Luck Be a Lady - Cathie Linz [37]
“Good night, then.” She turned so that her back was to him. She thought it would take her hours to fall asleep but she quickly drifted off.
She woke with her cheek on something warm. Blinking in confusion, it took her a moment or two to realize she was resting on Logan’s bare chest. He must have discarded his T-shirt during the night. The room had gotten quite warm and they’d both kicked the heavier covers out of their way. She tried to shift away before he woke up and caught her cuddling against him. But when she moved, he tightened his hold on her.
She froze. Great. Now what should she do? She waited a minute or two and tried again. This time she got a little farther away before he hauled her back. Muttering something, he nuzzled her neck before sliding his lips across her jaw to her mouth. He was kissing her. In his sleep. And he was doing a damn good job of it.
His hands were on the move now, sliding beneath her oversized T-shirt to cup her breasts. She really should protest. Had that moan come from her or from him?
She was playing with fire here, a dangerous pastime and one she’d never indulged in before. Her body’s instant response bypassed her brain. She wanted him. He wanted her. He kissed her again. He wasn’t aggressive, he was damn tempting.
One of his hands shifted from her breast lower, to the waistband of her boxer shorts. His fingers had barely slipped beneath before she came to her senses. She had to stop this . . . now!
She shoved him away and rolled out of the bed. She stood there a moment, trembling, her fingers pressed against her lips still throbbing from his kiss.
Unable to speak coherently, she escaped to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, she finally found the courage to come out. She was wearing the jumper and white shirt again from the night before.
Looking out the open motel room door, she could see that Logan was once again wearing his T-shirt and was out by the car. As she packed up her few belongings, he came back inside and went into the bathroom without saying a word. When he came out, his dark hair was damp, as if he’d splashed cold water on his face.
“Let’s get out of here. I don’t care if the car is still busted, we aren’t staying.”
“We can’t leave without saying good-bye. And what about paying for the room?”
“Fine,” he growled. “But we are not lingering. Got that?”
“Got it.” Neither one of them referred to what had happened in the bed they both avoided looking at.
Rowdy greeted them as they walked into the café. He was sitting on a chair near the door. “Morning, folks. Sleep well?”
“Not really.” Logan cautiously eyed the shotgun Rowdy had setting across his lap.
“Here’s the deal,” Rowdy said in a no-nonsense voice of authority. “The two of you spent the night together in the same motel room without benefit of marriage. And that’s illegal here. Looks like you two are going to have to tie the knot or face the consequences.”
Chapter Eight
“Tie the knot?” Megan repeated in disbelief.
“Back up a minute. What do you mean, it’s illegal here?” Logan demanded. “You mean here? In Nevada?”
“No. Here in Last Resort. It’s also illegal to spit on the sidewalk.”
“You don’t have any sidewalks.”
“If we did, it would be illegal to spit on them.” Rowdy shifted his hand on the shotgun. “Lucky for you, I’m a justice of the peace, as well as mayor and town sheriff. You have a choice—jail or a wedding. And the costs for a marriage license and ceremony come to a thousand dollars.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“It’s a fair price,” Rowdy said defensively.
“I’m not talking about the money,” Logan said. “I’m talking about this con.”
“I agree,” Megan said. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had underestimated her, thinking she was a mild-mannered librarian only to find she was more than capable of looking out for herself. “You are the one who put us in that room, Rowdy. You said you only had the one room available.”
“It wasthe only room we had available.”
“Then why didn’t you mention this little law of yours when you offered us the room?”
Rowdy shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”
“How could