Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
AARON
I t’s only three days.
Seventy-two hours with an arrogant know-it-all that I didn’t want to hire in the first place. I slapped the elevator button so hard that my palm ached. Letting out my frustration was satisfying but all too temporary. Being around Harrison had my temper fraying, and I hated it. And I knew better than to let someone goad me. Or, so I thought.
Harrison appeared by my side, so much for making my escape to the bar…
“While you’re off day drinking—” he started.
“One drink,” I repeated as I held up a finger. No, not that one. Not this time. “I’ll meet you in the lobby at three sharp.”
“Sounds good. It’ll give you time to change.”
“Excuse me?”
Harrison scoffed. “Get out of that three-piece suit. It’s making me itch just looking at it.”
I took a deep breath and willed the elevator to hurry the fuck up. Guests huddled around us, and I started to fidget.
“Never mind what I’m wearing,” I bit out and reached for my tie, loosening it. “Focus on the deal.”
“That’s my point,” Harrison countered. “If you’re uncomfortable, as you clearly are, it’s going to show. And I’ve done my research on Jonassa; it’s casual Friday every day. Go change.”
Bossy motherfucker. I needed a gin and tonic, and I needed it now.
Ping. Thank God.
I stepped into the elevator, along with my annoying employee and six other guests. But instead of standing beside me, Harrison stood directly in front of me. All I could see was his broad back and when I looked higher, the pale freckles that dotted his neck, just above his jacket collar. And why did he smell so damn good? It pissed me off that I even noticed.
When the elevator stopped at the ninth floor, more people got on. Suddenly, Harrison was wedged up tight against me.
“Do you mind?” I hissed, nudging his arm with mine.
When he didn’t move, I tried pushing his back. He was immovable.
“Where do you want me to go? Should I turn around?” he snarked. “Would that be better?”
Fuck no, that would be worse. Face to face, we’d probably start a brawl. Guests were turning to stare at us, and my face flushed with heat.
“Can’t this thing go any faster?” I mumbled, staring at his thick, perfect hair.
“Just relax and enjoy the view,” Harrison quipped.
“View? All I can see is your big head,” I snapped, then realized, too late, that I should not have said that.
Not to this guy.
“You wish.”
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” I whispered, my cheeks on fire.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he snarked and sniffed the air. “For the love of God, have your drink, then go have a shower. It smells like a rank locker room in here.”
The other guests started laughing and my stomach clenched hard. Suddenly, it was ten years ago, and I was standing naked in front of all those students.
I closed my eyes. Three days… Three days…
When the elevator hit the twentieth floor, Harrison stepped out to let me pass. I’d never been so relieved to get away from another person in my life.
“I’m heading to our room to freshen up,” he announced as he stepped back into the elevator, a smug smirk greeting me. “I’ll see you in an hour. One drink. And then go change into something casual.”
“Hey! In case you forgot, I’m the one who’s the bo—” I started but the doors closed before I could finish my sentence.
The bastard got the last word again. Irritated and tired, I shuffled down the hallway, dragging my suitcase and garment bag, following the sign for the bar. It was located a short walk from the elevator and that was a very good thing. At first glance, it was a typical hotel bar with polished wood tables, big leather chairs and cozy nooks that offered the atmosphere of an old-fashioned pub. A dozen patrons were seated around the room, most of them couples. But it was the huge windows with stellar mountain views that caught my attention. Not that I cared about settling in here, since I had a meeting to get ready for, but still, I could appreciate the scenery as much as anyone.
I walked up to the bar and slid onto one of the stools. The bartender, a slender, curly-haired man in his twenties, was blending a frozen drink. He glanced over and nodded.
“Afternoon, what can I get you?” he asked, offering a genuine smile.
“Gin and tonic with lime, heavy on the ice and the gin, please.”
“You got it.”
The bartender poured the slushy drink in a huge margarita glass and passed it over to the older gentleman sitting at the end of the bar, alone. I had a weird sense of déjà vu, or rather, a glimpse at the future.
Would that be me one day? Fuck, it was me already. A drink by myself, a nice meal by myself, then I’d do more work at home, by myself. Until I fell asleep, by myself. Okay, I had my cat for company. Still, I was up at five AM, and off to work, rinse and repeat. Not the drink mind you, that was only on the weekends. Still, my personal life was nonexistent. I avoided as many social events as I could because everyone I knew was somehow connected to my family and I hated that.
I wasn’t into big parties or clubs either.
And if I needed sex, I preferred strangers. I had a few regular fuck buddies; men who were discreet since they were in the same situation as me. Not hiding per se, but not out to anyone either. Every time I came close to telling my family the truth, I balked. I was pretty sure my father would react badly to my being gay. And I didn’t need any fucking drama right now. Not with all the pressure from work. But how much longer was I going to be able to keep up the charade? I was tired, and I wasn’t talking about jet lag. Too many times, I wondered what it would be like if I started over in a new city. A place where I could take a fucking breath without the pressure bearing down on me.
I was so caught up in my head that I didn’t realize the bartender had placed my drink in front of me and was staring with concern.
“Thanks,” I managed to reply as I reached for the crystal glass, taking a much-needed sip.
The floral notes of the gin and the crisp lime hit my tastebuds, and I finally felt my nerves ease.
“Keegan,” he replied and gave me a long once-over.
I didn’t miss the flirty glint in his hazel gaze or the way he licked his lips. Another pair of eyes, icy blue, reverberated in my mind.
Fuck no, get out of my head.
“And you are?” he added.
Letting loose while I was here was tempting but unfortunately, I didn’t have time. Time, or the luxury of my own fucking hotel room. Then again, who needed a room? Maybe I could squeeze in a quick hand job. There had to be a bathroom around that was unoccupied.
“Aaron.” I smiled at him, then took another sip. “A pleasure.”
“It’s all mine,” he whispered and leaned on the bar. “Or, it could be. You have plans after this drink?”
What was I complaining about earlier? I freaking loved this hotel.
“I’ve got a meeting,” I explained.
“Then you’ll need stress relief when that’s done. Later?”
I stared at his pink lips and figured, why the fuck not? He wasn’t my usual type, but a sexy mouth was a sexy mouth.
“I’ll be back for another drink, around eight?” I offered.
“I’ll be clocking off at the same time, so that works perfectly. You’re staying here in the hotel, right?”
I grimaced. “Yes, but unfortunately I’ve got a roommate, and I can’t get rid of him.”
“He could join us?”
A threesome with two strangers sounded incredibly hot. But with Harrison? I’d want to asphyxiate him and not in a kinky, albeit safe, fifty shades kind of way.
“Um, no.” I shook my head. “He’s annoying. A cocky smart-ass with an ego the size of that mountain.”
“Sounds like a big dick,” Keegan chuckled.
“Yes,” I replied and took another sip of my drink. “A complete jerk.”
“No, I meant, he probably has a big dick. The egotistical ones usually do.”
I choked on a mouthful of my drink and coughed. “Please, no more talk about him.”
Keegan’s raspy laugh echoed over the cheesy music. The older gentleman at the end of the bar motioned for another drink and Keegan nodded at him.
“I’ll see you here around eight,” Keegan stated and tapped the bar.
“I’ll be here.”
I pulled out a fifty-dollar bill and placed it under my glass. Maybe this trip wasn’t going to be a total disaster after all. I could fuck away my frustration and forget all about my arrogant, infuriating employee.
Feeling lighter than I had when I walked in here, I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and headed for the door. I don’t know if it was the gin or the fact that I was going to get laid tonight, but I was finally relaxed and ready for this meeting.
When I got to the room, however, I paused for a split second before swiping my card. Don’t let Harrison goad you. Ignore his taunts.
The room was eerily quiet when I entered.
“Hello?” I called out.
There was no reply. And no other noises either. Harrison wasn’t here. Another wave of relief hit me as I looked around. The room was nicer than I was expecting, with wood and leather accents, but it was small. The king-sized bed looked comfortable but the couch on the other hand, did not. It was barely a love seat. I tried to picture Harrison’s six-foot frame curled up on it and I barked out a laugh. First one of the day. Anyway, that wasn’t my problem but his. He’d agreed to take the couch, so he’d have to deal with it.
I dumped my parka, suitcase, and garment bag on the luggage rack and started unpacking. Everything was neatly organized as usual, with separate cubes for socks, underwear, sweaters, and shirts. My garment bag had two suits, and two pairs of additional pants, plus a jacket. I hung everything up, and slipped off my tie, jacket, and vest. Then I grabbed my kit and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower to freshen up. My eyes were dry, and I wondered about switching out my contacts lenses. Did I even bring my glasses with me?
“What the fuck?” I muttered when I stepped inside the bathroom.
The storm had apparently already arrived. A wet bath towel lay on the floor, fifteen bottles of hair and face products littered the counter, and an electric blue jockstrap hung on the hook where the hand towel should be. Christ, it was like living in a college dorm all over again. I caught the familiar scent of vanilla and musk, and realized it was Harrison’s cologne. Or his bodywash, given the steam that hung in the air. It was so heady it almost made me forget about the mess he’d made. Now, and then.
Until a door suddenly slammed.
“Honey, I’m home!” Harrison called out.
I wasn’t going to last three minutes, never mind three days.