Chapter 10
KIMBERLY
“This is all you’re going to pack?" Reese admonished me.
"All?" I exclaimed. My bed was full of clothes. I had approximately three times as many outfits as I needed for a single weekend.
“I don't see any sexy heels or a knockout dress.”
I picked up a sweater, folding it carefully. “I don't need any of that. We're going there for work.”
“In the evening, you might need to go to dinner somewhere.”
“I'm sure we can find someplace down-to-earth in a ski resort.”
“It never hurts to have an outfit on hand, does it? And I know just the one you should take with you.” Getting up from the bed, she went straight to my dresser, opening it.
I smiled, shaking my head. We'd played this game our whole lives.
When one of us went on a vacation or anything that involved packing, the other one dropped by the night before and helped.
When I used to commute between Paris and Chicago, we made a whole event out of it, mostly because I wanted to spend as much time with my sister as possible.
I really missed my family while living over there.
I loved having her here at the house, as it was far too big for me.
It was a brownstone in Lincoln Park. I’d mostly chosen it because it was close to the hotel and Tate, so I could visit my nieces spontaneously.
The interior of the house was modern—the first and second floors were open spaces connected by a metal staircase, and I had a huge window in the bedroom overlooking the living room. I loved it.
"This is the one,” Reese claimed, taking out my pièce de résistance. It was a dark green dress with a generous V-cut that was snug on my body.
“Reese, that's one of the cocktail dresses I use when I want to impress. Who would I want to impress there?”
“The hot and amazing kisser?”
I’d shared that with Reese, of course. How could I not?
My face itched, and I was pretty sure I was starting to blush. “I’m not trying to impress him, not at all. In fact, we’re trying very hard to put what happened past us.”
“Really?” She batted her eyelashes in an exaggerated manner, bending to the floor and picking up a pair of shoes. “Oh yeah. Killer heels. Simple, black, classic, timeless.”
“It’s snowing in Aspen.”
“Yeah, but you’ll be Ubering around from the hotel to the restaurant. Picture this: What if some cutie—not Drake—catches your eye, and you would like to impress him? But you don't have anything to wear.”
“I doubt there will be too many single cuties in Aspen on Valentine's Day, but I can see where you're going with this. Your theory has merit.”
“Yes, I knew it.”
I always took a great outfit with me, no matter where I went. Why would I go against the grain this time simply because I was traveling with Drake? We hadn't even made any plans to have dinner together.
Come to think of it, I could take myself out to dinner.
"So, what are you doing tomorrow night?" I asked Reese.
"I have a ticket to see a play."
I stopped in the act of folding a pair of jeans. "Those are the plans you couldn’t cancel?”
Reese blinked rapidly, pressing her lips together.
"Reese," I insisted.
She put her hands on her hips. "Okay, don't shoot me.”
My eyes widened. "You made it all up. You don't have any plans."
"Well, I made plans immediately after getting out of that meeting room. Does that count?"
"I don't understand. Why would you do that?" I asked.
“I thought you and Drake might enjoy a weekend together."
"Go on." There had to be more to that logic.
"No, that's it. I'm right, am I not? I had a feeling, and then you kissed in the staircase, which confirms my feeling was spot-on.”
“If you weren't my sister and I didn't love you so much….” I bit the inside of my cheek, thinking hard. “I'm not sure what I would do, but this would not go unpunished.”
“No good deed does, huh?” Reese started wiggling her eyebrows. "Can I fold this for you?"
“Yes, please.”
My sister was a wizard when it came to folding dresses. When I did it, they typically looked like crap when I unpacked, but hers were always in perfect condition. I was taking my portable garment steamer with me anyway.
"What do you think will happen?" she asked.
“I think we’re going to scout the location, debate the merit of Aspen versus a city hotel, and bicker about everything else.
In the evening, we'll go our separate ways.
Thank God we have different hotels. I can enjoy the sauna, steam baths, and all the goodies without worrying that I'll run into him.”
“Okay.”
Wow. She's agreeing with me? Or at least accepting?
”Just because things turned to shit with your previous work relationship doesn't mean it has to be the same this time,” she continued.
Apparently not.
"Hey, you weren't so happy when I told you I was dating my boss in Paris."
“But Drake isn't your boss. You’re a Maxwell. This is a Maxwell Hotel. If things get bad and someone’s got to leave, it will be him. So this is different.”
"He’s a great general manager. If we lose him, it'll be a shit show to find someone else. He's already improving our processes with his crazy, robotic ideas. I might not admit it to his face, but we need him.”
“Do you?”
"Do I what?"
"Need him?"
I swallowed hard. "I don't need anyone except perhaps you and the family. Though I'm reconsidering that right now."
"Oh, don't be like that."
She glanced at everything else I’d laid on the bed.
Our styles weren’t similar. She dressed up in classy and timeless outfits; I mixed the bohemian with modern vibes and a whiff of classic, especially when it came to accessories.
Luckily, we understood each other's styles and knew how to find just what the other one needed.
Packing was a veritable workout; we both had far too many clothes.
But that didn't stop us from continuing to shop.
Reese stayed until it almost midnight, when I was finally content with everything I'd packed.
"Oh, by the way," she said just before she left, "you didn't pack any of your sexy lingerie."
I blinked. "Reese, I'm going there for work."
"Never hurts to be prepared. Remember, you might meet a cute guy. Definitely not Drake," she said with a wink before leaving.
I shook my head as I went back to my bedroom. Grabbing my phone, I set my alarm, slipping between the covers as I noticed I had a message from Drake.
Drake: Are you ready for tomorrow?
I replied after checking the time. He’d sent it only twenty minutes ago, so he was probably still awake.
Kimberly: Yep, all packed. You'd think I'm going somewhere for a month and not a weekend.
Drake: I can't wait to see you tomorrow morning.
My heart fluttered, and so did my stomach. Did he mean that in a professional way? I stared at the words, pressing my lips together. No, there was no way to put a professional spin on this one.
Kimberly: You say that now. Just a word of warning, I'm extremely grumpy when I have to wake up at five o'clock after I've only slept five hours. I can’t even drink coffee that early.
Drake: I'll take care of you. Now go to sleep.
He'll take care of me? Oh man, those flutters intensified. What did he mean by that?
I sighed in exasperation. There was no way to ask without sounding needy.
Kimberly: Good night, Drake.
I put the phone back on the nightstand and stared at the ceiling. My pulse was racing; my heart was in my throat. I couldn't fall asleep. Right before I decided to put my sleeping meditation music on, I got out of bed and packed some of my most seductive lingerie.