HIGHLAND GAMES, WEST VIRGINIA
The Hotel- Present Day
The hotel where they had rented a room was not too far away from the games, but it was on the lower part of the mountain so it took about thirty minutes to get down the twisting roads back to town.
Gavin’s face was again, white as a sheet, and his hands were back on the dashboard in another death grip.
“Nice view, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t know because I have yet ta look at it.”
“Oh, Gavin.” She laughed.
Gavin cracked open one eye. “This is no laughing matter, lass,” he reprimanded. “This driving nonsense is no natural.”
“I could say the same about riding horses.” She hated riding—that wasn’t natural.
“Nay, lass.” He shut his eyes again. “A horse is a pleasure ta ride.”
“To you maybe,” she said, glancing over at him. “Not to me.”
“I don’t know what ta tell ye, lass. We will have ta agree ta disagree on this, aye?”
“Fine.” Once they exited the gates, she made a left. There were rows of stores on either side of the thoroughfare and also fast food restaurants and nicer, sit down establishments. “Do you want to get room service for dinner or eat out?”
“What is this room service ye speak of, lass?”
“It means we can go back to the room were staying in for the night and I’ll order some food from there like I do from home. They will bring it to our room.”
“I’d prefer if we went back ta the room, then.”
“All right. Room service it is.” At the light, she made a U-turn and headed back towards the hotel on the other side of the road. Pulling into the lot behind, she parked in her designated space and killed the engine. “We’re here.”
Gavin finally opened his eyes and released his death grip on the dash. “That wasn’t as bad this time.” He unbuckled his seat belt.
“You’ll get used to it.” She grabbed her bag out of the backseat.
“Nay, lass.” He shook his head. “I will never get used ta riding in this beast o’ yours.”
♦
Once they were back in the room, Paige ordered a bunch of different food that she thought Gavin would enjoy. New York Strip Steak, baking potatoes, Fettuccini Alfredo along with side salads, a bottle of wine and some chocolate mousse as well as apple pie alamode. She was starving and knowing Gavin’s appetite, she knew he was too.
“Lass?” Gavin stuck his head out of the bathroom. “I can’t get this thing ta work properly.”
“Just turn the handle,” she told him, cradling the phone to her ear.
“I already tried that.”
She covered the phone. “Hold on.”
“All right,” said the person taking her order on the phone.
“No. Not you. Go ahead.”
Gavin stepped out of the bathroom quickly, and slammed the door shut.
“What’s wrong?” she asked Gavin, covering the phone again, as her order was repeated back.
Gavin widened his eyes. “Too many mirrors in there. It’s not natural.”
Sighing, she held up her finger for him to hold on a minute.
He frowned. “Why are ye holding up yer finger at me, lass?”
She turned her back on him for a moment. “Yes, that sounds about right. How long?”
“Forty minutes,” the person said taking the order.
“Great. Thanks.” She hung up the phone and turned back towards Gavin.
He was scowling at her with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s no need ta turn yer back on me, lass. I was only asking ye a simple question.”
“Gavin,” she said, trying hard not to laugh. “I was trying to listen to our order, not ignore you.”
“Then why did ye hold yer finger up at me?”
“It’s just means to hold on for a minute.”
“Well, why didn’t ye just say that?” Shaking his head, he crossed the room and sat on the bed.
It was so easy to forget that Gavin was not from this time and was not accustomed to the smallest things that she took for granted. “I thought you wanted to take a shower.”
He sighed. “And I already told ye before ye stuck yer finger up at me that I didn’t know how ta get it ta work.”
“Right. I forgot.” She tossed her hair up into a loose bun and stuck the pen she was holding through to hold her hair in place.
“O’ course ye did,” Gavin grumbled under his breath.
“Come on. I’ll turn it on for you now.” She crossed the room and walked inside the bathroom. The shower itself wasn’t anything elaborate but it did have a few too many sprayers and handles. Pulling back the plastic curtain, she turned on the water and tested it to make sure it wasn’t too hot. Once the water turned warm, she walked back out of the bathroom. “The shower is ready for you, my lord.” She swept her arm out and bowed like a dutiful servant.
Gavin made a face and stood. Pulling off his shirt, he dropped it on the floor. Then his jeans followed and lastly, he removed his boxer briefs.
As usual when she saw him in any state of undress her mouth dropped open at the sight.
He got really close to her and leaned down. “If ye don’t shut yer mouth, lass, something is bound ta fly into it.” And with that he walked in the bathroom, and climbed in the shower.
Paige finally shut her mouth.