The Perfect Stroke Read Online Free Page B

to lock.
    “I can think of something else I’d rather you give me.”
    “That’s not happening,” I assure him, stubbornly refusing to look his way.
    “Why’s that?”
    “That ship has sailed.”
    “We could always take it back out to sea.”
    “The point of weekend hookups out of town is that they end at the weekend and they remain out of town,” I tell him with a wince, trying to ignore how that makes me sound. “What are you doing here?”
    “I had to come to town on business.”
    “This place isn’t exactly industry row.”
    “No, but it does have its appeal, that’s for sure.” His finger wraps around a strand of my hair. I barely resist the urge to pull it away from him. I’m working really hard on ignoring the way his voice sends chills down my back. The man is like a drug! —one that I’m definitely smart to quit cold turkey.
    “Well, I hope you enjoyed your visit,” I tell him, “but I need to get home. It’s been a long day and Cat is waiting for me.”
    “You named your cat… Cat?”
    “Cat could have been a person.”
    “Is she?”
    “No.”
    “Then I’m right. Strange. I would have figured you for a dog person.”
    “Well, you don’t really know me.”
    “You’re definitely wrong there. I think I know a lot about you.”
    “Considering you didn’t even know who I was earlier today, I think I can safely argue.”
    “If I remember correctly, proving you wrong is a lot of fun, so you can argue away.”
    “What’re you—?”
    “Remember? You said there was no way you could come again, and I told you that you could. All it took was sliding my tongue slowly against—”
    “Okay, I think you should stop there. I’ve had a long day, and I’m sure you’re anxious to get back on the road and go back to wherever—”
    “Actually, it seems I’m going to be staying in Kentucky for a couple of weeks.”
    My heart stutters at his words, and a nervous tension gathers in my stomach. This news shouldn’t affect me one way or another—but it does. I do my best to shake it off and not let it show.
    “In that case, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. Right now, however, I better get going.”
    “Right, home to your… cat ,” he says, and I don’t correct him.
    “Exactly. Take care, Gray.”
    “Maybe you could help me first.”
    “Listen,” I start, but he holds his hands up as if to stop me.
    “I need a hotel. I’ve driven around this place and I’ve yet to see one.”
    “That’s because there isn’t one.”
    “ What?? ”
    “Small town. There’s no need for a motel around here.”
    “Where do people from out of town stay?”
    “With family or friends…?”
    “Are you offering?”
    “Not even a little bit.”
    “That’s cold. You’d just send me out to sleep on a park bench?”
    “I wouldn’t do that if I was you.”
    “Are you afraid I’ll be kidnapped for my sexy body and—?”
    “Probed anally by little green men?”
    “Umm…” I can’t stop from smiling at the look on his face. I’m not sure why I like him, especially after today, but I can’t deny that there’s something about him. “Do you have many alien sightings around here?” he asks.
    “Only on nights with the full moon, or the week after old man Jenkins sells some of his homemade preserve.”
    “Delightful…”
    “Rest easy, Crayon-man. There’s a bed and breakfast about three miles up that street,” I tell him, pointing the way. It’s on the right. Ask for Mrs. Casebolt. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with my bed.”
    “Maybe I could double date with you. I bet I could make it more interesting…”
    “Cat already beat you to the punch. Nice try, though.”
    “We can let Cat have the couch.”
    “See you around, Gray,” I tell him, walking to my car.
    “You’re just going to turn me out into the cold like this, after all of the nice things I did for you this weekend?”
    “They were nice,” I tell him, looking over the top of my vehicle.
    “I