Chapter 12
“I didn’t prepare for this eventuality either.” ~ Rhett
Rhett
I squeeze Dakota’s shoulder. “Time to wake up, sleepyhead.”
She slept through the entire flight – the take-off, meal service, and landing. She didn’t fidget or readjust her blanket. She barely moved.
My gaze drifted to her time and time again. Even with those startling green eyes shut, she’s a stunner. Except for the dark smudges under her eyes. Is she not getting enough sleep?
“What? Where are we?” She brushes her curls out of her face.
“We’re nearly at the gate.”
“Gate?” She blinks in confusion a few times before clarity shows in her eyes. “Atlanta. Right.”
The seatbelt sign dings off and I stand to remove our carry-ons from the overhead bin before helping her to her feet.
She smooths a hand down her jacket and frowns. “My clothes are all wrinkled.”
“No worries. We’re checking into the hotel before our first meeting. You have time to change.”
Her cheeks darken. “I’ll iron these. It’ll be fine.”
Passengers begin to deboard the plane and I usher her in front of me. There’s no sense flying first class if you can’t be the first one off the plane.
We make our way through the airport to the baggage claim. I frown when I notice the men taking second glances at Dakota. I glare at a few. She’s not theirs to covet.
She’s not yours either .
“Oh look.” Dakota runs away. “One of our suitcases is already on the belt.”
I chase after her. “I’ll get it.”
But I’m too late. She’s already lifting the suitcase from the belt. Or, rather, she’s trying to. The suitcase is filled with samples of our whiskey. It’s not the lightest.
“I’ve got it,” she hollers, but she doesn’t manage to lift the suitcase and ends up running to keep up with the belt as she continues to try and lift it. She trips on air and starts to fall.
I rush after her and manage to catch her before she falls to the ground. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, but the suitcase is getting away.”
“It’ll come around again.”
Her eyes flare and I realize I’m holding her close and rubbing a hand in circles on her lower back. My cock sighs. Finally. No, not finally. I clear my throat and step away.
“You stay here.” I hand her the carry-ons. “I’ll get the suitcases.”
I don’t give her a chance to respond before walking off. My klutzy girl is stubborn. If she thinks she can help, she will. I have no desire to watch her get dragged by a suitcase over the baggage belt.
I spot the suitcases. I grunt as I grab them from the belt. They’re heavy. I can’t believe Dakota tried to lift them. She’s a little thing. She shouldn’t be lifting heavy items.
“Should I order us a ride share?” she asks when I join her. “I didn’t order one in advance as they say to wait until you have your luggage.”
She pulls out her phone but I stop her. “It’s handled.”
Her nose wrinkles. “Handled? I’m supposed to be in charge of the travel arrangements.”
“No one’s keeping score.” I motion her forward. “Let’s go.”
When she appears unsure of where to go, I take the lead. I shorten my stride to make sure she can keep up as we exit the baggage claim area. I scan the area for my name. When I notice a man holding a placard up with my name on it, I aim for him.
“Mr. Raider?” he asks and I nod. “Let me take your bags.”
I allow him to take the suitcases before wrestling the carry-ons away from Dakota. And I do mean wrestle. The stubborn woman doesn’t let go easily.
“But I’m not carrying anything,” she complains as we follow the driver to the car.
“You have your purse.”
“A purse doesn’t count.”
“Is it not a bag?”
“Whatever,” she mumbles as we reach the car.
I help the driver situate the bags in the trunk before opening the door for her. She slides in and I follow her.
“I thought you’d go through the other door.”
Go through the other door when I can feel Dakota’s curves against mine as she scoots to the other side of the seat? I’m not a stupid man.
“Are you feeling better?” I ask once we’re driving away from the airport.
“Feeling better? I haven’t been sick.”
“I didn’t say you were. But you were obviously tired.”
“I’ve been reviewing the information for the meeting.”
I reach across the seat to squeeze her hand. “There’s no reason to be nervous.”
She sniffs and lifts her nose in the air. “I know. But I prefer to be prepared for all eventualities.”
She’s adorable when she’s feisty. Whoa. I stop myself there. Dakota is not adorable. Or cute. Or sexy. Or anything.
She’s my co-worker, my brother’s assistant, and off limits.
My phone rings and I check the display. “It’s one of our customers. I need to answer this.”
She flicks her hand. “Of course. We’re at work.”
I spend the rest of the drive trying to iron out the mess of invoices and payments with the customer. Dakota hears me and opens her laptop to bring up the customer files. I grin at her.
I never should have asked Eli to fire her. I overreacted when I found her sleeping in her car. Dakota is not merely competent. She’s amazing. As I argue with the customer, she taps on the screen to indicate the numbers I need without me asking. Like I said – amazing.
I finish up the call as the car pulls up to our hotel. I climb out before turning around to help Dakota out. Sparks fly as our hands touch. I could get addicted to the feeling.
Co-worker, I remind myself. Keeping a secret, I add when co-worker does nothing to dim the fire building in my belly to have this woman. To lay her down and feast on her curves. My cock hardens and lengthens as visions of her in the throes of passion flit through my mind.
“Rhett.” Dakota elbows me and I realize I’m not paying attention to the present. “Do we tip the driver?”
All the suitcases are already on the porter’s cart. I force my thoughts to the present. “Already done.”
We follow the porter into the hotel. Dakota gasps and her mouth gapes open as she stares up at the chandelier in the lobby.
It reminds me of when Eli made his first million. He took the entire family on a vacation to the Bahamas where we stayed in a five-star hotel. I don’t think my chin lifted from the ground the entire time.
I forgot how wonderful the first experience of luxury is.
I grasp Dakota’s elbow and guide her toward the reception. She blinks several times before she slips into work mode.
“We have a reservation for two rooms under the name of Rhett Raider.”
The receptionist smiles at her. “Let me have a look.”
She taps away at her computer but the smile falls from her face. “I only have one room reserved.”
“No. There must be some kind of mistake.” Dakota digs her phone out of her purse. “I have a confirmation for two rooms.”
The receptionist frowns as she scans Dakota’s phone. “I see the confirmation, but I’m not seeing it on my computer.”
“It’s not a problem. Book us into another room,” I say.
The receptionist ticks away at her computer again. “I’m afraid we’re completely booked up. The only room we have available is the Empire Suite.”
“Sounds expensive,” Dakota says.
“It’s fine.” I hand the receptionist my credit card.
Dakota wrings her hands while the receptionist books the room. But she doesn’t speak. She remains mute as the porter escorts us to the elevator and to the top floor of the hotel and when the butler greets us.
“Shall I give you a tour of the suite?” he asks.
“We’re good. I’ll ring for you if we need anything.”
He nods before leaving us alone.
The door closes behind us and I count down – five, four, three—
“This is crazy!” Dakota bursts out. “It’s entirely too much money. I should go to another hotel. There must be a hotel nearby that doesn’t cost a year’s worth of salary to stay in for two nights.”
“It’s fine.”
“Fine!” she yells. “There’s a living room, a kitchen, and a freaking gym. In a hotel room.”
“Suite,” I correct because I’m enjoying watching how flustered Dakota is. Her green eyes spark and her cheeks darken. I didn’t think it was possible for her to be more beautiful than she already is. I was wrong.
“We should go somewhere else. I should go somewhere else.”
“I bet you didn’t prepare for this eventuality,” I poke because I’m having the best time.
Fear fills her eyes. “I really am sorry. I did book two rooms. The receptionist agrees. There must be a glitch in their system. We should have asked to speak to the manager and complained. Please don’t complain to Eli.”
Damnit. Here I am having fun teasing her, and she’s worried about her job. I’m being an asshole. Again. When it comes to Dakota, I can’t seem to stop myself from messing up.
I place my hands on her shoulders. She dips her chin to stare at the ground.
“Look at me, Dakota.”
She huffs before lifting her gaze to meet mine. Those stunning green eyes are filled with trepidation. Because of me.
“You didn’t mess up. And I’m not going to complain to Eli. I promise I won’t try to get you fired again. I was wrong to speak to Eli in the first place.”
She gulps. “You were?”
“I should have minded my own business.”
The fear disappears and the corners of her mouth kick up. “You should have realized how awesome I am from the beginning.”
I step away before I kiss the smile clean off of her feisty mouth. Before I glide my hands from her shoulders down her arms to her waist and draw her near.
“Our meeting’s in an hour. Do you want to change? I’m going to unpack.”
As soon as the words are out, I flee. I’m not a coward. But I’ve never been good at resisting temptation. And Dakota is temptation in a feisty, stubborn, klutzy package.
Who knew feisty and klutzy were this irresistible?