Chapter 23
Garrett
The second the door closes behind me, I thread my fingers through my hair and growl, startling an older gentleman ambling out of his room. I try on a friendly smile, but he gives me a wide berth anyway. Why do I even try? I don’t like people and they don’t like me.
This whole thing with Angela…
It’s just…
I growl again, then stalk down the hallway, not sure where I’m going, just that I can’t be here.
Not with her, in there, with that one stupid bed and all the things I want to do to her parading through my mind.
I need space to breathe, to think, to get myself under control so I stop acting like an asshole every time she moves.
The lobby is filled with mothers and daughters. As I step through, the crowd parts for me, like my energy is enough to push people away.
Story of my life, I think as I exit the hotel.
Now that night has fallen, the air is cooler, almost pleasant.
I follow the sound of the ocean, around the back of the building, until I find myself on the beach.
The waves rush and roar, but they’re not enough to drown out the mess in my head.
From the moment I picked up my phone and told Angela to get naked, I’ve made one stupid mistake after the next, and that?
In there? Just now? That was some high school stalker, creepy ass shit.
It's almost like I’ve lost my mind.
And damn it, that’s basically true.
She’s in my thoughts, driving me crazy on a daily, no…hourly basis. Whatever this is, whatever is going on, I can’t walk around, trapping her against a wall and telling her I want to fuck her.
That’s not the way these things work.
Especially because I have to walk back into that room, where there is only one bed, and spend the rest of the night with her.
And after that? Sign a contract binding her business to mine.
Angela will be part of my professional life for a long time and I’m putting so much at risk by acting the way I am.
I walk to the edge of the water, watching as it rolls to a stop just inches from my feet. The sky is dark, the stars bright, the moon heavy and swollen. For as beautiful as it is out here, and for as tense as it was in the room, all I want is to go back. To her.
And then what?
Assault her again? For what? The third time? When did I become such an asshole?
It’s not like I’m making conscious decisions here. My body is acting on its own. Without my permission. Working on urges and impulses instead of common fucking sense. I’ve never been so unsure of what I want in my life because my desires conflict.
Do I want to treat Angela like a colleague? Yep.
Do I want to bury myself inside her so deep she screams my name? Hell yes.
Are those things mutually exclusive? You betcha.
Growling, I scrub my face and stare at my feet.
Something’s gotta give.
I just don’t know what.
The walk back to the hotel room might as well be a walk down death row. Am I just going to pretend nothing happened? Pretend like I didn’t admit how much I want her? Like I didn’t almost take what I wanted even though we both know that’s a terrible decision?
Stopping in front of our room, I reach for my wallet, only to remember Angela never gave me a key. Shit.
I hang my head, knock, and am rewarded with a muffled, “Coming!” before the door cracks open and Angela peeks out. Her hair is loose, her face fresh and clean, and she’s wearing a pink silk tank and shorts that could very well be the same set she wore the night we had phone sex.
Fuck.
It was hot in my mind, but in person? Her nipples are hard and the fabric clings to a pair of tits so insane I regret leaving the room to get control. It’s like she’s taunting me.
That has to be it.
She’s taunting me.
I drag my gaze back to Angela’s face, only to glance away because things aren’t any better there. The sweetness in her smile. The uncertainty in her eyes. She’s just as confused as I am.
“I forgot my key,” I murmur, swallowing hard.
She swings the door open, and I step in. There, on the floor, is a nest of comforters and pillows, with her laptop nearby.
“I told you I’d sleep on the floor.” The words come out harsher than I intend.
“Yeah, but then you left and forfeited your right to make that decision.” Angela crosses the room and sits cross legged on the comforter.
“I’ll pretend I’m camping. No offense to the good people at this hotel, but it’s not exactly the kind of place I’m used to staying.
Sleeping on the floor will just add to the experience of it all. ”
“The experience…” I rub a hand down my face, huffing a laugh.
“Yes, Garrett. The experience. The whole being happy in the moment thing I was talking about earlier. And you know, being here, in this hotel with its crappy customer service and cheap…everything…” She waves an arm around the room, staring balefully at the hiccupping AC unit.
“It just reiterates how much Bliss needs a Hutton Hotel.”
“You…” I shake my head, staring down at this beautiful woman wearing not enough clothing. “You are something else, you know that?”
“I’ve heard that before. Got a problem with that?”
“The only problem I have is with you sleeping on the floor. Get in bed.”
She folds her arms over her chest. “I am in bed.”
“Get in the bed.” I stab a finger at the thing.
“Garrett…I’m fine where I am.”
“Could you please, just for once, not argue with me about something?”
“Same could be said for you.”
“You know what? You’re…” I shake my head.
“I’m what?” She cocks a brow, daring me to say what I’m thinking.
“You’re insufferable and this disagreement is over.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.” I bend down and scoop Angela into my arms, her skin like satin, her scent irresistible. She shrieks, kicking her legs in surprise.
“Garrett! What are you…? Garrett! Stop!”
I place her on the bed, my face inches from hers, her nipples pebbled and begging me to tease, to taste, to torture.
I lick my lips as her chest heaves.
I pull back.
“I’m gonna…” I jerk my thumb toward the bathroom. “I’m gonna get changed.”
Angela nods, her eyes wide, lips parted. “Okay.”
Her voice is low. Sweet.
I wipe a hand over my mouth and retreat to the bathroom before I do something I regret.