Chapter 5 #2
“I will,” I say, blushing because she didn’t even whisper.
I head back to the front and smile at my new guest as if he were just any other random person walking into the hotel. I will not act like a desperado in front of this man.
“Hi, welcome to—”
“You’ve already welcomed me,” he says, his voice smooth. His eyes crinkle as he gazes at me, and I can’t help but feel like he’s giving me a once-over.
“I know.” I bite down on my lower lip. “How can I help you today?”
“I was hoping to get a room. Are you fully booked?” He looks around the empty lobby, and I laugh awkwardly. I wonder what he would say if I said we were fully booked.
“No, we have a couple of rooms available,” which is an understatement. We have all but two rooms available, but I’m not going to tell him that.
“Oh, great. So can I book one of those rooms?” His tone is kind, and his eyes are warm.
There’s an effervescence bouncing off of his body, and I can’t help but be drawn to him.
His energy is drawing me in, along with his good looks.
It should be illegal to be that good-looking.
It should be illegal that I’m here, practically melting in his presence.
I wish he had been Clark Kent. If he had met me at the coffee shop, I would have fainted in delirious happiness.
“Sure. Would you like a single room? A double? Would you like one of our suites? Any preference to view?” SHUT UP, Willow.
“I think I definitely like a double bed,” he smiles at me warmly, “just in case I need someone to keep me warm.” He leans forward, his brown eyes radiating friendliness—so different from when I had met him the last time. There’s a flirtatious light there, as well, which makes me feel breathless.
I want to pinch myself. Is this real life?
Did I die and go to Hallmark heaven? Because it’s only in Hallmark movies that hot men like him walk into small-town bed and breakfasts like this and flirt with the woman behind the desk.
“Oh, sure,” I say. “Let me see what we have available.”
“Thank you.” He grins. “Feel free to put me in whatever room is your favorite.”
Okay, he is definitely flirting. With me. Willow Montgomery.
Does he know who I am?
I suddenly blurt out, “I’ve actually met you before. I’m not sure if you remember me, but—“ I am not the sort of person who can hold anything in, even when I really want to.
He nods slowly. “I do. I recognized you as soon as I walked into the lobby. You have a very distinctive and attractive face.” He pauses and looks down, almost as if he’s shy and nervous, which makes me warm to him even more.
“I feel very embarrassed about the last time we met. I would love to offer you my apologies for how I spoke to you at the Magnolia Club.”
“Oh,” I say, taken aback. I did not expect him to apologize. “You were just…” I stare at him. “I mean, it was my first day, and I was kind of not sure what I was doing, so if I was delayed or you thought I was rude, I also want to apologize,” I say quickly.
“You have nothing to apologize for. This is surreal, though.” He looks around in wonderment.
“I decided to have a getaway for a work trip.” He smiles at me with a look of wonder on his face.
“I happened to decide to visit Whispering Haven by chance, as I’ve heard good things.
And I randomly found this bed and breakfast on Google.
Just yesterday, I was feeling remorse for how I spoke to you that night and was hoping I would see you at the club again to apologize.
And what wonder is this? I walk in, and it’s like fate has intervened because here you are again, right before my eyes.
” His voice has a dreamy tone, and my heart races slightly.
The way he worded his thoughts has such an ethereal and romantic quality to it.
I stare at him with wide eyes. “Fate?” I sound absolutely dumbfounded.
This man—this absolutely gorgeous man who looks like he’s worth a billion dollars—definitely does not believe in fate, does he?
“Yes. Fate,” he purrs, his voice smooth as whiskey. “I think that perhaps we were destined to meet again. Don’t you?”
“I don’t know. I am surprised you believe in fate.” Understatement of the year.
“I don’t tell anyone this normally,” he says, chuckling, “but I’m really into astrology and signs and soulmates.”
“No way.” I gape at him. “I’m kind of into astrology myself. I’m more just into star signs because I’m positive that I’m only compatible with Scorpios, Tauruses, and Capricorns. What sign are you?” I ask him.
“I’m a Scorpio. The most sexual of all the signs.” He winks, and my body feels like it’s on fire. Is this man flirting with me? But no, he couldn’t be flirting with me. Could he?
“You’re Willow, right?” he continues, staring into my eyes like he could drown in them.
I nod slowly. “Yeah, Willow. It’s really nice to see you again—or meet you again—or I don’t know…” I stumble over my words, feeling tongue-tied, which is slightly unusual for me. “What was your name again?” I ask because, for the life of me, I can’t remember.
His eyes narrow for a few moments, and he looks me up and down. He bites down on his lip, and I watch as he stares at me, not saying anything. Is he upset that I can’t remember his name?
“You really don’t know?” I watch as the tip of his tongue darts out of his mouth and licks his lips, and then he runs his fingers through his dark, silky hair. I stare at his broad shoulders and the way his shirt fits his muscular torso.
“I am sorry,” I say, feeling horrible. “It was a long night and—”
“It’s Sebastian,” he says, stepping even closer towards the counter.
“Sebastian Laurence.” He pronounces his last name loudly and distinctly, and I blush because I suddenly remember him introducing himself to me at the Magnolia Club and how he’d thought I’d known who he was.
I remember thinking that he was full of himself.
But now all I can think about is how hot he is and that he’s here in my lobby, and he’s flirting with me, and I’m not going to say no.
Maybe this is the universe’s way of rewarding me because I’ve gone on so many shitty dates with so many shitty guys, and I’ve had a pretty shitty last couple of months.
Maybe this is the universe’s way of saying, “Hey, Willow, don’t give up. We’ve got someone great for you.”
“Oh, yes,” I say, beaming at him. “Sebastian Laurence.” I grin. “It’s a really strong name.”
“It is, isn’t it?” he says, nodding slowly.
His eyes are like liquid lava. They’re brown, but I can see flecks of gold in them.
His skin is an olive tan, and his teeth are so white.
It’s crazy to me how good-looking he is.
He’d been attractive at the Magnolia Club—in fact, he’d been the most attractive out of all the men I’d seen that night—but in the light of the day, he is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my life.
He could be a model or an actor. He could be anything he wanted to be.
“Get it together,” I mumble to myself, because I know I’m spiraling out of control. I’m excited by the way that he’s staring at me.
“What’s your sign? Wait, let me guess.” His eyes take in my face, and then they move down towards my breasts and then back up to my eyes.
He tilts his head to the side as if he’s thinking hard.
“Are you a—” He pauses, and I watch as he plays with his watch.
It looks very much like a Rolex—not that that surprises me.
It’s obvious to me that he’s loaded. He wouldn’t be a member of the Magnolia Club if he weren’t.
“I bet you can’t guess,” I say, laughing slightly, because if he wants to flirt, I’m more than happy to flirt with him.
“Well, can I ask you one question?” he says, resting his elbow on the counter and leaning forward.
“Sure,” I say. “Go ahead.”
“Are you a fire sign?”
“I feel like if I answer that, I would be narrowing down your pool.”
“I bet that you are a Virgo.” He grins. “You’re confident, you’re smart, you’re beautiful, but there’s an innocence to you.” He licks his lips. “A sweetness. You’re someone who—” He pauses and chuckles. “Well, maybe I’ll tell you that later.”
“I, umm, sure,” I say. “If you want to. But you’re not right.” I shake my head. “You’re close. I’m actually on the cusp between Virgo and Libra.”
“Oh.” He looks surprised. “I never would’ve guessed that.”
“Why?” I say. “Because Libras are more argumentative?”
He grins. “One of my best friends is a Libra.”
“And I’m nothing like him?” I ask, flirting back, running my fingers through my blonde hair, and wishing I had on a bit more makeup.
“Oh, you’re nothing like him. You’re much more beautiful. I am really happy that I checked into this B&B. And I do want to know if you can forgive me for my poor behavior at the Magnolia Club when we first met.”
“Of course,” I say. “You just wanted to get your coat hung up, and I was just a little slow. There’s nothing to forgive.”
“You seemed to be taken aback when you saw me.”
“Oh, I was just nervous. It was my first day, and I was trying to make sure that your coat didn’t fall on the ground, and I felt like something was falling out of your pocket, and then you thought I was taking something, and… well, it was just a lot going on.”
“Yes,” he says, his eyes knowing. “There was definitely a lot going on.” He looks around the lobby and then turns back to me. “It’s a nice place you have here.”
“Thank you.”
“You like it?” He taps his fingers against his thigh. “It’s different from what I thought it would be.”
“I love it. It’s great.”
“I’m surprised that you have time to work here.
What with working at the Magnolia Club and dating…
” He says the last word as if it’s a question, and I wonder if he’s asking if I have a boyfriend or not.
My mind goes to Clark Kent for a second, but he’s not my boyfriend.
In fact, if I never see him again, I wouldn’t care.
“Oh, I’m just grinding, trying to make money.” I laugh. For a few moments, his lips thin, and I wonder if I shouldn’t have mentioned money. He’s obviously loaded. But then he chuckles.
“I see. It’s always about the money, isn’t it?”
“Isn’t life about money?” I say, with a shrug. “Talking about money, I can get you into the Diamond Suite. It would be $399 for the night. If you stay three nights, there’s a discount.”
“Sure,” he says. “Put me in for three nights.” He pulls out a Black American Express card and hands it to me. It’s solid and weighty, and I know it’s the exclusive card that not many people get.
“So… are you dating?” he asks, and my eyes widen as I look at him.
“I—what—I mean—you—what? Sorry.” I’m not sure why I’m mumbling over my words, but I’m shocked by the blatant question.
“I was just curious if you’re dating.”
“I mean, I’m dating, but I don’t have a boyfriend, if that’s what you’re asking.” I am attracted to him, but I don’t want to play too easy to get.
“Good,” he says with a small smile. “I’m glad to hear that you are single.”
I hand him back his card. “Well, let me get you your room key and a map of the hotel. We do have a pool out back, and I don’t know if you’ve been to Whispering Haven before, but there are some really nice restaurants, and there’s a cool museum.”
“I didn’t come for that,” he says with a smile. “I don’t think I’ll be leaving the hotel while I…” He pauses. “Work.”
“Oh. Okay.” Is he going to address his flirtation with me? Should I say something?
“Do you have room service?” he asks.
I nod slowly. “Yeah, we do. And if you have any questions, feel free to call down to the front desk.”
“Oh, I’ll be calling.” He grins. “If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” I step back from the computer and head over to the printer to pick up his reservation paperwork and to make a key for him.
My heart is racing, and I’m not sure what to think.
He is coming on strong—really strong—but I don’t hate it.
In fact, I kind of like it. I’ve always wanted to be with a man who lets me know exactly what he wants and that he wants me.
And Sebastian is making it very clear that he is interested.
I turn back to the front with the paperwork, and I see that he’s staring at me intently.
Like he wants to eat me. Like I’m the sexiest thing he’s ever seen in his life. And it makes me feel good. I’m shocked by it, but I am not hating it. I find that I like being an object of desire.
“So, Willow,” he says, looking me up and down. “Do you believe that we were meant to meet again and that this wasn’t just a coincidence?”
“I guess, maybe,” I say, my breathing hollow. Why do I sound so uneducated?
“Good,” he says, “because I don’t think there are coincidences in life.
When I saw you at the Magnolia Club, I definitely noticed something about you.
But now, seeing you in the light of day, you’re beautiful.
And I’m very happy that I’m here with you now.
I can’t wait to see where this is going to go.
” He holds his key up in the air. “I think this is going to be the beginning of an exciting and fruitful journey for both of us.”
“I don’t know what to say. I, uh, am flattered, but I do still remember how you spoke to me at the club,” I say, almost stuttering. I think he’s hot, but I don’t want him to think that just because he’s hot and rich, he can get whatever he wants. And in this case, it seems like he wants me.
“Understood.” His eyes are thoughtful for a moment, then he offers me a slight nod and walks away with his head high, like he owns the building. The man has self-esteem like no one else I’ve ever met.
Though the sentimental part of me, the one who avidly reads the astrology readings in Cosmo each month, can’t help but think that this is something special. Maybe I don’t have the worst luck in the world after all. Maybe the stars have aligned, and this Scorpio is going to be the one.
My phone beeps then, and I look down at my phone. I groan when I see Clark's name on the screen. He’s sent another text. I open it because even Clark can’t ruin my good mood right now.
Wanna grab a burger tonight? You can come over to my place. I’ll man the grill while you iron?
“Get a clue, wannabe Superman.” I roll my eyes as I delete the text.
It’s like the universe wants to ensure that I appreciate what a sweet guy Sebastian is by reinforcing how horrible my other options are.
Maybe he really did have a bad night when we first met.
I am not going to judge him by that first impression, especially not when the second impression was so great.