Free Love In Alabama (The Love In Series Book 1) by Shelby Gates Page A

heard the glass shower door open, then close. I sat up, pulling the sheet over my breasts. I didn't have to look at my reflection to know my hair was a tangled mess. I glanced around the room. There were clothes strewn everywhere—my dress lay in a crumpled heap on the floor and my panties had somehow ended up on the nightstand. I didn't see my bra. Adam's clothes were scattered, too.
    I chuckled and thought about snapping a picture and texting it to Paige.
    But I didn't want to. I wanted to keep the last twenty-four hours for me. I'd had a great encounter with a gorgeous guy who'd shown me just how great sex could be. And I wanted more with him. I thought about the rest of the week. Maybe I could extend my stay at the hotel, tack on a few extra days instead of traveling to a different part of Alabama. Adam could show me more of what Perdido Beach had to offer...and more of what he had to offer, too.
    The water in the bathroom turned off and I felt a small twinge of disappointment. I should have joined him in there. Check another experience off the list.
    I sighed. Next time, I thought. Next time we'll shower.
    I smiled. Like tonight.
    I crawled out from under the sheet and pulled on new panties, then located my bra on the side of the bed. I'd just snapped the clasp when the bathroom door opened and a freshly showered Adam walked out, a white bath towel wrapped snugly around his lower half.
    He ran his hands through his damp hair, pushing it away from his face, and smiled. “Sorry. Just needed to freshen up.”
    “No worries,” I said.
    Adam slipped back into his briefs and then his shorts, the towel still tied around him. He buttoned his shorts, then undid the towel and hung it on the bathroom doorknob. His shirt was draped over the small sitting chair and he pulled it on. He stared at the glass door, checking his reflection, his hand flying to his head to mess with his hair.
    He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was 7:45. “I should probably get going.”
    “Okay.” I was suddenly acutely aware that I was standing there in my underwear. I pulled open the dresser drawer closest to me and yanked out a tank top and a pair of denim shorts. I pulled them on as quickly as I could.
    He stretched like an old dog, his arms reaching high over his head as he yawned. His arms dropped to his sides and he chuckled, almost to himself.
    “What?” I asked, buttoning my shorts.
    “Just thinking about you and your...mission,” he answered, still smiling. “It's sort of  an 'out there' idea. In a good way,” he added quickly.
    “Well,” I said, trying to get a hand through my messy hair. My fingers snarled in the tangles. “Plans can always change.”
    He frowned. “What? No way. You gotta follow through. Your friends would never forgive you. And you would never forgive yourself.”
    “They would,” I said slowly. “If I met the right guy...”
    The words hung between us and he stared at me for a minute, a small smile on his face.
    “Well, I hope you do,” he finally said. “I really do. You're a great girl and you deserve it. I hope he's out there.”
    I felt the heat rise in my cheeks.
    “Listen, I gotta run,” he said. He crossed the room and gave me a light hug.
    “Okay,” I said lamely.
    He planted a kiss on top of my head. “How long are you in town for?”
    “I don't know,” I said. “A couple more days, at least.”
    He nodded. “You have good beach weather. And there are a couple more restaurants I can recommend, if you want.”
    I felt the sting of disappointment as the weight of his words sank in. He had no intention of seeing me again.
    He'd wanted the classic one-night stand. And he'd gotten it.
    “I gotta go,” he repeated, putting his hands on my shoulders. He kissed my cheek. “Thanks for a great night.”
    He turned and I watched, tears stinging my eyes as he grabbed his keys and walked out the hotel room door.
     

FOURTEEN
     
     
    I sat down on the edge of the bed and tried to