Chapter 7 – Remington
CHAPTER SEVEN
The missing Minnie
Remington
We still have one condom left.
That’s the first thought that hits me when I wake up Saturday morning, and I smile as I roll to the side to find her.
But there’s no warm, feminine body in the bed with me.
My eyelids peel open when my hand finds only cool sheets. Pushing up, I look around the shadowed room, though I know she’s not there. There’s a feeling of solitude that tells me I’m the only person in this space, but I call her name anyway.
“Minnie?”
Nothing.
The absolute joy I’ve felt for the past ten hours ebbs like a receding tide as I touch the empty spot beside me.
The sheets feel somehow rougher without her between them, and I quickly pull my hand away, rubbing my fingertips with my thumb to quell the anxiety I feel at touching the less-than-luxurious linens.
I find it curious that it didn’t seem to bother me last night when I was rolling around this very bed with Minnie. But then I had her soft, warm body to distract me.
“Minnie?” I say again, receiving the same response as I stand and make my way to the bathroom. It’s dark and empty, but I turn on the light to check anyway.
Something akin to panic builds at the base of my spine and works its way up to my scalp, causing tingles to break out around every hair follicle. What if she went to get ice and someone took her? That’s what happened to my friend Auburn Bouvier’s sister, Evie, many years ago.
No, no, you’re being silly, I tell myself. Minnie is fine. She probably just… what? Went out for coffee? Decided to surprise me with breakfast? Yes, that’s probably it.
Well, why didn’t she leave a note?
I mentally slap myself. A note! I didn’t even check. Backtracking to the sleeping area, I flick on the lamp and stare at the nightstand. No note. And the sight of the phone charger punches me in the gut. Two cords. But only one phone.
It’s like some weird charger-sharing bond has been broken, and I sink down to the bed. My hand reaches for the far pillow, and I bring it to my nose, filling my lungs with her floral scent. My spine eases, and I curl around the cushy shape for a long while, simply inhaling her.
My eyes search the room, noting her dress and shoes are gone. Well, of course they’re fucking gone. Did I think she was wandering around the hotel stark naked? Her purse is missing too. Finally I snap myself out of… whatever this is I’m feeling and stand, gathering my clothes.
I need to go downstairs and find Minnie. My brain clocks the memory of a sign near the front desk proclaiming a continental breakfast. I bet that’s where she is. A smile creases my face. I did put her through her paces last night, so she probably woke up hungry and thirsty.
A flash of scarlet catches my eye, and I bend to pick up a scrap of lace from where it was hidden between the bed and the wall. Her panties. I bring these to my nose just like I’d done with the pillow, and dear god. I can literally taste her pussy on my tongue again.
My cock throbs, remembering her too, but I ignore him. I don’t have time for his antics right now. After rinsing out my mouth at the bathroom sink and donning my clothes, I neatly fold Minnie’s panties and place them carefully in my pocket.
I don’t bother with the phone charger, but my hand reaches for the condom box. I’ll just put the remaining one in my wallet and save it to use on Minnie later tonight. After the wedding. Maybe I’ll tie her to my bed and spank her perfect ass for making me worry.
But the condom box is empty. What the fuck?
I know we had one remaining. I check my wallet, thinking maybe in my sex haze I’d put it in there, though I can’t imagine why.
Nope. No condom, but my gaze falls on the lottery ticket Minnie bought me last night.
I rub my thumb along the serrated edge and shake my head.
I’d almost begun to think I’d dreamed her up, but there’s this ticket. And her panties. Not to mention the sweet scent of Minnie mixed with hard sex pervading the room.
I stuff my wallet and the key card into my pants pocket and exit the room, taking the elevator down to the first floor.
A sign points me to the breakfast area, and I find a dining room of sorts.
There are pastries and small boxes of cereal, along with a selection of drinks lining the counters.
Laminate-topped tables are arranged in neat rows to the right side near a bank of sunny windows.
My gaze darts from one to another. A couple wearing floral shirts like they’re headed to the tropics. A family with two small children arguing over a box of Fruit Loops. An old man sipping coffee from a paper cup. And…
That’s it.
No Minnie.
I sweep the area again just to be certain, but a gorgeous redheaded goddess in a sexy dress does not spontaneously appear.
Backtracking to the front desk, I approach the counter where a young woman sits on a tall stool.
She’s a little person with blonde hair pulled into a ponytail.
Looking up from her computer, she gives me a wide smile.
“Checking out, sir?”
Am I? Fuck if I know.
“Uh, no. I was wondering if you saw a woman leave here. Red hair, scarlet dress, about this tall.” I hold my hand up to my shoulder.
Her lips twist. “No, but I just got here a few minutes ago.”
I drag a hand over my rough jaw, thinking. “Can you check to see if anyone left a message for room 418?”
“Of course.” The lady taps on her keyboard before looking up at me with an apologetic smile. “No, Mr. Hale. I’m very sorry.” She obviously saw my name on her screen, and I glance at her nametag to see her name is Carla Jones.
“What about a handwritten note?” I ask, hearing the tinge of desperation in my request.
Carla flicks through a small stack of pink notes, and I can read the sympathy in her eyes even before she shakes her head. “You still have a few hours before checkout time.”
“Yeah,” I say absently. “Yeah, I’ll leave her a message here in case she comes back. I’m sure she just had to… run an errand or something.”
“Probably,” Carla says kindly, though she doesn’t sound convinced.
My mind whirls, working through all possibilities. “I’ll leave a note in the room as well. If she returns, please give her a key to get in.”
“Certainly. Let me just add that to the computer.” Her fingers fly over the keys. “Your friend’s name?”
“Minnie,” I reply.
Brown eyes look up at me over her glasses. “And her last name?”
Fuck if I know, Carla.
“Just Minnie,” I reply. “Like Cher or Madonna.”
Her blonde eyebrows pinch together. “If someone is to be allowed access to a guest’s room, we have to see their ID to make sure the first and last names match.”
I puff out an exasperated sigh before leveling her with my narrow-eyed gaze. “I appreciate your diligence, Carla, but how many redheads named Minnie do you get coming in to ask for a key to room 418 on a daily basis?”
She rolls her lips between her teeth, fighting a smile. “Not a lot.”
“If that happens to occur today, you have my permission to give her a key card.” At her skeptical look, I pull out my wallet and slide three hundred- dollar bills over the counter. “Please. It’s really important to me.”
She eyes the money like it’s a bomb. “I’d like to help you, but if I take that money, I’m getting fired.” Her nose scrunches. “Not that I would mind all that much if I didn’t have bills to pay. Working every weekend is for the birds. My husband and I haven’t been on a proper date in three months.”
I place one of my business cards on top of the cash. “What if I give you a job at my company? Weekdays only. Full benefits.” Then, because I’m not a complete moron, I add, “As long as you can pass a background check.”
“Oh, I definitely can.” Carla picks up the card and studies it before eyeing me. “You’re really one of the Hale Cosmetics dudes?”
With a chuckle, I assure her, “I am, indeed, one of those dudes. You can look me up on the company’s website.”
She keeps the card but pushes the money back toward me. “I won’t take that, Mr. Hale, but if a redheaded Minnie comes in today, I’ll give her your note and a key to room 418.” Leaning toward me, she asks, “You’ll still give me a job either way?”
Carla’s refusal of the money impresses me, and I give her a quick nod. “Of course. Just call that number and ask to speak with Eloise in Human Resources. I’ll let her know to expect your call.”
She opens a drawer and pulls out a notepad and two envelopes. I scrawl Joe along with my personal cell number on one of the pages and place it in the envelope. Sealing it and handing it over to Carla, I say, “Thank you so much for your help.”
“No, thank you.” She offers me a conspiratorial smile. “And I hope you find your Minnie.”
“I will,” I say confidently. Because there’s no other option.
I felt I needed to leave a note in the room as well as at the front desk. What if Minnie took one of the key cards with her and returned soon? I honestly can’t remember if there were one or two cards in that little sleeve. Better to be safe than sorry, right?
Back in room 418, I hover my pen over the paper. What should I say? The truth. Just be honest with her. I begin to write.
Minnie,
I’m not sure where you went, but I think we got our wires crossed. I meant everything I said last night. I want more than one perfect night with you. I want a million of them.
Pausing, I stare down at the paper. I want to give her my phone number, but what if housekeeping reads this? I don’t want my private number floating around with random people. That’s when I remember I put my contact info in Minnie’s phone last night. So I continue writing.
You already have my number. I put it in your phone last night under the name Remi. That’s my real name, by the way. I’m sorry I was dishonest with you about that, but everything else was the god’s honest truth. If you give me a call, I promise I’ll explain everything.
I’m going to our Waffle Ho to see if maybe you’re there. I miss you already and can’t wait to hear from you.
Yours,
Remi/Hardware Joe