Going to her open suitcase set on the chair, she picked out a pair of jeans and a scooped-neck purple top. Tiptoeing into the bathroom, she closed the door without letting it click closed, afraid the small sound would wake Gavin.
Seeing the toilet, she thought about giving a Hail Mary, relieving herself and trying not to tinkle too loudly. When she finished, she laid two towels over the tank before flushing, satisfied at the muted sounds coming from her savior.
Proud of herself for making minimum sounds when she dressed and brushed her teeth, Ginny stepped out of the bathroom and into hell.
Gavin was pacing around the hotel room, wild-eyed, trying to tear his hair out.
Terrified, Ginny froze, but it was too late. He had already spotted her.
“What did you do to me?” he roared at her so loudly that Ginny was afraid the cheap pictures hanging on the walls would fall off.
“What?”
“It’s one o’clock!”
“I know. Are you mad I let you sleep in?” Trying to figure out why he was so furious, she was frightened he knew she slept beside him.
“I don’t sleep for nine fucking hours! Did you drug me when I was sleeping?”
Her mouth dropped open at the accusation. “Of course not—”
Ginny found herself lifted off her feet and tossed onto the bed.
Leaning over her with his hands planted beside her head on the mattress, he snarled into her face, “Tell me what you gave me!”
Trembling, she stared up at him. “I didn’t give you anything. Gavin, you were exhausted ….” Frightened, she was about to admit she slept with him, choosing to tell him the truth versus having him believe she drugged him, yet he didn’t give her the opportunity.
“I’ve been exhausted much worse before and never slept for nine fucking hours!” Pounding a fist on the mattress beside her head, Ginny knew she had to calm him down. As frightened as he was making her, it was nothing compared to the terror he was going through.
Reaching for every ounce of courage she possessed, Ginny suddenly twined her arms around his neck, using all her strength to rise up against him and turn, forcing him to turn with her until she was the one on top. Plastering herself against his hard body, she buried her face in his neck, giving him her full weight.
“Calm down, sweet man. I didn’t drug you. I swear I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that to you. I love you, Gavin,” she whispered into his ear, feeling his body shaking under hers. “Sweet, sweet man, I love you …,” she repeated over and over until she felt his shaking stop and he lay limply, not straining away from her. Lifting one hand, Ginny raised her head to smooth down his tumbled hair. His wild eyes were unfocused, staring up at her.
“I love your tattoo here.” Using her thumb, Ginny rubbed the tattoo under his earlobe. “Did it hurt?” When he didn’t answer, Ginny rubbed the one right below. “This is my second favorite. The only thing I don’t like is your earring. You need something else. I don’t know what yet, but when I do, I’m going to buy it for you.”
“To remember you by?” His beautiful eyes were becoming clearer.
“No. So every time you look in a mirror, you’ll know you’re mine,” she stated matter-of-factly.
Gavin closed his eyes, then reopened them, shaking his head at her. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope. I’m a mountain woman—I don’t know how to give up.” Ginny rubbed her cheek against his chest, satisfied his heart was beating normally again, before lifting her head to meet his eyes. “I didn’t drug you.”
He closed his eyes again, nodding.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
When he still didn’t open his eyes, Ginny reckoned he was still trying to convince himself that she hadn’t.
“Are you sure?” she asked doubtfully.
“I’m sure.” His lying eyes remained shut.
Ginny grinned. She had never been afraid of a challenge. Well, she had, but she never let anyone know it.
“Then prove it. Can I kiss you here?” She brought her thumb to his jaw.
His eyes sprang open. “No.”
“It’ll be short and sweet, just to prove you believe me,” she wheedled. “I can give you one like I give my brothers.”
“No.”
“I knew you didn’t believe me. I guess we’re going to have to stay here all day, because I’m not—”
“I said I believed you.”
Were his lips twitching? Ginny started worrying about her own heartbeat skyrocketing out of control at the beginning of a small smile.
“Prove it,” she wheedled again. “Short and sweet … for a sweet man—”
“Jesus, just do it!” he shouted. “Just shut u—”
Ginny didn’t give him the opportunity to take back his permission. Giving him a quick peck on his cheek, Ginny then jumped off him, going to the floor to pick up her scattered pajamas that she dropped when he tossed her onto the bed.
“That’s it?” Gavin rose up on his elbows to watch her as she repacked her suitcase and zipped it closed.
Pasting a pretend frown on, she put the suitcase on the floor before turning to face him. “Too long?” Faking misunderstanding him, Ginny rolled her suitcase to the door.
Gavin sat up on the bed, his long legs hanging off the side. “I need a shower before we go.” Getting up from the bed, he removed the belt from under the door. “Stay here while I get my clothes from the car.”
“Why didn’t you bring them in last night?”
“I wanted my hands free in case someone tried to jump us. Your stalker won’t take a chance of losing you with you on the move. I wanted to be prepared if he made a last-ditch effort.”
This time her frown was sincere. “Was that why you didn’t offer to help me with my suitcase last night?”
He frowned back. “When it comes to your safety, being a gentleman comes last.”
“You could have told me. A woman needs to know these things.”
“Ginny, what feelings you have for me … we’re traveling in two opposite directions.” Gavin uncaringly said, as he burst yet another bubble of hope that he was ever going to love her the way she loved him.
“Gavin, I can carry my own suitcase.” Her forehead creased in irritation as she set her hurt feelings aside. “I don’t know what women you’re used to dealing with, so I’m going to give you a free clue where I’m concerned. I don’t need you to carry my weight when I’m more than capable of carrying it myself. What I should have said, since you misunderstood me last time,” Ginny spoke clearly and succinctly, “is it would have been nice to have been forewarned that you expected us to be jumped when we got out of the car.”
“I should have told you,” he admitted grudgingly. “But—”
“No buts. Next time, just give me a heads-up. I don’t scare easily, and I can take it when you tell me I need to be careful. What I can’t take is you thinking I’m a nincompoop with no concern for my safety. You may be here on Viper’s order to protect me, but don’t you ever forget this is my life we’re talking about, and if I screw up, the final result could end in not just me being hurt, but you as well, and that thought is unfathomable to me.”