Chapter 31
Thirty-One
Bette and I spent the better part of the morning exploring the interior of the massive hotel before pausing for a lunch of soggy grilled cheese sandwiches and watered down tomato soup. Afterward, we headed to the fourth floor to have a look around.
“I think,” I said as we walked down the final hall on the fourth floor, “they aren’t being totally honest about the WIFI.”
Bette stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide as she stared at me in shock. “What do you mean? You think they have WIFI here and they’re not telling us?”
“It would make sense considering how desperate they are to seclude us from the outside world. Plus, I’m not sure our wristbands would work without it.”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but I don’t know why. It’s so obvious.” She looked at the band on her right wrist, which was identical to the one I wore. “These things would be pretty useless without WIFI, wouldn’t they?”
“Seems like it.”
I tapped a fingernail against my wristband and stared at the screen, which had a flashing reminder that I was supposed to meet with Hilary at four o’clock.
When Shelly mentioned the meetings, I’d hoped we’d all be together like we had in our group sessions, but now knew that wasn’t going to happen since Bette had an appointment at two. Which was coming up.
“We should head down,” I said, jerking my head toward the stairs.
Bette sighed as she started walking, waddling more than a little. “I’m going to be honest,” she grabbed the railing as she took the first step, “I’ll be happy when this little guy makes an appearance. He’s kicking my butt right now and keeping me up all night.”
I kept pace with her even though I could move faster. “I think he’s going to keep you up when he gets here, too.”
“I know, I know.” She rolled her eyes even as she smiled. “But I’m hoping that at least I’ll be able to get more comfortable when I lie down. Right now, I’m lucky if I get two hours of sleep before I have to switch positions. It’s killing me.”
“That’s something I’m not looking forward to,” I muttered.
She gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to freak you out by complaining. Being pregnant isn’t that bad. Not really.”
Thinking about the morning sickness I’d had the two times I was briefly pregnant, I didn’t believe her, but I kept that to myself. Honestly, I just didn’t want to talk about it. Or think about it.
It took maybe twice as long to reach our floor as it would have if Bette hadn’t been so pregnant, and when we did, she said, “I’m going to run to my room before the meeting.”
I waved to the stairs. “I’m going to keep looking around. Have fun with Minder Hilary.”
Bette grimaced. “I’m sure I won’t.”
“At least she likes you. She hates me.”
“Just kiss her butt.”
“I think it’s a little late for that.” I gave a wave. “See you later.”
“Later,” she called as she headed off.
Bette and I had only run into a few people during our exploration, so it wasn’t a big surprise when I reached the first floor to find it buzzing with activity.
Women sat talking on worn benches and chairs, a few even playing cards or other games, while others read books.
Soldiers were stationed at the door and front desk, most of them looking bored.
The job had to suck, both because they were away from their families and totally secluded, and because there wasn’t really anything for them to do. It wasn’t like we were a threat.
Not that anyone would know it based on the way some of the soldiers stared at me as I passed, their eyes narrowed and their expression as cold as stone.
It was creepy and unnerving, but also annoying as hell because I hadn’t done a damn thing to make them suspicious of me.
Unless you counted talking back to the minder last night at dinner.
I did my best to ignore the dirty looks I was getting as I meandered through the first floor.
I passed a bar where a handful of men who must have been off duty sat.
Conversation and laughter floated from the room, which was stocked with enough booze that the soldiers and probably even minders would be able to get sloshed on their downtime.
Something that left a bitter taste in my mouth since none of us would be allowed to partake.
After that, I moved on to the various ballrooms that had been converted for our entertainment.
One had a projector set up and a list of movies that would be playing throughout the day taped to the door, while another had tables and dozens of games and puzzles.
Both of those rooms had a decent crowd, as did the music hall where a grand piano was currently being played by a blonde woman with ivory skin and a very round stomach. She was phenomenal.
I was standing in the doorway listening when I spotted Ramirez.
He was on the other side of the room with two other soldiers, all three looking casual since they had their weapons slung over their shoulders as they, too, listened to the melody.
Almost like he’d sensed my presence, Ramirez shifted his attention.
When our eyes met, a small smirk pulled up his lips, making my heart pound.
It was so stupid, so pointless, but I couldn’t deny the attraction.
He held my gaze a few moments longer, making my heart thud harder, before turning to the soldier on his right.
They exchanged a few words, then Ramirez started walking.
I half expected him to head my way, but to my surprise – and disappointment – he headed for a door that led outside.
Just before he ducked out, though, he glanced over his shoulder at me.
I went after him, forcing myself not to charge across the room since that would look suspicious.
I didn’t know if what I was about to do was against the rules, exactly, but I was pretty sure fraternization between the women in the program and the soldiers would at the very least be frowned upon.
Despite that certainty, I didn’t hesitate to push the door open when I reached it.
I stepped onto a veranda, pausing as the door whooshed shut behind me so I could get my bearings.
Overgrown trees and shrubs lined the walkway, casting shadows across it and making it almost private.
Which was good because Ramirez stood at the far end, his arms crossed and his hip propped against the railing like he was waiting for me.
Without knowing why, irritation surged through me, and I charged toward him. “What the hell is your problem?”
“My problem?” Amusement flashed in his eyes. “You’re the one who followed me out here, Ara.”
I ground my teeth when he pronounced my name like he was trying to caress it. Mostly because I liked the way it sounded.
“You keep staring at me.”
Ramirez smirked, which deepened the dimple in his left cheek. “I think we keep staring at each other.”
“Seriously? You’ve been flirting with me since day one, so don’t try to deny it.”
“I have no intention of denying it.” He chuckled. “It’s actually kind of normal.”
“Normal?” I shot back.
“Yes,” he said, his smile growing wider, “it’s normal for a man to flirt with a pretty woman.”
I flushed even though I wasn’t surprised he found me attractive.
And he was right. Under normal circumstances, it would have been natural for a man to flirt with a woman if he found her attractive.
But these weren’t normal circumstances. I was in the program, and he was a Department of Fertility soldier. There was nothing normal about that.
“The question is,” he said before I could point out the obvious, “why do you keep staring at me? Is it possible you find me attractive as well?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re one of the only people I know in this place. That’s all it is.” I stumbled over the words, and my cheeks burned. He had to know I was lying.
“Sure, sure.” Ramirez’s grin widened as he fished in his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
“I can’t be around that.” I took a step back and waved to my wristband. “They’ll know.”
His smile faltered. “Really?”
“Yup. They know everything I do, thanks to this bad boy.” I flicked the cursed thing in irritation. “Not that it matters now, since I’m probably under constant surveillance.”
As if expecting to find cameras trained on us, I looked around, but there didn’t appear to be any. Although, it was possible Ramirez was the one who was supposed to be keeping tabs on me. And every other woman here.
“I’ll wait until you’re gone.” He replaced the pack before holding out his hand. “I’m Marcos, by the way. Marc.”
His hand was warm and rough, as if he did a lot of physical labor, and it swallowed mine even though he wasn’t that much taller than me.
He was a big guy, though. Broad like he worked out.
Probably he did. He was officially meet you, Ara,” he said, flashing me very straight, white teeth. And that dimple of his.
Reluctantly, I dropped his hand, then glanced at my wristband. It was a little after three. I still had some time before the dreaded meeting.
“Have somewhere to be?” He nodded to the band.
“Meeting with my minder.” I rolled my eyes to let him know how much I was looking forward to it.
“Not a fan?” he asked.
“Not a fan of any of this.” I waved to indicate the hotel and everything it represented. “Most of us aren’t here by choice, you know.”
“Yeah.” His expression sobered. “I get that. I’m not exactly either since it’s not like I asked to be assigned to guard duty in the middle of nowhere, but I knew getting a shit assignment was possible when I enlisted. You, though, had zero say in this.”
“Nope.” I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms to hug myself. “And now I’m stuck here for who knows how long, forced to be away from everyone I care about while the government tries to impregnate me.”
Marc’s gaze flitted down. “So, you aren’t…”
“No.” I flushed but didn’t know why. “Not yet, anyway.”
“Crazy stuff.”
“Crazy is right.”
He reached for his pocket again when silence settled over us but dropped his hand before retrieving the pack.
It was probably a habit, but it still had me wondering if I should let him go.
Was he on a break? I didn’t know because I had no clue what their schedules were like or if he’d get in trouble if he was gone too long.
Or if we’d both get in trouble if someone found us out here together.
“Are you on a break or something?”
“Naw.” Marc shrugged. “Things are pretty laid back for us. When we’re on shift, we have to patrol the hotel and the grounds to make sure no one sneaks in or out, but it isn’t really regimented. Honestly, I don’t think Sergeant Collins knows what to do with us.”
“Must be nice.” I ran the toe of my shoe along a crack in the terrace floor. “They know exactly what to do with me.”
When I looked up, he was staring at me, the corners of his mouth turned down. “I can’t imagine any of this is easy.”
“It’s really not.” My eye roll would have made a moody teenager envious. “I should go back inside. We’re supposed to be in groups of two at all times.”
“One,” Marc pointed to himself then at me, “two. Looks to me like you’re following the rules.”
“I haven’t met with my minder yet, but I have a feeling being alone with one of the soldiers is definitely skating the line of what’s allowed.”
He laughed, deepening his dimple in a distracting way. “Yeah, we got a pretty decent lecture the day we arrived about keeping our distance from the country’s most important assets.”
“I’m pretty sure when they say asset, they’re only referring to my uterus.”
His eyebrows jumped and an amused light shone in his eyes. “So, you’re saying the rest of you isn’t off limits?”
“I’m saying,” I replied through my laugh, “that they shouldn’t be able to tell me what to do with the rest of my body. At least not in my opinion. Although I have a feeling the powers that be wouldn’t agree with me on that point.”
“Probably not,” Marc replied.
More reluctantly than I would have expected, I took a step toward the door. “I guess I’ll see you around?”
He was smirking when he once again retrieved the pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “You can count on that.”
I returned his smile, and for the first time since I found out I was going to be sent away, a lightness came over me.
I hadn’t expected it, and it was strange, but nice as well.
And Marc was nice, too. Cute and funny, he’d be a good distraction during my stay here.
No, nothing could happen between us. That would definitely be against the rules.
But having him to talk to would be a change of pace I was sure I’d need.
“It was nice to finally meet you, Marc,” I said as I walked backward.
He grinned as he retrieved a cigarette from the pack. “I look forward to getting to know you more, Ara.”
A shiver moved through me yet again. Shit. I was going to have to be careful with this guy. Very careful.