Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CLAIRE
An irksome sliver of light streamed between the edges of the velvet drapery panels, landing precisely on Claire’s eyelids.
It took several seconds to identify the nuisance as she rolled over with a satisfied sigh, eyes firmly closed.
What would happen if she opened them, finding the previous night to be a dream?
With her back to the sun, she blinked and confronted reality.
Her gaze landed on the small chaise across the room—specifically the black tuxedo jacket draped across it.
She then spied the matchbook sitting on the nightstand, his number written inside.
No name. Just a hastily scrawled set of digits.
So very old school—a number on a matchbook—and she loved it.
She picked it up and studied his handwriting, noting the prominent lines drawn through both the zero digit and the seven.
She tapped the matchbook against her thumbnail several times then reached for the phone.
After summoning a pot of coffee and breakfast via room service, she grabbed a quick shower.
As she wrapped her wet hair in a towel, a soft knock echoed through the quiet suite.
Expecting her room service order, she stood shocked when she found the bellhop in the hall bearing gifts—an enormous bouquet of flowers and a gift box.
"These were just delivered for you, ma'am," he announced.
"Thank you very much." Claire took a step back.
"Would you like them on the coffee table?"
"That will be fine, thank you." Claire eyed the massive arrangement of freshly cut flowers that instantly brightened the room and made her forget the unexpected conversation with Molly.
"Will there be anything else, ma'am?" the young man asked.
"I don't think so. Thank you very much."
He produced a slip of paper from the inside pocket of his jacket. "If you'll sign here."
She obliged, leaving her signature on the bottom of the receipt. The attendant tucked it away with a nod then closed the door behind him.
Claire untied her robe and let it fall to the floor.
She reached for Jay’s tuxedo jacket, pulling it up around her shoulders as she settled onto the chaise with a smile.
She searched the bouquet but found no card.
Her eyes then moved to the large box, wrapped in exquisite floral paper, and tied with a lime green organza bow.
She grinned as she removed the wrapping, unsure what she'd find inside. She laughed out loud when she uncovered a pair of pale pink bunny slippers. She held them up, shaking her head in amazement. In the bottom of the box, she found something else. An over-sized ivory dance card, elegantly embossed with images of cherry blossoms. Ten spaces for signatures of potential partners were printed down the center of the card, each line bearing the same name: Plain Ol’ Jay.
He likes to play the humble nerd, but this man’s got serious romance game.
She pushed her feet into the fuzzy softness of the slippers and grabbed her cell phone.
She glanced at the matchbook briefly before dialing, but she’d already committed his number to memory just minutes before falling asleep.
Her heart raced, and he answered on the first ring.
No formal greeting. Just a single, direct question.
"How do they fit?" he asked in a flirty tone.
"Like a glove."
Looking down at her feet, Claire grinned and bit her bottom lip.