Chapter 5
Penelope
Why were older men so freaking hot?
I’d seen the way the mysterious, grumpy stranger had looked at me. As if I was a feast on a huge silver platter.
I bit my lower lip to keep from laughing as visions popped into my mind.
Okay, not every older man was sexy. There were some duds everywhere, but holy smokes, when there was a hot one, he was smoking. I fanned my face while grimacing as I dared look at the table where Mr. Hottie had been.
When had he left the bar and why hadn’t I noticed?
Damn it.
At least I’d been cool and collected after…
Whew. Was it really crazy hot inside the bar? I tilted my head, staring at some flickering lights.
Was that a mirror ball? Oh, I hadn’t seen one of those in years.
As soon as I almost lost my balance, I giggled.
I was already regretting the third dry martini.
Why? Because I’d had little to eat and the stress of the day had taken a toll. A stale granola bar, four bites of chicken salad prepared by the hotel for lunch, and six olives didn’t make for a well-balanced food group.
I couldn’t remember how long it had been since I’d been buzzed.
Or this exhausted. However, I could say I felt warm and fuzzy inside, even a little bit horny with all the male models moving around from table to table.
They were doing their jobs, flirting outrageously while providing much needed eye candy.
And yes, I should be impressed by their gorgeous bods and deep voices, but in truth, they bored me to death.
That didn’t mean there was anything wrong with either ogling a sexy guy’s package or envisioning what it would be like if he became the dark prince.
Of course not. To each their own and among the rabid comments and lurid activity in the bar, and there’d been some doozies during the evening, I’d found myself more and more detached.
Maybe because in helping Anita and Jane with the conference, I’d been reminded of a job I’d loved and lost.
An ache formed in my stomach. Lost, my ass. I’d been fired for no good reason.
Except for one.
I’d been stupid enough to sleep with a co-worker. That had been my big crime. No, the real crime had been not seeing through Carrington’s lies and emotional abuse. God, I’d fallen for his crap. I love you. I hate you. Why don’t you treat me better? You’re my queen.
Queen, my ass.
So I’d finally had enough of his games. So what?
The slimy bastard had made good on his threat.
I cinched my eyes closed briefly, hating even thinking about him at all.
What had hurt more than finding out just how despicable Carrington’s true nature was had been what my boss and owner of the company had said after believing my ex’s lies.
That he’d never been so disappointed in anyone. He’d been like a second father to me, something else Carrington had known.
Stop it. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You have a new life. A new career.
That’s right. I did.
At least I had my integrity. Sadly, I’d either go bankrupt or throw my success in their faces along with cracking a bottle of champagne against their heads. A sly smile crossed my face at the delicious thought.
I lifted my glass, studying the remaining liquid. One more wouldn’t hurt. After all I was kind of on vacation and celebrating my new limited liability corporation. This was the last vacation I’d get for a very long time.
At least I’d made some connections today. You betcha. A lot of people had taken my card. I’d check social media in the morning and see how many new followers I’d gotten.
Had to be in the hundreds.
Thousands.
Being my own boss beat being an employee every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Except for my bank account status. Nope. I wasn’t going to go there. Not right now.
Yes, I’d been the low person on the totem pole at my last place of employment, my ideas stolen by other employees, but I’d still felt as if I’d been a part of something special.
Maybe. Maybe not.
“Would you look at that hottie? Come over here to Mama, big man.” The woman at the table squealed as another big, bad dude walked closer, the guy grinning from ear to ear.
Not bad. On a scale of one to ten, an eight. Maybe I’d rank him higher if my vision wasn’t a little bit foggy. I chuckled and lifted my glass, hoping the waitress noticed me.
The truth was that my idea of eye candy had been the man I’d likely permanently disfigured with hot coffee.
I’d caught sight of him a couple of times throughout the day, becoming curious as to his identity, but too busy to follow through with finding answers.
Besides, I didn’t belong in a world of wealth.
“Are you okay?” Anita slid next to me, forced to talk loudly since the noise level was ridiculous.
“Just… dandy.”
“You’re drunk.” Her giggle dragged my attention.
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
As I turned toward her, I swayed just enough I had to grab the edge of the table to keep from falling backwards. With my other hand, I put my thumb and index finger together with a space in between. “Wittle.”
She laughed. “Well, your drinks are on me. After everything you did, it’s only fair.”
“No. No!” My voice was little too loud even with all the noise. “I bought someone a drink.”
“No biggie. I think I can handle it. A hot guy?”
“Yep.” I popped the p.
“Confess, girl. You work fast. I thought given your recent posts you were abstaining from anything involving men.”
I gulped the rest of my drink, swinging my head toward her. Oops. Almost fell again. “Did I say that on a post?”
“On several actually, which is quite a Debbie Downer for readers.” She laughed. “You’re just in a slump. Who knows. Maybe this trip will get you out of your funk. Now, tell me about this hottie.”
Leaning over the table, I tried to envision his face.
“Tall, dark, and handsome. Eyes like… He possesses a devastating kind of handsome, where a shock of dark, messy hair frames a warm face, lit from within by piercing, smoky-gray eyes.” A tiny burp escaped and I was mortified. This wasn’t like me in the least.
“Wow. You sound like a romance author. Maybe you need to consider switching professions.”
“Very funny. But he is so sexy. I sent him a drink.”
“Yes, you told me. Is he still in the bar?”
This time when I swung my head around, I had a hint of nausea. “He’s gone. He left me. Maybe for someone else.” I stared at the empty glass, giving myself a big girl talk. “I think I’m going to call it a night before I decide to knock on every door in the hotel until I find him.”
Anita giggled while patting me on the shoulder. “See? The trip is already doing wonders for you. Get a good night’s sleep. A big day tomorrow. I hope you brought a costume for the masquerade ball.”
“I did.” Although at this minute, I couldn’t remember what that was. I grabbed my purse, determined to make it out of the dark bar without embarrassing myself.
Somehow, I made my way to the elevators even while searching for my room key. What floor was I on? Oh, yes, pretty high up there. My fingers were around the card by the time the elevator came. Wow, I was definitely hotter than before. Hopefully the air conditioning was on full blast.
I leaned against the wall, thankful I was all alone. I wasn’t entirely certain what time it was either. I made myself a promise that I’d eat real food. Images of the mystery man’s handsome face played out in my mind. A little fuzzy, but I could see him.
Every angled feature. High cheekbones. A chiseled jaw. Perfect nose.
He was far too handsome for his own good.
When the doors popped open, I jumped. Then laughed. Oh, boy. The bed would feel so incredible tonight.
I made my way down the hallway, able to put one foot in front of the other. There was my room. Right there in front of me. Now I could fall under the softest sheets I’d felt, the thick covers keeping me warm and… No, too hot.
As I slipped the card into the holder, successful only after two tries, I took a deep breath. I’d call the day a success. Although Jordan hadn’t been but so accommodating. I’d promised to haunt him in the morning if he failed to honor my requests.
You bet I would.
The light remained red. What? Ugh. I’d turned the card the wrong way. They were very sensitive. I tried again. And again. And third time had to be the charm.
Only the light continually flashed red.
I’d never felt so frustrated in my life, so much so I tapped my forehead against the door while willing it to work.
Two more tries and the frustration really kicked in. Now I jiggled the handle. Hard. “Please.” My moan echoed in the hallway.
When I jiggled it again, even harder than before, I was pleasantly shocked when the door was thrown open. Which caught me off guard and I was pitched forward and directly into the arms, the very strong arms of someone much larger than me.
My palms rested flat on a surface, but my fingers were slightly curled, nails digging into a rock-hard substance.
It took me a few seconds to realize I’d been knocked into a person.
A man. I could tell because he was built like a brick wall, so solid I hadn’t budged him a single inch when I’d tripped.
As my eyesight cleared, I also realized he was wearing a towel wrapped around his waist. Very slowly, I lifted my head, now completely and thoroughly embarrassed. There was a quiet intensity about my handsome savior, anchored by striking slate-gray eyes that seemed to miss absolutely nothing.
He was much taller, his soft lips even more of a beacon than his stunning eyes. And the warmth of his body could easily ignite the embers buried deep within my core.
The man was a giant, several inches taller than I was.
When he cocked his head, only then was I able to comprehend he was the mystery man standing in the flesh. And wow, what sexy flesh it was. My heart was beating rapidly, the tiny shivers coursing down my spine catching me off guard.
“I think I have the wrong room. Eight thirty-two?”
Oh, wow. Oh… wow.
He didn’t speak for a few seconds, allowing the embarrassment to linger, but that was just fine by me. Being in his arms was amazing. His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath. “Nine thirty-two.”
“Oops.”
I managed to right myself yet was still standing only inches away with my fingers kneading his chest. His nostrils flared, his chin lifting, which allowed me a few seconds to enjoy his rugged features.
“I guess I should be going,” I managed breathlessly.
“I guess you should.” His voice was so deep, so heavenly wrapped with soft velvet, every inch of my body was shivering.
With heat continuing to shimmer across my cheeks, I started to back away before something very naughty captured my brain. If only for a few seconds, but enough I flew out of my comfort zone without mulling over the repercussions.
I kissed him.
Not just a peck on the cheek or a light brush of my lips across his, but a full, unhinged, unbridled kiss that you’d give a long-lost lover. I gripped his arm with one hand, sliding my other hand around his neck, tangling my fingers in his thick, soft hair.
He even pulled me onto my toes, holding me close and while I might have created the illusion of sinful passion, he was taking full control. His lips were soft yet demanding, the heat of his body explosive. I was driven into sheer euphoria, no longer able to feel my legs.
The way he explored my mouth highlighted utter dominance.
For a few seconds, nothing else mattered but being close, the kiss creating an intensely passionate moment. I was even allowed to lose myself in the moment, sweeping my tongue inside to taste the tang of scotch.
He rubbed his hand down my back, crushing his body to mine. I’d been right. He was hard as a rock. Every. Single. Inch.
My being lightheaded had nothing to do with the alcohol, the sweep of sensations caused by letting go and enjoying the moment.
But alas, as much as I enjoyed the hint of passion, it was fleeting as the realization I was kissing a complete stranger overpowered the sensual moment.
Somehow, I found the courage to back away, breaking the connection. I pressed my fingers against my lips, able to look him directly in the eyes. While I couldn’t read the look on his face, I was certain he was wondering who this wild and crazy woman was who’d decided to accost him.
Before I managed to find myself in even more hot water, I turned and rushed down the hallway, praying he wouldn’t follow.
When I was safely inside my room, I wished he’d ignored my mental plea and had followed me.
Oh, well, a girl could dream.