"Do you have a room for a couple of nights?"
His rich voice floated over her like warm chocolate and her hand trembled when she pushed the register book toward him.
"Sure. Fill in the book and I'll get you a key. Kitchen's shut but I can rustle you up a sandwich if you need one."
"Thanks, that would be much appreciated." He held out his hand. "Names Morgan. Morgan Taylor."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Taylor, Stacey Peters, the hotel manager. In town for business?" She looked up at his gorgeous chiseled face and bit the inside of her cheek. The guy could have been a movie star with looks like his and she second guessed her normal one night stand.
"Just checking out the sights. I haven't been out in this part of Australia before and thought it would be a good idea." He grinned before dipping his head and signing the book before pushing it back toward her. "What time is closing?"
"Now actually. There is a mini bar in your room if you are after a beer though." She grimaced at the rowdy bar and shook her head. "Here is your key. When you're ready come on down and I'll make you something to eat. Just let me clear out the bar first."
Stacey walked back into the bar and slapped her hand on the counter. "Okay boys, everybody out. Now!"
She flicked the lights to dim in the room and started to collect glasses, taking ribbing jokes while she pushed customers out of the bar. The last slightly tipsy worker finally left and she locked the doors behind him. She was so damned tired. A hot bath and her bed were calling her name, she just knew it. The thought of the bubbles breaking over her tired legs, bursting to fill her head with their rose perfume as Stacey lay in the warm soothing water tortured her. But first there was the bar to clean otherwise she would be up at the crack of dawn and dragging herself out of bed early didn't seem like such a great idea right now.
Taking a tray from behind the counter, she walked around the tables loading it with dirty glasses. When it was full they went in the dishwasher and she grabbed another one until all of the dishes were done. Next she did a round with the rubbish bin and finally a cloth and bucket to wipe down the tables.
"Need a hand here?" Morgan was standing just inside the door watching her, a cold beer in his hand.
"No, thanks. I'm just about finished. Have a seat if you want and I'll get to the kitchen in a minute."
"I'm in no hurry. I just appreciate the offer of a bite to eat." He sat down on one of the stools and watched her work.
"Big drive today then?" Stacey wiped the table running her cloth under the edge to get the spilled beer that had gone sticky.
"Yeah, huge actually. I drove from Sydney with a couple of quick stops on the way." Morgan lifted a bottle to his lips and took a deep drink.
"So, what is the reason again for your visit?" Stacey wiped the next table she was at and then threw the rag in the bucket, before dumping it on the bar.
"I love the outback, just haven't had much of a chance to spend any time out here." He shrugged his shoulders. "I have some time owing to me so I thought why not? I'm kind of a spur of the moment guy."
"Must be nice to be able to just up and go somewhere."
"It is. Anyway enough about me. Tell me about the town."
"Not much to tell really. It was founded in 1910 when a couple of old prospectors came across a seam of gold. It went crazy there for a while but slowly petered out although people never gave up hope. We were at risk of becoming a ghost town for a few years when a big mining company decided to check for other minerals just outside of town."
"That must have been a relief for you."
"Yes and no. Luckily for us the state government is pretty strict and holds them accountable for waste and rejuvenation but they still make a bloody mess." She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hands. "Let me go and get you that sandwich before I finish for the night."
Stacey walked out the door toward the kitchen, aware of the soft footfalls behind her. Tired as she was the adrenalin was racing through her veins. Fight or flight, right? She would be quite happy to fight that body into her bed. It had been far too long since she had reacted to a man like this and the thought would have made her smile if she wasn't so damned tired and worn out.
She took cold meat and salad from the fridge and found a loaf of bread in the pantry. Morgan walked in and stood to one side of the work counter watching her.
"Sure there is nothing I can do?"
"No, it's all good. Just making you a sandwich but thanks for the offer anyway." Stacey layered the bread with meat and salad, cut it in two and grabbed a plate from the shelf above her head. She loaded on the sandwich added a serviette and handed it over to him.
"Thanks."
"So what are you going to do while you're here?" Stacey flicked on the coffee machine, placing her mug under the spout and leaned on the counter watching him take the first hungry bite.
"I thought I'd ask you if you could point out any places of interest and then I could just wander wherever I feel like going." He took another bite of the sandwich and nodded his head. "This is pretty good."
"Thanks. I have a
