Chapter 3 #2
I nod as he moves around the side of the large desk and lets himself into the office behind. I look around and observe the people coming and going. I must look ridiculous standing here in an oversized suit jacket buttoned up so I can’t move my arms.
It dawns on me that I know nothing about this man.
He obviously works here … a manager maybe?
I’ll ask Lottie. Her boyfriend will know who he is.
What I do know is that my judgement is shot to pieces.
I don’t know his name, he’s a total stranger, but I let him hold my hand?
Maybe I’m past caring what happens to me.
Maybe the worst has already been done, so nothing else could be as bad as that?
My thoughts start running deeper, bitterness taking over and consuming anything good that I might have felt just moments ago.
Because where there is good, there has to be bad, right?
He appears just minutes later and holds his hand up, showing me the key card to my new room. His smile is as wide as the ocean and it’s hard not to smile back. “Let’s get you settled,” he says, leading the way to the elevator.
“Do you do this for all the girls that get hit on in your hotel?”
He stops walking and his jaw drops open a little. “What do you mean by that?”
It was a stupid question and I don’t even know why I blurted it out. If I had been a little more assertive, he wouldn’t have felt like he had to come to my rescue. Now I feel I’ve been ungrateful, and it frustrates me that I don’t have the ability to see the good in people anymore.
“Nothing, I … it’s just … well, this is a lot of trouble for you to go to, you know?
” I’m trying to gesture with my hands, but the jacket is making it rather difficult, frustrating me further.
“You’re changing my room because a guy hit on me and I didn’t deal with it like I should have been able to …
It’s not even like I’m a VIP that deserves the special treatment, I have a basic room and only for a week.
You don’t know me from Adam, and I don’t even know your name.
Do you work here or something?” The tone of my voice gradually gets higher, and my words come out fast until I’ve run out of breath.
A low rumble bubbles up from his stomach, and he presses his lips together to stop the laughter escaping but he is failing miserably. It’s infectious and I join him when I realize just how neurotic my little rant was.
“Okay.” He holds my shoulders and bends a little at the waist to look directly into my eyes while trying to keep his laughter under control. “Do you know how funny and adorable you look trying to move your arms around in my jacket while your mouth is running away with you?”
I laugh. “I guess that makes me look pretty crazy, huh?”
He nods and smiles gently. “That’s a lot of questions, so here goes.
Firstly, my name is Denham King. I would offer to shake your hand, but …
you know …” He tilts his head and smirks to himself, reminding me that I’m still unable to free my arms. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself before.
I hadn’t even noticed that we had skipped that part.
Secondly …” He takes a deep breath. “I own this hotel, so who I give rooms to is my business, and thirdly, please let me assure you that this is the first and probably the only time I’ve felt compelled to accommodate a guest so willingly.
You looked like you needed to catch a break, and I wanted to be the one to help you.
” He looks down at the marble flooring and finishes his sentence with a shrug and a shy smile.
I stand there a little taken aback and silenced by his explanation while I try to take in all the information.
He seems so genuine, and I want to accept his kind gesture as nothing more than that, a kind gesture, but the realist in me makes me skeptical of anyone being so thoughtful just because they want to and not because there’s an ulterior motive.
Lottie said her boyfriend’s brother owns this place… is he…?
“Come on.” He starts to walk toward the elevator. “I’ll have the bellboy stop at 144 and bring your belongings to your new room.”
“I would really like to pack up my own things and make sure I don’t leave anything behind … if you don’t mind?”
“Of course, I’m sorry, I should have thought. Would you like to stop by there on the way up or …?”
“It’s fine. I’ll pack everything up in a while. You don’t have to show me to my room, really, you’ve gone to enough trouble for me, I am so grateful and—”
“We can stop at your room along the way, and then I will show you to your new room. It’ll give me peace of mind that you haven’t gotten lost or hit on by a middle aged sleazeball with questionable dress sense.
” He looks at me with a quirked eyebrow.
“Besides, you’ll need a special code for the elevator.
” He says the last words with a wink, and I scrunch my brows at him.
Nonetheless, I put my trust in him, perhaps more than I should, given my circumstances, but I trust Lottie and she wouldn’t put me somewhere I wasn’t safe.
We stop at my old room and collect my belongings. Ever the gentleman, he waits outside while I get everything together. When I open the door to the room that I haven’t even spent more than a few hours in, he is leaning across the doorway, one leg propped against the wall behind him.
He is casual, unassuming, and very attractive.
My negative feelings toward the opposite sex take a nosedive when I look at him. I watch him for several long seconds, taking in the shape of his strong jaw and containing the urge to draw my finger along his day old stubble.
“Will you let me take your case for you?” He smiles and holds out a hand. I look down at my case, all that I have.
Denham holds his hands up in mock surrender. “Relax, I’m not going to steal it, just carry it to your room.”
Once again, I feel my tension slip away and I hand him my case. He should make me nervous but, strangely enough, he puts me at ease.
The elevator ride seems to take forever as we stand beside one another facing the door, close but not touching.
An invisible electricity bouncing back and forth between our bodies.
I feel his gaze on me, and when I give in to the craving to turn toward him, he snaps his head back around to look at the elevator doors like a naughty child who has been caught doing something he shouldn’t.
The doors slide open, and we step out onto the landing.
There’s another huge vase of flowers directly in front of me like the ones in the foyer, and a plush cream carpet that looks deep enough to sink your toes in.
I look at him in confusion when I see there are only two doors—one to my left and one to my right.
Huge, imposing, dark wood doors with gleaming gold handles, but neither has a room number.
“Yours is to the left.” He walks ahead, slipping the key card into the door and pushing it open.
I walk over the threshold and let out an audible gasp.
This isn’t a room. It’s a beautifully, elaborate suite filled with opulent details and spectacular views out of the floor to ceiling windows, which are more like a glass wall.
Luxury at its finest.
“What’s this?” I ask, a tone of astonishment mixed with annoyance in my voice.
“It’s your replacement room. It was the only one available, so I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“But I can’t afford this room.” Although I could stretch my money toward this kind of grandeur, I don’t want to.
“It’s a complimentary room, Miss Jamesson. You didn’t ask to be upgraded, I upgraded you.”
“Yes, but I’m not a charity case, I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, and I don’t need to upgrade to the penthouse just because someone hit on me.”
“I think we had this conversation downstairs, and your mouth is starting to run away with you … again.”
He strides past me, taking my case through another door, and I break into a half run to keep up with him which isn’t easy when I’m still buttoned into this damn blazer. I stop just before I slam into his back. When he puts my case down and steps to the side, I’m stunned at what I see.
“Whoa.”
The room is exquisite. A king size bed draped in ruby-red silk sheets and sumptuous bedding is the centerpiece of the room—a masterpiece in intricately, hand-carved dark wood. Off to the side is an en suite bathroom with a sunken marble bath.
He turns to face me with a sincere look in his eyes.
“Now, I would really like it if you were to stay here, but if you would like to go back to 144, I will understand.” I open my mouth to speak, but he hushes me by holding a finger up.
“I’m not trying to hit on you, win you over, get in your panties or make you feel inferior in any way.
I’m just trying to do something nice for you because, well, because I can.
” He works the buttons open on the jacket I’ve been wrapped in but leaves it draped over my shoulders.
“Finished?” I say with a smile.
He grins. “For now.”
“Thank you for being kind, not hitting on me, not trying to win me over or … get in my panties.” Even as a joke that was hard for me to say. I breathe and continue, “I would really like to stay in this room, but I cannot afford it, and I feel uncomfortable with your offer.”
He shakes his head and rubs at his temples. “Fine, how about we make a deal? You pay the same price for this room as you did for the other. Then I’m not giving it away and you don’t feel uncomfortable. What do you say?”
I shake my head at him. He’s an insistent man and he makes it very difficult to say no. It’s a good job I’m only here for a few days. I smile at him, and now that I can, I hold my hand out to him to shake on it. “Deal.”
Our hands lock and electricity travels up my arm, setting the hairs on end.
His hand encases mine with confidence and gentleness as his thumb moves slightly to rub the back of mine, sending tingles across my skin.
I pull back and rub my hands together nervously, realizing that our handshake lingered just a fraction too long.
“Right, I had better get unpacked. It’s been a long day.”
“Of course.” He reaches into his back pocket and hands me a card. “This is my personal number. If you need anything, just call. The concierge is at your disposal and the facilities are free for you to use whenever you wish.”
“That’s very kind, thank you, but I’m sure it won’t be necessary.” I take his card, giving him a smile, and he steps past me to leave.
“Wait.” I spin around to catch him. “Your jacket …” I slip it off my shoulders, handing it to him. “Thank you, you are very chivalrous.”
I’m awarded by a flash of those beautiful, straight white teeth and a nod before he turns on his heel. I watch his long fluid strides, and as he moves through the apartment I can’t help but let my eyes drift to his ass.
I almost let out an audible groan but stifle it just in time for him to turn and give me a knowing look before he leaves, closing the door behind him. I let out the deep breath I was holding and smile to myself.
For a day that started with so much uncertainty, it hasn’t ended so badly.