Free Sidewalk Flower by Carlene Love Flores

appeared.
    When she had the door opened and then
flicked on the light, she cursed.
    “What’s wrong?”   Lucky stepped inside and closed the door
behind him after setting their bags close to the cooling unit.  
    “I swear to you, I asked for two beds.”
    She waved her hands over the space in
front of them where only one queen-size ensemble stood.
    Well, somebody was awake now.   He coughed then said, “I believe you.   It’s okay; I can sleep on the couch.”
    They looked over to it together.   If Trista sat down and stretched her legs
out, they would hang over the other end at mid-calf.   And she was only five-feet-four inches tall.  
    “That won’t be necessary, Lucky.   It would be very funny, but no.”
    “Well, I don’t want you to have to sleep
there either,” he said.  
    She picked up on the suggestion in his
voice right away.   If only he knew she
had no intentions of either of them bunking down on the little couch.  
    Looking at his plentiful arms, she
couldn’t help but rub hers and wonder what it would feel like to be wrapped up
in something so warm and wholesome.   Even
just for the night.   Especially
this night.   She leaned her upper
torso a little to the right and let her neck roll slightly to the back.   The stretch felt good as she tried to release
the pent up stress squeezing her muscles.   Biting her bottom lip and then letting it ease back to its natural
place, she made him an offer.   “I
wouldn’t mind sharing the bed, if you’re okay with that.”
    His answer was to step closer and take
over the attempted warming of her arms.   “You’re cold.   They keep this
place like a freezer.”   And then he let
out a big breath.   And
swallowed.  
    Was he avoiding her offer?   She warmed at his old-fashioned charm but
desired the passionate kisser that he seemed to be keeping at bay.
    “These places are always like this.”   She glanced up, hoping to catch his handsome
face in a smile but instead, found him frowning.   She hadn’t meant to remind him how often she’d
been in hotel rooms but it appeared that’s exactly what she’d done.
      “Here,” he said, his
voice so smooth and low she could taste him like she could taste rich, velvety
dark chocolate if she thought about it long enough.  
    She wondered what he was about to offer
when to her extreme surprise, he undid the red pearl buttons of his western
shirt, letting it slide off his long-limbed body with the unexpected grace of a
dancer.   Oh no .   She meant oh yes, but
knew oh no was the correct
response.   Quickly, he wrapped it around
the back of her shoulders and gathered it at the front, holding it closed with
his hands.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, appreciative
of the gesture. Not only for the instant heat his body had lent to the fibers in the fabric but also because she could finally appreciate
the tanned skin of his chest, now that they were alone.  
    Alone.   Together.   A crazy need twisted its way through her
jaded heart.   A touch
from someone good.   Enough to warm and calm her for the night and propel her through
tomorrow.   That’s all she was
asking.   But Lucky wouldn’t be easy to
convince, she already knew that much.   And although it would probably do the trick, she wasn’t willing to show
him how much she needed it.   A sigh crept
out as she gave up on the pointless idea.  
    Lucky kept hold of the shirt gathered in
his fingers in front of her.   Would he
let it loose already so she could get on with the night alone?   She eyed one far corner of the bed.   But she was still cold to the touch and he
voiced his concern.  
    “Would you like me to raise the
thermostat?” he asked.
    “No, it’s okay.   I’m fine.”
    But she wasn’t.   She was starting to shiver.   Lucky pulled her into his bare but heated
chest and wrapped his arms around her back.   She could have cried right there.  
    “Hey, you’re shaking—a lot.”   His squeeze felt like a