47
Present, Orlando, Florida
You belong with me. It echoes in my head the next day as I get ready in my room. When I’m showering. You belong with me. When I’m brushing my teeth. You belong with me. When I’m getting dressed. You belong with me.
Did Ethan really say that last night, or had I been dreaming? What would it be like? To belong to someone? To be part of something greater than myself?
When I woke up this morning, Ethan was already gone. A note on the nightstand read:
Off to the gym.
Pick you up at 8 am for the conference.
Can’t wait to go to Epcot with you today!
Ethan
The last line of the note raised a thrill through my body—excitement over Ethan or Disney or maybe both, I wasn’t sure. It was hard to sort out all the strong feelings I was having this morning.
Plus, how cute is it that Ethan had signed his name? Like, who else would leave notes next to my sleeping head? A silly smitten smile broke out whenever I thought of that signature. God, he is adorable and hot. Like catnip for women.
A knock on my hotel door is followed by Ethan calling through it, “Tiffy? You alive in there? We gotta get going before registration closes.”
“Coming,” I yell back.
When I step out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam and perfume follows. I’ve made sure to look extra nice today, curling my hair until it falls into smooth shiny waves away from my face and taking time to get my makeup just right. I’m wearing a form-fitting gray pencil skirt and an ivory blouse with low black heels to complete my ensemble. It’s professional with a feminine kick. A sexy librarian look was my goal.
“Ready,” I sing out and open the door to let him in. I sashay across the room to get my purse, feeling kind of proud of myself. I’m not normally a sashaying kind of woman.
It’s satisfying to see Ethan’s eyes widen and to hear him say, “You look nice. All those khaki-wearing radiologists downstairs won’t be able to concentrate on the many causes of cardiomegaly with you around.”
Suddenly self-conscious, I clutch my chest. “Is it too much? I can change.” I’m about to wheel around and sprint back into the bathroom when Ethan hastily says, “No. No. You’re perfect. This conference just got a whole lot more interesting, is all.”
His appreciative gaze rakes over my body, so heavy it’s as if he’s just reached out and caressed me. The slow, sexy smile he gives me lets me know he likes what he sees.
“Come on, then. Let’s go. We wouldn’t want to keep them waiting.” I bat my eyelashes and deliberately brush my arm against his as I walk by, enjoying the way it makes Ethan suck in his breath. It’s been a long time since I flirted. Those skills are so rusty they’re almost nonexistent, but today I might refresh them.