Chapter 5
Five
Syd
The front of the hotel made it appear much smaller than it actually was. Behind the main building there were several hallways that led to multiple rooms. I followed along behind a man that had to be one of Caleb’s brothers. So far, every employee had a look about them that said they were related.
“Here you go, sir. The dining room will be serving dinner soon,” he said before handing my keycard back to me and leaving.
I looked around the room, it was small and somewhat utilitarian, but it was clean and modern with a warm down comforter neatly laid out on top of the bed.
The snow was falling heavily now as I looked out the window and realized I could see the room across the way from me.
It looked like it was the same as this room with small windows that probably kept the heat in more than a larger window would.
The room was warm, and I noticed a radiator along the wall.
“Geothermal heat,” Caleb said, making me jump, while he stood leaning against the door. “You really should lock your door.”
“Caleb, you scared me to death,” I said and clutched my heart.
“Did you need to unpack?” he asked. “I thought I could take you on a tour.”
I looked around at the small room again and the blowing snow outside and imagined sitting there the rest of the day by myself. Even though I was exhausted I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep yet. “Actually, I could go for a drink,” I said and took off my heavy coat.
“How about if I meet you in the dining room in twenty minutes,” Caleb said.
“Perfect.” After he left, I used the bathroom and freshened up before I grabbed my phone and keycard and after walking to the end of the hallway to check it out, walked down the long hall back to the main hotel.
The long hallways were more like fingers that stretched out from the main building, at the end were rooms with tall windows for optimal viewing and a seating area but nothing more.
“Syd, over here,” Caleb said from where he sat at the small bar.
“Hey, I walked down to the end of the hallway. This is a big hotel,” I said as I slid into the seat next to him.
“It is much bigger than it looks. I took the liberty of ordering you dinner, I hope you don’t mind,” Caleb said.
“I don’t mind at all, unless it’s fish,” I said, and he laughed.
“You do realize the number one food in Iceland is fish?” Caleb said, and I noticed how warm his eyes now were. Gone were the walls and coldness that seemed to color every word he said earlier.
“I would definitely not be contributing to that if I lived here,” I said making him laugh.
“Here you go.” A man wearing a long apron set a plate in front of each of us. “I know my brother ordered for you, so if it isn’t to your liking, please let me know,” he said before making a slight bow and walking toward where I imagined the kitchen was.
“Another brother?” I asked.
“Yes,” Caleb said.
“So, what is this?” I asked while looking at the delicious looking meal that really didn’t need explanation.
“Roasted lamb with roasted root vegetables, and a cauliflower mash to tie it all together,” he said with the flair of someone who knew about food.
“Do you cook?” I asked, and unwrapped my cutlery from the napkin it was rolled in.
“I try,” he said, and once again a strange look crossed his face. “Nothing like this though. My brother is professionally trained. We wanted to make sure all guests are happy with their meals while they’re here.” He watched as I cut a piece of the tender meat and tasted it.
“Oh, this is delicious.” I looked up to find his eyes on me. He smiled before starting to eat his own food. “Thank you again for everything today.”
“You’re not hard to be around, Syd,” he whispered. “I’ve enjoyed the time we spent together today.”
“I have too. I had no idea this was so remote. If you hadn’t been there with me in town, I’m not sure I would have come out here alone,” I admitted.
“Well, I’m really glad I was there.” I wasn’t looking to get into anything serious with anyone but if I were, Caleb wouldn’t be such a bad choice, and the way he looked at me now told me he most likely felt the same.
“I can’t—”
“I know, and I don’t expect anything from you I swear.
But I can’t deny that I am attracted to you.
” He settled his hand just close enough to mine I could feel his heat, and I couldn’t deny it either.
There was more to Caleb than a stranger that decided to have pity on the lost guy at the airport, and the more I got to know him the more I wanted to know.
I drew in a deep breath before I spoke. “So, what do you do when you’re not here?” I asked.
“Well, I’m what you call a headhunter,” he said, and grinned.