Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
LIVING LIFE SOLO
Harlow
Iflip off the water and grab a towel.
My wedding day was nothing like it should’ve been, and I couldn’t be happier.
Devon Donnelly takes room service seriously. He told me to order whatever I wanted, but I wasn’t hungry. So I was shocked when there was a knock at my door a little after six o’clock last night.
It was a cart full of more food than three to four needed, let alone little old me.
I should have a conversation with the owner about waste.
I can’t imagine how much food was thrown away because I was a no-show to my own wedding.
I was told the kitchen didn’t know what I liked, so they made me a variety—compliments of Mr. Donnelly.
It didn’t come with champagne, but it did come with a selection of red and white wines.
I drank half a bottle of red as I picked over the variety of dishes. Pasta, tenderloin, scallops, and even fish tacos, which I did eat most of. You can put anything in a taco, and I’ll eat it.
I was grateful for the food since I was too wound up to eat most of yesterday. Devon has saved me more than once, it seems. Food and a short conversation with Chrissie late last night was all I needed. My wedding day ended just the way I’d planned.
Alone.
Relieved.
And, most importantly, my relationship status is once again set at single.
Sleep hasn’t come easily for me in weeks, but today I’m rested with not one regret. If anything, I’m more determined than ever to carry on with the plan I had no choice but to make.
I wrap the towel around me and rake a comb through my wet hair.
All I need is a few more hours until I should be able to wander the estate and the town without running into people I don’t want to see or talk to.
And since I don’t want to speak to anyone but Chrissie, I need to hide out until everyone from the wedding is long gone.
Janie landed back in New York late last night. She hasn’t stopped texting me. It doesn’t matter how agitated or desperate her messages became—I haven’t answered any of them.
Her agitation and desperation has made me oddly happy. Even so, I finally had to mute her. There’s only so much of Janie Madison one person can take. I think I’ve had my fill for the next year.
I drop my towel to the floor and move to my suitcase for clothes only to hear a knock on my door.
And not a patient one.
Damn. This is a secure floor. I reach for my robe and wrap myself up in it as I hurry on bare feet across the suite.
When I look through the peep hole, relief floods me. All I see is a strong jaw line, a fresh dress shirt open at the collar, and sun kissed skin. And, let it be noted, the jaw line is stronger than Albert could ever manage through fillers and procedures.
Another knock, and this one is more persistent than before.
I cinch the belt of my robe and flip the deadbolt.
When I open the door, I feel smaller in front of him than I did yesterday. I must have been distracted. Or being naked beneath this robe may have something to do with it. I’m too lost thinking about my lack of panties to speak, so his deep, English accent breaks the silence. “Good morning.”
I fist my robe at my breasts and clear my throat. “Sorry. Good morning. Have you been waiting long? I was in the shower.”
His blue eyes are heavy when they survey me from top to bottom before he confirms the obvious. “I see that. Do you have a minute?”
If truth be told, I have three weeks, but I leave that part out. I hold the door open wide. “Of course.”
He stops in the middle of the suite and turns to me. “Felicity, the front desk manager, mentioned you wished to—”
I interrupt him. “Thank you for dinner last night. Yesterday was a lot. I didn’t think I was hungry, but it turns out I was famished. You sent too much food, but I was able to wrap it up so I can finish it over the next few days.”
He tips his head and frowns. “You saved the left-over food?”
“Yes. I don’t like to waste food.”
He states the obvious. “You’re the daughter of Patrick Madison.”
It’s my turn to frown. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He shrugs. “I’d think that would have something to do with everything. Speaking of, did you locate your father?”
I shake my head. “I obviously have a strained relationship with Janie. And Dad and I disagree on many things when it comes to Stonebridge, but I love him. When he became too ill to make his own medical decisions, I tried to become his medical power of attorney, but Janie fought me on it. I lost. I couldn’t even get her to agree to dual. ”
Devon’s stare hangs heavy on me, but it’s not just a stare. He’s studying me.
“What?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I find you interesting.”
I wrap my arms around myself tighter. “Excuse me?”
He takes two steps back and leans on the dining table that overlooks the grounds I’ve been eyeing since I got here. I can’t wait to explore every inch of it while I spend my honeymoon solo.
A table for one, please.
A cabana for one, please.
A kayak for one, please.
Tennis ... well, that will be an issue. It also kind of freaks me out to hike by myself.
Other than that, I’m committed to living life solo for a very long time. Who knows? Maybe forever. It’s not how I saw my life playing out, but I also never thought I’d have to save myself from the man I was supposed to marry.
But I can’t get to any of that until every wedding guest is G-O-N-E gone, and I’m wearing some actual clothes.
And there’s no way I can make that happen with Devon settling in for a deep and meaningful conversation while I’m naked beneath this thin robe.
He’s definitely taking more than the minute he asked for when I let him in, and I’m not discussing my dad with anyone.
“Let’s recap the last few days. You ran out early on your rehearsal dinner.
You ditched your fiancé at the actual altar.
You got in a fight with your stepmum. Your father, who was under full-time medical care all the way across the country, is missing.
I’ve had to keep your ex-arsehole fiancé away from you more than once—”
“Whoa.” I put my hand out and stop him right there. “Did something else happen?”
Devon leans into the table farther and crosses his ankles. “Let’s just say he really wants to see you. You told Felicity and me you didn’t want to see him, so we honored that. If we were wrong, let me know.”
“No, you’re not wrong. I appreciate it. And Felicity, please extend my thanks to her.”
He lifts his chin.
Before he has the chance to add to all the ways I’ve been a pain in the ass since I stepped onto his resort, I take this opportunity to assess him as he did me. “I’m not the only interesting one, Devon.”
His brows rise, and for the first time since we met, he doesn’t look annoyed. He looks amused. Amused on Devon Donnelly is a good look. It sort of takes my breath away.
When his smirk comes out to play, my nipples go instantly hard. “Is that so?”
Happy to not be talking about me, Albert, or my father, I tell Devon the truth. “You don’t seem like someone who would work in hotel management, let alone own something like this.”
“Finally, something we agree on. I’m obviously not faking it well enough. What gave me away?”
A smile touches my lips as I glance around the luxurious suite. “Don’t get me wrong, you look like you belong here, but you don’t look like you enjoy it. No offense, but hospitality doesn’t come naturally to you.”
He lowers his voice, but he looks no less amused. “Have I been anything other than hospitable to you, Ms. Madison?”
I shift my weight and cross my arms tighter across my breasts. I need to not find the broody man charming while standing here in nothing but my bridal robe. “You delivered my note. Nothing could be more hospitable than that.”
He gives his head a ridiculous, sarcastic bow. “Is it too soon to say it was my pleasure?”
“I suppose not—but only because of your accent. If you were an American, then it wouldn’t be nearly as charming that you ended my marriage before it ever had a chance to fail on its own. You’re a modern-day hero.”
And just like that, gone is his amused expression. He sobers in an instant. “I’m no hero.”
“There’s nothing more appealing than a hero who doesn’t see it. So thank you, Devon. You saved me, and you did it with a deep, English accent. What more could a girl ask for?”
He exhales like he’s exhausted and it’s barely past breakfast. “Back to why I’m here. I tried to talk to you about it yesterday, but the whole thing happened with your stepmum and dad. There’s no availability to extend your stay.”
It’s my turn to sober. “What do you mean?”
“I mean we’re booked solid starting tonight. Check out is in two hours. I can probably give you four if you need extra time to get your shi—I mean, pack.”
“But I only need a couple weeks. Surely, you’ll have a cancellation or something. I don’t need the suite. I’ll take a basic room.”
He shakes his head and proceeds to rip my heart in two. “We’ve only been open for a few months. I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve had a cancellation. Nobody cancels, nor do they check out early—last night notwithstanding. Your wedding seems to be the outlier to everything.”
Damn. I had a plan. I was in complete control for a change. It was the only thing keeping me sane all these weeks. That and Chrissie. And I’m not sure when she’ll be able to join me.
“But there’s nowhere else to stay in Winslet.”
“There is the motel. Just a heads up, I mentioned it to Albert. Not that he’s likely to check in there, but desperation has done crazier things,” he states. “I’m sure you have an assistant or a travel agent who can get you booked into a five-star spa to recover from the wedding.”
“There was no wedding,” I snap. All of a sudden, I feel more exposed than ever. I ignore Devon, tuck my wet hair behind my ear, and move to the primary bedroom of the suite.
“Harlow,” he calls for me.
I don’t shut the door and go straight to the bathroom. It’s all I can do to keep my hands from trembling. I know I could go anywhere—that’s not the problem. I don’t want to be anywhere but here.
In Winslet.
There’s a knock on the doorframe to the bedroom when I hear him call, “You okay?”
“Fine,” I clip as I start tossing bottles, tubes, and makeup brushes haphazardly into a bag.
“You don’t sound fine. Can I come in?”
I clear my voice and do my best to even my tone. “It’s your manor.”
I hear his mutter come from the bedroom. “Bloody, fucking bullocks. I’m coming in. You’d better be dressed or shit’s about to get more awkward than it already is.”
I move to my moisturizers and serums. “I’ll be out of your hair in two hours. Nothing will be awkward after that.”
I jerk when he appears in the mirror behind me, and I accidentally drop a bottle in the marble sink.
He folds his arms and stares at me through the reflection. “Are you telling me you don’t have anywhere to go?”
“I never said that. But I need to be in Winslet. I couldn’t very well extend my stay when I was supposed to be on safari on my fucking honeymoon.
There was no way I could have...” I brace against the counter and hold his gaze in the mirror as my words trail off.
I lick my lips and swallow over the lump in my throat and fight the tears that threaten to burst. “I can make other plans. I’ll figure it out, but I need to get changed and pack.
My stuff is spread all over the place. I’ll be gone by checkout. I don’t want to put your staff behind.”
He doesn’t take my dismissing him as his cue to leave. In fact, he doesn’t move a muscle. “Why do you need to be in Winslet?”
I shake my head and turn back to the mess left over from wedding prep. “It’s none of your business. I’ll be fine.”
“Harlow.” He bites my name with conviction in a way that demands my attention. His expression is as demanding as my name. “Answer me.”
I toss the rest of the small bottles into the makeup bag.
“I’ve had a few tough weeks. My mom grew up in Winslet.
I feel closer to her when I’m here. I have a plan, but that plan won’t happen until next month.
Albert insisted I sell my place in the city.
He said we wouldn’t need it. He lives in the Upper East Side.
I was supposed to move in with him. Was. ..”
He sighs. “You don’t have a place to go.”
I glare at him. “My father owns homes all over the world. I have plenty of places to go. Having somewhere to go and wanting to be somewhere are two very different things.”
He shakes his head before dragging a hand down his face. I’m surprised he doesn’t string a long line of curse words together again, but he doesn’t. Instead, what he says confuses me. “I have a penthouse suite.”
“I told you, I don’t need a suite—”
His interruption doesn’t come in the form of words, but rather his touch. He wraps his hand around my shoulder. It’s innocent yet strong and firm. “I said I have a suite. It’s right next door. I live there.”
“You live here and work here?” I know that’s not important in the big scheme of things, but I do find it interesting.
The answer is obvious, so he ignores my question. “I have two extra rooms. If you really want to stay in Winslet, you can have one of them.”
My tears don’t threaten any longer.
They break through.
I turn on bare feet and tip my head back to look at him through blurry eyes. “Really?”
He shakes his head no, but his words don’t match his actions. “I can tell it’s important to you. So yes.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” I brush away the tears that fall down my cheeks. “I promise, you won’t even know I’m there.”
Devon narrows his eyes. “I doubt that.”
I lift my hand but stop myself before touching him. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I’ll pay you.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t want your money, Harlow. Just ... hell. Try not to look sad. I can’t take it.”
“Oh.”
“And the tears ... fuck me,” he mutters. “It’ll be fine. I sleep and get ready there. We won’t even see each other.”
I bite my lip and nod. “I’ll stay out of your way. All I need is three weeks, and you’ll forget all about me.”
“Three weeks,” he echoes on an exhale. “Perfect.”
He doesn’t sound like anything is perfect, but I don’t care. If he offered me the supply closet, I’d take it.
He looks around at all my things like he already regrets his spur-of-the-moment offer. “Get packed. I’ll get you a room key and send someone to move your things.”
My smile is as wide as his frown is tight.
He turns on his fine leather loafer. I peer around the corner to watch him stalk out of my bedroom without another word. The moment I hear the suite door click shut, I run to my exploding suitcase and rip off my robe.
Devon threw me a lifeline.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt like this.
I have a new start.
I feel free.