Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Simon drops his hand from his lips and steps closer to me. “Dance with me.”
I nod again, but I’m still a bit shocked at what Simon divulged.
How is that possible? Simon’s a gorgeous guy. There’s no way he’s telling the truth. Surely he’s been in an elevator while he was with a date…
Simon positions my right hand on his waist and places his left hand on my shoulder. He then takes my other hand and holds our hands up. “Are you ready?”
While Simon guides me with each step, I marvel that my two left feet are actually moving with the sensual beat of the music—even in the boots I wear for this job.
I might not move perfectly, but in the arms of this beautiful man, I sway with him and we move as though we are one.
Fluid and graceful, like the two men I saw the first night of the conference.
Time goes by as we dance, talk, and laugh—while getting to know each other.
When the playlist he created ends, he whispers in my ear, “Are you having fun?”
“Yes. And it’s all because of you,” I say earnestly. I pull out of his hold, slide my phone from my pocket to turn off the music and notice that we’ve been in the elevator for close to two hours.
Simon straightens, and I see tears shining in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I cup his cheeks.
“I never thought I’d meet such a genuinely lovely person, but here you are,” Simon says in a whisper.
I’m close enough to him to see a sweet pink blush bloom across his cheeks, even in this reddish light.
It gives me hope that he’s as attracted to me as I am to him. “Did I mention I love your green eyes?”
I let out a soft laugh. “No,” I say, shaking my head.
“But I’m glad you liked them.” My chest tightens a little as I meet his eyes.
“And I can’t believe my kiss was your first in an elevator.
” The words come out lighter than I feel, because somehow, with this man I barely know, everything suddenly feels heavier—more real than any other times I’ve been attracted to a man.
“Believe it.” There’s a bit of fire behind his words. “It was on my bucket list… and other stuff.”
“Okay. Now you’ve danced. You’ve been kissed. What else can I do for you?” I ask, as I he twirls me around and hugs me to him.
“I have to go. But can you meet me here tomorrow at midnight again?” Hope beams from his almond-shaped eyes, and I realize just how much I adore staring into them.
“Do I have to wait until midnight to see you again?”
“Oh, Melissa.” He plants a hungry kiss on my lips. Then the lights go on and the elevator starts ascending. “Hmm, if I knew a kiss from me would start the elevator, I would have kissed you sooner.”
“Then we wouldn’t have danced,” I say with another kiss.
“No, we wouldn’t have.” He pulls back and smooths down his white button-front shirt.
We reach the seventeenth floor, and the easiness of the atmosphere shifts to a quiet awkwardness.
The door slides open and Simon steps out. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. The same time, the same place,” he says and strides away, disappearing around the corner. Again.
“Wait.” I follow Simon’s trail. “I need to go get the form…” My words drop off, seeing the hallway empty. “Where are you, Simon?” I call out, but all I hear is the muffled sound of the ice maker. “Not again,” I groan.
Frustrated now more than ever, I quickly head back down to the front desk. As usual, Carol is on her phone, playing Candy Crush.
“Why didn’t you pick up the phone when I called?” I ask with ire. “That damn elevator stopped between floors, and we were stuck in there for almost two hours.”
She looks at me like I’m nuts. “What are you talking about? And what call?” She glances at the computer. “I didn’t get any notification that the elevator stopped. And the phones haven’t rung.”
“I called you from my cell.” I pull out the phone to show her, but the hotel’s name is missing from my recent call list. “That’s not right. I did call.” Even I can hear the confusion in my voice.
“Maybe you’re coming down with something.” Carol lifts her hand to check my forehead.
I rear back and step away from the desk. “I’m telling you the truth. Simon and I were stuck inside that damn crazy elevator for two hours.” I glance down at my watch, and then at my phone to compare. “What the…”
“Why don’t you go home. You’ve been working for seven nights straight, and extra hours.
Tomorrow’s your day off, so take full advantage of it and rest. I’ll call Ralph.
He owes me a favor. He’ll come in to cover the rest of your shift.
” Carol swipes her screen out of her game and quickly makes a call.
“Nothing’s wrong with me.” I stand there like an idiot, mentally going over the time I spent with Simon in the elevator.
There’s no way I dreamt that up. I know I stepped into that elevator at midnight, and we were in there for almost two hours dancing, talking, and getting to know each other.
And that kiss. But another quick glance at my wristwatch show that, sure enough, only thirty-five minutes have passed.
Maybe I read the time wrong on my phone. But…
“Ralph is on his way. So why don’t you head home. We got tonight covered,” Carol insists with a slight nudge to my shoulder. “Three Advils, a whole glass of water—because you don’t want to be dehydrated, and a good night’s sleep. And come Sunday night, you’ll be right as rain.”
I give her a slow nod, since my brain’s slightly muddled, and head back to get my things.
Lying in bed at home, I keep going over my time with Simon in the elevator and nothing strange sticks out at me. Actually, the time I spent with Simon was perfect. I truly enjoyed dancing with him. Just being in his presence brought me joy. Until he disappeared on me. Again.
But all that’s going to change tomorrow. I’m off of work and when he signs the release form I’ll find out his phone number. Then I’m not going to leave his side, no matter what, because I want to show Simon a good time, without him disappearing on me.