the ground. This bed is huge. We can sleep together.” I climb under the sheets and grab a stack of pillows, smiling as I talk. “Look, we can make a wall.”
“No.” His voice is stern and leaves me no room for negotiation.
My stomach turns. Maybe I’m upsetting him. Maybe I’m in the way. I curl the blankets up over my shoulder and tuck into the sheets, covering my head as I roll away from Kane.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean for that to sound so harsh. I… I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.” He sighs. “So, I think it’s best if I sleep on the floor.”
I roll back toward him. “Well, if it’s about me, I really don’t mind. You’d be all the way over there, and like I said, we can keep pillows between us.”
He stares at me and then the pillows before returning to his phone.
“You’ve been on that thing all night. Are you seeing someone? I’m sorry I pulled you away tonight. I—”
“No.” He laughs. “I’m not seeing anyone. I’m talking to your father.”
“My father?”My stomach turns. “What does he want?”
“I had to tell him I was out here. He started to question why a load of guys were riding out to Wyoming. I couldn’t lie to him.”
“So, he knows about Jed? And he knows I’m here… with you?”
Kane nods. “Sorry. I’m sure you wanted to tell him in your own way about you and Jed, but—”
“God no!” I exhale slowly. “That’s a huge relief. What did he say?”
“He’s pissed. He’s meeting up with the guys. He wanted to take care of Jed himself. Ultimately, he’s just glad you’re out of there.”
My heart smiles and I’m pretty sure it shows. “I’m always safe with you, Kane.”
He stares at me for a long while before standing and making his way to the bed. “What did Jed do to you, Amber? Why didn’t you call sooner?”