Chapter 10
Aubrey
Tracy still hasn’t come back to the room after dinner. I’ve sent a few texts, all have gone unanswered. This hotel is swarming with Secret Service, additional security, as well as international protection detail. It’s not as if she could truly disappear.
Then again, Vice President Vasileiou’s first husband was murdered at a gala about a decade ago which had similar security.
Her father was a Supreme Court Justice at the time, so no one is safe.
Except this isn’t Washington, it’s Canada where people are notoriously nice.
Happy people don’t murder social media managers.
Mid-spiral, my phone vibrates on the small dining table, and I check it.
Tracy
Sorry! I took a page out of your book.
What is that supposed to mean?
I was just flirting with a hot bartender. Don’t wait up!
Bartender? What the fuck?
Jealousy sears through me. She can’t be talking about Jamie, right?
Sure, it’s possible, but he met Tracy today, and knows she also works for Olivia—for me, really.
Is he just a player looking to get his dick wet?
Was I just a hole to be filled? Why go to the effort of lunch today if that’s the case?
What the hell am I saying? He has every right to fuck anyone he wants. He’s not my boyfriend, just a guy I slept with last night. Nothing more.
As I’m about to type out a reply to remind her to be safe, regardless of who she is sleeping with, the lights flicker a few times before shutting off completely.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I grumble as I swipe to my flashlight button on my phone and press it.
Making my way to the door, I try the light switch.
Nothing. It could be from the storm or just a freak issue with the power.
Either way, I carefully maneuver through the room to the landline phone on the nightstand.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I press the receiver to my ear and hear the familiar buzz that it’s still working.
Tapping the front desk button, they answer immediately, “Front desk, this is Tony.”
“Hi, Tony. This is Aubrey Raine. I’m in room 614 and it seems the power is out.”
“Yes, Ms. Raine. Our generators are up and running, but we’ll be focusing on maintaining the heat of the building until full power is restored.”
“Do you have blankets or additional sheets?”
“Yes, I can send someone up with them.”
I shake my head, even if he can’t see it. “No, that’s all right. Your staff will be busy enough. Could you set aside a few for me. I’ll be down shortly.”
“Of course. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No, thank you.”
We hang up, then I locate a pair of flats and my key card. Before I head down, I stop by Livy’s room, hearing hushed voices from inside. She’s probably on the phone, so I knock softly to not startle her.
A moment later, she answers the door, cheeks flushed. “Oh, hey, Aubrey. Everything okay?”
So help me if she was having phone sex with Isaac…
“Yeah,” I reply, eyeing her suspiciously.
“I hope I didn’t wake you. The power is out.
I just called down to the front desk, and the generators aren’t running enough to power the whole building.
They said heat is a priority, but I’m going to run down and get blankets for us, just in case.
Need anything else while I’m down there? ”
“No, I’m good, thanks. Are you sure you’re okay taking the stairs that many floors?”
I roll my eyes; it isn’t as if I’m nine months pregnant. Unable to resist, I opt for a smidgen of shock value. “Last night I got my workout in by riding a hot, tatted man. Since that’s not happening tonight, and I didn’t get to the gym, I could use the exercise.”
Livy nods thoughtfully, unfazed by my admission to getting laid last night. Something isn’t right. “Okay, only if you’re sure,” she insists. “Let me know if you need help.”
I wave her off and leave. I’m ninety-percent sure Isaac is in there with her or she intends to invite him up later.
This is like the inauguration a few months ago all over again, and I’ll need to contact Ned Collins to clean up the mess of camera footage.
In the mood for a little chaos, I return to my room to retrieve the massage oil candle that Jamie was eyeing, then return to Livy’s room, knocking three times.
Before she answers, I call through the door, “Livy?” She opens it, and now the pink of her cheeks has shifted to her chest, guilt painted on her face.
“Before I go downstairs, I figured you could use this. I forgot to unpack my bag from my trip last weekend.” I hand it to her and add, “Just keep it away from Isaac.”
“Why?” she squeaks.
“You’ll see when you open it.”
I pivot to leave and Olivia blurts, “There’s something you should know.”
“Do I even want to ask?”
“There weren’t enough rooms at the hotel, so Isaac was going to sleep in the lobby.”
“He’s the fucking Prime Minister,” I scoff. “Why the hell didn’t someone give up their room for him? Wait…” My money is on a hot Canadian Prime Minister hiding in her room. “Don’t tell me he’s in there with you right now.”
“Then I won’t tell you that.”
My eyes narrow. “Livy, so help me, if you get caught…”
“We won’t, I promise.”
“And no fucking. I need to sleep.”
I spin on my heel and leave; the less I know, the better.
It’s several flights of stairs, but as I told Olivia, I could use the exercise.
Since there’s a chance my little fling with Jamie is over, when the power is back on, maybe I can set aside time to visit the gym here.
I’ll need to work off my sexual frustration somehow. It’s a thirst I can’t quite quench.
Once I’m downstairs, there’s a huddle of what has to be twenty employees.
I move closer, and though no one else seems to notice, it’s as if Jamie can sense my presence, glancing over his shoulder as I approach.
He’s dressed in all black, instead of his dark gray suit from earlier, and if he’s working, that means…
He’s not fucking Tracy.
I don’t know if I’m annoyed with myself for being upset in the first place or for being relieved that he wasn’t balls-deep in someone else’s pussy.
My cheeks heat as embarrassment washes over me.
What is wrong with me? I shouldn’t be crushing on some hot guy I met yesterday who is ten years younger than me.
I don’t care how good he is in bed, my stomach shouldn’t do that little woosh thing when I see him, and I definitely shouldn’t be concerned about who else he may be sleeping with.
My only option is to break eye contact, walk past him, and pretend the last twenty-four hours didn’t exist. As I make my way to the reception desks, there are a few other hotel guests being helped, and once one of them is free, she waves me over.
“Good evening. What can I assist you with?”
“Hi, yes, I spoke with Tony about extra blankets. I’m in room 614.” She checks a table behind her, locating two fluffy off-white blankets with a tag that has my room number on it. With a bright smile that feels entirely too forced, she hands them to me. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, thank you”—I glance at her nametag—“Janice. I’ll call down if we need anything.”
Making my way back to the stairs, the little team meeting seems to have dispersed. I don’t dare look for Jamie. What would be the point? He’s working, and I’m supposed to be working. All of it is worse than moot, it’s fucking absurd of me, chasing after some guy like I’m in my early twenties.
While reaching for the door to the stairwell, a familiar scent of whatever cologne Jamie was wearing engulfs me. My body reacts involuntarily but I remain facing forward, keeping my eyes fixed on the door handle. I hate how he’s putting me under a spell without a single word.
Jamie presses closer, his hand slipping between me and the blankets, splaying his fingers across my stomach and pulling my back flush with his chest. I let out a shaky breath as he murmurs beside my ear, “I missed you today.”
“We… we shouldn’t do this. Someone might see.”
“I have it on good authority that your roommate won’t be returning tonight, and your next-door neighbor is preoccupied.”
I spin to face him, but it’s a mistake. It doesn’t matter that there are two giant blankets folded between us, having him this close has my knees weak. “What if we get caught?”
“We won’t, but even if we do, I’ll take the fall. Get a head start, I still have your key. I’ll be up there in a few.”
With Isaac next door, I should insist Jamie stays in his own room, but this may be the last time I’ll wake up next to a man until, well, who the fuck knows when. “Only if you bring me another piece of tiramisu.”
He chuckles, little laugh lines forming at the corner of his eyes. “What happened to the piece from last night?”
“I ate it.”
Tilting my chin, he brings his lips dangerously close to mine.
“Then I’ll bring two pieces, so I can eat one off of you.
” Just as quickly as he was in my space, he steps back and stuffs his hands in his pockets, then turns to leave.
I watch him walk away, and of course he catches me, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk.
Spending more time with him is dangerous, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to fall hard for a man I shouldn’t want and can’t have.