Chapter 8
It was amazing to wake up in Jack’s arms. I’d been dreaming of dancing with him. He held me in his arms confidently as we glided across the dance floor. Every eye was on us, but he only had eyes for me. As the song ended, he leaned down and pressed a line of kisses down my throat…
My eyes flew open as I realized the kisses were real.
Jack was snuggling. Snuggling in a way that let me know it was morning.
I quickly extricated myself from his embrace and sprang out of bed.
I had much to accomplish and didn’t have time to lose myself in Jack.
Not that I didn’t want to, but it was a bad idea all around.
I scurried towards the bathroom. As I reached the door, Jack said, in a rough, sleepy voice, “Good morning, Eve. Shall I order us up some breakfast?” I turned to look at him. Big mistake. He was propped up on one elbow, the sheet down around his waist, leaving that chest to sear my retinas.
“I’m not really hungry, but some coffee would be great, thanks,” I managed to say in an even voice. I slid into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. Breakfast? No thank you. Slide back into bed with you and stay a week? Yes, please! And possibly a defibrillator.
I sat on the toilet and tried to organize my thoughts. Today was pack and travel day. But first I’d need to shower. But I couldn’t hog the bathroom since I had an uninvited roommate. Sighing, I opened the door a crack and called out, “I need to shower. Would you like to use the bathroom first?”
He answered, from the other side of the door. “That’d be great. Thanks. Unless you want to share the shower….”
I huffed a breath of annoyance. Did he ever stop?
“I’m just suggesting it selflessly, as a way to make the best use of our time, you know.” I couldn’t see it, but I knew he was grinning.
I opened the door and gestured that the bathroom was all his. We passed in the doorway, and he was closer than he needed to be. I kept my eyes resolutely fixed up on his face, which was, indeed, sporting a big grin.
With my suitcase open on the bed, I started to pack.
neatly folding my clothes and organizing my accessories and shoes.
I laid out my travel outfit, leaving room for my sleepwear and toiletries.
I heard the shower start running. The bathroom door opened a crack and Jack called through it, “Last chance to get in on this shower.”
“Go shower, Jack! Alone!”
He laughed, flung his plaid boxers out the door, and shut it behind him.
Oh no. Had he taken clean underwear in with him?
I had been so focused on keeping my eyes up that I hadn’t seen.
What if he came out in just a towel? Or worse yet, in nothing?
I went weak in the knees at the thought.
Worst of all was the thought of Jack in the shower, wearing only soap. I sank onto the bed, legs trembling.
“Stop!” I told myself sternly. There was no point in hyperventilating about this man.
Today I was returning home. My time on Fantasy Island was over.
Most likely I would never even see him again.
I didn’t need some brief sweaty interlude between the sheets (stop it, Eve!) to derail my life.
I would stay calm and poised. Not let him affect me.
And then when we shook hands and said goodbye, it wouldn’t destroy me.
I picked up my phone and opened the app to check in for my flight and make sure it was going to be on time. Because technology isn’t always trustworthy, I took a screenshot of the confirmation. It’s always good to have backup.
Hearing the shower stop, I dropped my phone on the bed and grabbed my travel clothes and toiletry bag and waited by the door to the bathroom. Jack stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist. “Eve, were you sneaking a peek while I was in the shower?” he asked with barely suppressed glee.
“No, I was waiting, hoping that you didn’t use all the hot water.”
“Hm, I might have. Cold showers aren’t really my thing.”
“Too bad, Jack. It seems you could use one,” I flung back at him with a withering look and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.
I carefully laid out my clothes and dithered, looking at the door.
Should I lock it? Jack wouldn’t come in while I was naked.
Would he? I could trust him, right? Yes, for sure.
No, no I couldn’t. Look how he’d wheedled his way into my room. I absolutely could not trust him.
I reached over and flipped the lock on the door. I heard a chuckle on the other side. “That took you a while to decide, Eve. I think you must want me to come in and do your back for you.”
“In your dreams, Jack.” The nerve of that man! He was without a doubt the most aggravating man I’d ever met. It was a good thing today was the last day I’d have to see him.
“Oh, were you peeking into my dreams, too? Cause you most definitely were in them.”
The only way out of this was to refuse to engage.
I took off my sleep set and stepped into the shower.
The water was plenty hot, so I took my time soaping up, then washing my hair.
But when my thoughts strayed to Jack in a towel, I decided that maybe I was the one who needed the cold shower.
I turned it all the way to arctic, and stood under it briefly, gasping with the shock, then turned it off, got out and got dressed.
I took my time drying my hair, applying makeup, and getting my toiletries all gathered. I wanted Jack to know I wasn’t going to rush for him. I was on my own schedule.
When I came out Jack was dressed, standing on the balcony overlooking the pool. He turned as he saw me emerge. His eyes softened as he looked at me. I expected more snark from him, but all he said was, “Still beautiful.”
I walked out to join him and saw that a breakfast tray was placed on the table between the chairs. Despite my assurance that I didn’t want breakfast, he’d ordered scrambled eggs. scones, and fruit to go with the coffee. Smelling it, I was suddenly starving.
“Come on, have some breakfast before it gets cold.” He gestured towards a chair. I sat and he handed me a plate. I helped myself to some of everything while he poured me a coffee. He sat in the other chair and took an appreciative gulp of his coffee.
“This is how every breakfast should be,” he said, looking out toward the golf course. “Good food, good company, and a lovely view.” When he said the last part, his glance lingered on me.
“Thank you for ordering. I didn’t realize how hungry I actually was.” I took a large bite of the eggs and chewed, gratefully.
“I know it’s the worst to be hungry when you’re flying. You’re trapped, looking forward to the paltry packet of peanuts, and they don’t even have peanuts anymore. Just a couple of pretzels. It’s terrible,” he said. I nodded agreement and ate a few grapes.
The morning stillness, the gentle desert breeze, and the delicious food were all helping to calm me down. Jack reached over and took my hand. “Better?” I nodded and he squeezed my hand. “Ok, how long do we have till we have to check out?”
“We have till noon to check out, but we’d better get going within the hour so we’re at the airport in plenty of time.” Then it hit me that I didn’t know his travel plans. “You are flying out today, right? What time is your flight?” He filled me in on his travel itinerary.
The same time as me? The same flight? What a coincidence, I thought wryly.
It was either a coincidence, or Jack had been busy behind my back.
But either way it didn’t matter. It just made the logistics easier when we could go to the airport together.
It’s not like we’d be seated next to each other again.
The odds of that happening were about the same as the Pope installing a disco ball in the Sistine Chapel.
We called a porter to take our bags down. Jack and I followed him, hand in hand. I’m pretty sure we didn’t need to pretend to be a couple for the benefit of the Luxe people anymore, but it felt nice to hold hands, so I didn’t object.
At the front desk there was a line forming.
Scott was heaping praise on the reception staff, telling them how pleased he was with their facility, with the service, the food, and was liable to keep going, so I placed a friendly hand on his back to interrupt.
He turned, all smiles, and gave each of us a warm handshake, and then gave Jack a slap on the back.
“Eve and Jack, it has been a genuine pleasure. I hope we get to meet again in the future. And I do hope you’ll use the couple’s spa day certificate.”
I gave him a warm smile and assured him that I, too, had enjoyed working with him and hoped to see him again, soon. Jack gave him a broad smile and promised again to pass along the info to his rep. “It’s been a pleasure, Scott!” All smiles, Scott followed the porter outside with his bags.
Patrice, who was again anchoring reception, had a large smile for me and an even bigger one for Jack.
I, too, sang the praises of the hotel and assured her that my boss would receive a very favorable report on them.
She handed the bill over for me to sign.
As I was skimming through the charges, I saw that she was sliding a paper over toward Jack.
She whispered, “Could you sign this for me, please?” He flashed his megawatt smile and said, “Sure. Should I make it to you, Patrice?” She glowed a red that rivaled an Arizona sunset and whispered, “Yes, please.”
Technically, the staff of any quality hotel should feign indifference toward celebrity guests, keeping their excited squeals to the staff break room.
Jack must have really ranked high in her book for her to break the rules like this.
I suspected that she was also the one who’d helped him to get his luggage to my room.
He signed with a flourish and handed it to her, along with the pen and a sexy smile. I hoped that someone here knew CPR because she looked like she might have a heart attack as she clutched her trophy to her chest.
We followed our luggage outside where the valet was just pulling up with the rental car. As the porter started loading our bags into the trunk, Jack slid his arm around my waist and leaned down to nuzzle my neck.
“Jack, Scott’s gone. We don’t need to put on a show for him anymore,” I reminded him.
“Oh, this isn’t for you. It’s for me. I want Patrice to know I’m unavailable. I’m a little bit scared that she might track me down and try to have her way with me.”
I swatted at his arm. “Oh, poor you. Relentlessly hunted for being too talented and good looking. It must be terrible to wake up being you in the morning.”
He looked into my eyes and replied, “It’s not so bad, if you’re there, Eve.”
Leaving me flustered, he gently pulled me to the car, opened the door for me, and helped me in.
On the way to the airport, Jack drove expertly, navigating the turn-offs with ease. It was nice to have him in charge here. I hated trying to find my way around in a new city.
We made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare, checking in the rental car, going through the TSA lines, and finding seats in the gate lounge. I checked my watch, and satisfied that we were in no hurry, pulled out my phone to check for messages.
“I’m going to get a cup of coffee. Can I bring you anything, Eve?” Jack asked, standing up.
I shook my head, eyes focused on emails from my boss. “No thanks.” There was a string of emails, all with the Subject of LUXE??. It looked like it was time to get back to work.
I’d worked my way through three emails, writing detailed responses, when I noticed Jack was still not back.
Odd. Where could he be? How long could the line at Starbucks be?
I was a bit concerned, but it wasn’t like I could go looking for him.
All our bags were here, and I certainly couldn’t leave them unattended.
I realized with frustration that I didn’t know his phone number, so I couldn’t call him.
The boarding time was approaching, and I was getting worried.
Having no other choice, I stuffed my handbag into my carry-on and grabbed my bag and Jack’s.
Ugh, what did that man pack? Bricks? Just so he could get a bonus workout in carrying his bag?
I trudged up the walkway toward the Starbucks, muttering under my breath that if Jack was being irresponsible and he had just lost track of time while chatting up the barista, words were going to be had. Harsh words.
Approaching the Starbucks I could see that the line had swelled into a crowd. And at the center of the crowd, looking anxious and buffeted, was Jack. I could see the pens and napkins being waved in his face and the delighted shrieks of his fans as they pressed in on him, making escape impossible.
His eyes caught mine and sent a desperate plea. “HELP ME!”
Oh boy. Well, once more into the fray. I summoned the strength of my Norwegian ancestors, and wielding, not battle axes, but carry-on luggage, I went to save Jack.
Loudly, as though in a fury, I shouted, “What are you doing? Our plane is leaving soon. Knock it off!”
Using the carry-ons as battering rams I forced my way to the center of the mob. I grabbed Jack, handed him his bag, and we pushed all obstacles out of our way as we returned to the lounge. Some of the more tenacious groupies followed and I dragged Jack up to the boarding desk.
“Hello, we have a bit of a situation here. This is Jack Garcia.” I could see the boarding agent’s eyes get as big as saucers. “He is currently being mobbed, stalked, and harassed. Is there a safe place he can go until our plane boards?”
“I’m s-s-so s-sorry,” she stuttered. “We don’t have anything l-l-like that. Unless you’re flying first class. Then there is the first-class lounge which has security.”
Jack took out his credit card and slapped it on the counter. “Upgrade us.”
Which was how we found ourselves sitting next to each other on a plane. Again. I guess the Pope is going to be throwing a rave.