5. Allie
Allie
A nother shift almost done.
Today had gone fast. Lots of guests had checked out and there had been plenty of rooms to clean and restock.
I pressed my hands to my lower back and the dull ache there. I still hadn’t gotten used to being on my feet for most of the day. At least I didn’t need to go to the gym or run anymore.
Last night, I’d had a quiet night in with Ollie. We’d even managed to eat some vegetables with the spaghetti I’d made.
Right, now I needed to finish up, then collect Ollie from school, and go and get some groceries. We didn’t have much left in the refrigerator.
Then, I had the weekend off. Yay.
I spotted Marcy, one of my best housekeepers. There was a frown on her face as she parked her cart.
“Marcy? All good?”
The older woman nodded. “I still need to finish vacuuming on level three in the east wing.” Her frown deepened.
“What’s wrong? Are any guests causing any trouble?”
She blew out a breath. “No. It’s nothing. Some new guests who arrived yesterday are on level three. They’re loud. One day here and they already have visitors. Mostly female visitors.” The woman sniffed.
“The extreme-sports guys? They’re here to mountain bike.”
She lifted her chin. “That’s them. They give me a bad vibe.”
“Did they do or say anything to bother you?” I touched her arm. “Tell me and I’ll take care of it.”
The woman’s face softened. She patted my hand. “You’re a good girl, Allie. A good boss, too.”
My chest tightened. “Thanks.”
“And it’s no thanks to those parents of yours.”
I bit my lip. “Mom and Dad are…Mom and Dad.”
“They should be here helping you with their grandson.” She shook her head. “It’s so unfair you lost your brother. Anyway, those boys…men on level three haven’t done one thing to bother me. The blond one, thinks he’s all that—” she rolled her eyes “—and is heavy on the charm.”
“I noticed that.”
“I have no proof that they’re up to no good, but I raised three sons. Those men are up to something.”
“Maybe they’re just a little wild?” A part of me envied them.
They traveled around, doing what they loved, with no responsibilities.
“I don’t want you to worry. I’ll keep an eye on them, starting with finishing the vacuuming on level three.
You clock off and get home to that gorgeous husband of yours. ”
Marcy smiled. “Such a good girl.”
“I’m not. I can be mean and ornery.”
“Pfft. I’ll tell my Darren you think he’s gorgeous.”
“Do that, but be careful, I might steal him away from you, Marcy.”
With a laugh, the older woman hurried off.
I grabbed the vacuum cleaner and headed to level three. When I stepped off the elevator, everything was quiet. I eyed the doors to the guys’ rooms. No sign of wild orgies or criminal activity. I flicked on the vacuum cleaner and felt it vibrate up my arm. I worked my way down the hall.
I was almost finished when the elevator dinged. I heard loud voices and glanced up.
It was the extreme-sports guys. Four of them. The blond one—Brandon/Blake/Bryce—was clearly the leader. There were two dark-haired guys—one tall and lean, the other shorter, but muscular. The fourth had long, dirty-blond hair with a medium build. He looked like he should be out surfing.
There were also three women and another man with them. They were all laughing and joking. Nothing tripped my radar.
They opened the doors to their rooms, and the blond guy had an arm around a cute little brunette. Then he glanced my way and his lips quirked. He shot me a wink.
The doors closed behind them. I vacuumed closer, then switched off the machine. There was no loud music, no screams. Nothing.
Shaking my head, I headed for the elevator, dragging the vacuum cleaner with me. I needed to go, or I’d be late to pick up Ollie.
This was my new norm. Forever running five minutes late for everything.
The elevator dinged, and I turned to look back down the hall, but nobody had stepped out of the rooms. I backed into the elevator, towing the vacuum cleaner. And that’s when I smacked into something. Something hard.
Firm hands gripped my hips, steadying me.
With a gasp, I whipped my head around. And stared up into Caden’s rugged face.
“Um, sorry.” My silly heart was trying to leap into my throat. I hadn’t seen him at all today.
“It’s all right.”
His deep voice shivered through me. The elevator doors closed.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
He hadn’t let go of me, and I could feel his fingers burning through the cotton of my uniform.
“I’m conducting an elevator test. We’ve been having problems with this one tripping out. Everett’s team is working on it.”
“God, it’s not breaking down again, is it?” It had happened. Quite a few times in the past.
“Luckily, we’ll be getting new ones after the winter, but we need to keep it functioning until then.”
“Right.” The elevator went up.
Caden’s hands loosened on me. God, I wanted him to touch me. So stupid . I barely knew the guy. I wasn’t entirely sure I liked him, and I wasn’t entirely sure he liked me. Or anyone.
We reached the top floor, then after a beat, we started to descend. Good. I couldn’t be late for Ollie.
“I never thanked you,” I blurted out.
He cocked one dark brow. “For what?”
“For saving Tessa.”
A disturbed man had targeted Ro after he’d bought the Langston Windward. I’d thought Rupert was a nice, quiet IT guy, not a deranged stalker. Instead, he’d believed he should be the owner of the Windward, and had a massive crush on Tessa. An icky, obsessive one.
He’d targeted Ro, but had almost killed Tessa in the process, then kidnapped her.
In the hospital after she’d been poisoned, I’d lost it, but Caden had talked me down. He’d promised to catch the man and he had.
A muscle ticked in his hard jaw. “It took me too long to find the guy. I should’ve caught him sooner.”
“Broody—” I grabbed his arm. “Tessa and Ro are all right. It all worked out. I know how hard you searched for him. None of us suspected it was Rupert. I’d known him for years and I didn’t know he was capable of kidnap and attempted murder.
Tessa told me you broke into the cabin to rescue her with Ro, guns blazing. ”
“I only had one gun.”
My lips twitched. Maybe that was a joke. I couldn’t tell. “Fine, gun blazing. I’m grateful. So, thank you.”
“Allie—”
Suddenly, the elevator lurched to a hard stop. The lights went out and we pitched forward. Strong arms caught me and yanked me against a hard chest.
That’s when I smelled him. That dark, spicy cologne wrapped around me and made my belly flutter. I dragged in a deep breath.
“You okay?” His lips brushed my ear.
“Yes.” I pulled in a few more breaths. God, I wanted to keep sniffing him. Dim emergency lighting flicked on and that’s when I realized our situation. “Oh God, are we trapped?”
“Looks that way.”
“ No .” My voice was sharp. “I can’t be trapped. I’m off shift. I need to go.” Panic coursed through me. I needed to pick up Ollie and I couldn’t be late. I couldn’t let him feel forgotten, abandoned. My breaths were coming too fast.
Caden spun me. “Allie—” He frowned, studying my face intently.
I held up a hand and backed up until I hit the wall. “ God . I need to get out .”
His hands grabbed mine and I startled.
“Talk to me,” he ordered. His voice was strong, sure. “Breathe.”
I dragged in a breath.
“Again.”
“I’m okay.”
“Are you claustrophobic?”
“No, but I have to pick up my kid. Oliver. Ollie. I have to pick him up from school in twenty minutes. I can’t leave him there, alone. He’ll think I abandoned or forgot him.” I sucked in a ragged breath. “Or that something happened to me.”
Something moved across Caden’s face.
I gripped his arm. “I can’t have him thinking something’s happened and that he’s all alone.”
Caden gave a brisk nod. “Okay.” He pulled out his cellphone and texted a message.
“Anything? Are they working to get us out?”
“The technician is on the way, but it’s gonna be an hour.”
I made an agonized sound.
“Allie.”
I met his gaze.
“I’ll get you out.” He shoved his phone away.
“Really?” Hope bloomed. I was so used to dealing with everything on my own, but I couldn’t fix this problem.
“I promise.”
Then he reached up to the ceiling of the elevator car and I frowned.
A second later, he pried open a panel. It dropped down, a black hole looming above us.
“Step back.”
I shuffled backward. Then he jumped up and grabbed the edge of the hole with one hand, and, with a move of pure athleticism and grace, pulled himself up, curled his legs upward, and disappeared onto the top of the elevator car.
Lots of feelings rushed through me and I blinked. That move was hot. That easy flex of muscle. He was fit and strong, and looked like a spy. Hello, Ethan Hunt. Or James Bond.
I licked my lips. Crap, I was damp between my thighs.
“Allie?” He leaned down through the hole, holding out a hand. “Come on.”
Reaching up, I took his hand. Strong fingers wrapped around mine.
Then he hauled me up.
I let out a startled yelp and grabbed the edge of the hole. I couldn’t believe he could lift me like that. I was tall. Sure, I was slim and lean, and my curves would never be described as generous, even though I’d desperately wished for boobs and hips when I was growing up, but I wasn’t light.
Then I was on top of the elevator car beside him in the darkened elevator shaft.
My heart beat like crazy.
“What are you doing?” I asked breathlessly.
“Getting you out so you can get your kid.” His face was in shadow, but I knew he was looking at me. “You with me?”
“I’m with you,” I whispered.
When was the last time anyone had gone so far out of their way to help me?
I had good friends, and they helped when they could, but I tried not to lean too hard on them. Tried not to take advantage of them. They had their own lives.
Apart from my brother, no one had ever been there for me. No one had ever been my shelter in the storm. Been my rock when I needed one.
Caden rose fluidly. My gaze drifted down his body, then snagged on his thighs. The guy filled out a suit so well.
Then he reached up and I saw the closed doors that led onto one of the floors. I watched as he gripped them and strained, pushing them apart slowly.
Oh God, mini orgasm.
“Let’s move.” He gripped my waist, and again like I weighed nothing, lifted me out.
My heart gave a flutter as I crawled out of the elevator shaft. My heart never fluttered. I wasn’t the flutter kind of girl.
He leaped out behind me.
“Go. I already texted Enzo, and one of his guys is bringing your car around to the front.”
That shook me out of my stupor, and I looked at my watch. “I can still make it.” I spun and took two steps toward the stairs.
Then I turned back and saw Caden watching me with those black-ice eyes.
“Thanks, Broody. I owe you.”
Then I raced off, heading for the stairs.
I needed to get to my kid. I definitely didn’t need to be fangirling over Caden Castro and his James Bond maneuvers.
“So did you have a good day?” I unlocked the front door of the condo and followed Ollie inside.
I’d made it to school to pick him up in time…just. He hadn’t been the last kid there, so I was counting that as a win.
“Yeah.” He paused, swinging his backpack off his shoulders. “I played with Austin.”
“He’s a friend?”
Ollie shrugged, then gave a tiny nod.
Yes . A friend. This was good. I felt a giddy sense of relief way out of proportion to this news, but I was going to ride it.
“All right. You go and play while I’m cooking dinner.”
He eyed me skeptically. “Tacos?”
“No.”
“Hot dogs?”
“No.” Those were my go-to meals, but I figured we both needed more greens. “A chicken stir fry.”
He was quiet for a beat. “Okay.”
I watched him head to the toy basket, my heart squeezing. God, I loved him. I wanted him to be happy.
I knew we would be. Eventually.
But I knew life could knock you in the teeth when you least expected it. It wasn’t always smooth sailing and roses.
Hell, it was rarely that. It was divorces, disappointments, and losing the ones who meant the most to you.
I pulled up the recipe on my phone and got chopping. I was good at chopping, thankfully. I felt a permanent groove forming between my brows as I started putting everything together. I turned on the stove. Soon I had things boiling and sizzling. As I stood by the frypan, my brain turned to Caden.
It was way too easy to picture him pulling himself up through the ceiling in the elevator. A little shudder ran through me. He’d gotten me out.
He’d gone above and beyond to get me out so I could get to Ollie on time.
And he’d captured Tessa’s stalker/abductor/would-be killer. Just as he’d promised.
Caden Castro might be a rare unicorn. A man who kept his promises. A man you could depend on.
A man who wasn’t close to his family since he’d left the military. I was itching to know what the story was there.
“Allie?”
I looked over at Ollie who was sitting on the rug. “Yeah, buddy?”
“What’s that burning smell?”
Oh, shit. I kept the cursing mental, something I’d had to learn when Ollie and I moved in together. I quickly pulled the smoking frypan off the stove. Everything inside it was burned to a crisp.
“Damn. It said medium heat for five minutes. That wasn’t even three.”
Ollie wandered over and glanced at the recipe. “Did you stir it?”
Right . Instead of stirring, I’d been daydreaming about a man I wasn’t even sure liked me.
Sighing, I scraped the ruins of dinner into the trash, then set the frypan in the sink. “Looks like we’re having pizza, Ol-ster.”
He smiled. “Yeah.”
Yeah, my little man loved pizza. “We’re getting a supreme.” At least it had some vegetables on there. That counted, right?
Rubbing a hand over my face, I fought back the tiredness and the pinch of failure. I couldn’t even manage to cook a healthy meal.
I couldn’t afford any self-pity. I had to feed my kid.