Page 21 of Missed Communication
“There weren’t enough rooms at the hotel, so Isaac was going to sleep in the lobby.”
“He’s the fucking Prime Minister,” I scoff. “Why the hell didn’t someone give up their room for him? Wait…” My money is on a hot Canadian Prime Minister hiding in her room. “Don’t tell me he’s in there with you right now.”
“Then I won’t tell you that.”
My eyes narrow. “Livy, so help me, if you get caught…”
“We won’t, I promise.”
“And no fucking. I need to sleep.”
I spin on my heel and leave; the less I know, the better. It’s several flights of stairs, but as I told Olivia, I could use the exercise. Since there’s a chance my little fling with Jamie is over, when the power is back on, maybe I can set aside time to visit the gym here. I’ll need to work off my sexual frustration somehow. It’s a thirst I can’t quite quench.
Once I’m downstairs, there’s a huddle of what has to be twenty employees. I move closer, and though no one else seems to notice, it’s as if Jamie can sense my presence, glancing over his shoulder as I approach. He’s dressed in all black, instead of his dark gray suit from earlier, and if he’s working, that means…
He’s not fucking Tracy.
I don’t know if I’m annoyed with myself for being upset in the first place or for being relieved that he wasn’t balls-deep in someone else’s pussy. My cheeks heat as embarrassment washes over me. What is wrong with me? I shouldn’t be crushing on some hot guy I met yesterday who is ten years younger than me. I don’t care how good he is in bed, my stomach shouldn’t do that little woosh thing when I see him, and I definitely shouldn’t be concerned about who else he may be sleeping with.
My only option is to break eye contact, walk past him, and pretend the last twenty-four hours didn’t exist. As I make my way to the reception desks, there are a few other hotel guests being helped, and once one of them is free, she waves me over.
“Good evening. What can I assist you with?”
“Hi, yes, I spoke with Tony about extra blankets. I’m in room 614.” She checks a table behind her, locating two fluffy off-white blankets with a tag that has my room number on it. With a brightsmile that feels entirely too forced, she hands them to me. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, thank you”—I glance at her nametag—“Janice. I’ll call down if we need anything.”
Making my way back to the stairs, the little team meeting seems to have dispersed. I don’t dare look for Jamie. What would be the point? He’s working, and I’m supposed to be working. All of it is worse than moot, it’s fucking absurd of me, chasing after some guy like I’m in my early twenties.
While reaching for the door to the stairwell, a familiar scent of whatever cologne Jamie was wearing engulfs me. My body reacts involuntarily but I remain facing forward, keeping my eyes fixed on the door handle. I hate how he’s putting me under a spell without a single word.
Jamie presses closer, his hand slipping between me and the blankets, splaying his fingers across my stomach and pulling my back flush with his chest. I let out a shaky breath as he murmurs beside my ear, “I missed you today.”
“We… we shouldn’t do this. Someone might see.”
“I have it on good authority that your roommate won’t be returning tonight, and your next-door neighbor is preoccupied.”
I spin to face him, but it’s a mistake. It doesn’t matter that there are two giant blankets folded between us, having him this close has my knees weak. “What if we get caught?”
“We won’t, but even if we do, I’ll take the fall. Get a head start, I still have your key. I’ll be up there in a few.”
With Isaac next door, I should insist Jamie stays in his own room, but this may be the last time I’ll wake up next to a manuntil, well, who the fuck knows when. “Only if you bring me another piece of tiramisu.”
He chuckles, little laugh lines forming at the corner of his eyes. “What happened to the piece from last night?”
“I ate it.”
Tilting my chin, he brings his lips dangerously close to mine. “Then I’ll bring two pieces, so I can eat one off of you.” Just as quickly as he was in my space, he steps back and stuffs his hands in his pockets, then turns to leave. I watch him walk away, and of course he catches me, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk.
Spending more time with him is dangerous, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to fall hard for a man I shouldn’t want and can’t have.
11
Jamie
Waking up with Aubrey in my arms feels natural, comfortable… right. One could argue I’m touch-starved from years of being a workaholic, but this is different. She’s authentic, not putting on a show. It’s refreshing. For the first time in what might be ever, I don’t feel like I’m playing a game and I’m not worried about coming off as being too much. I want her, she knows I want her, and now neither of us is playing hard to get.
The morning light filtering in from the small space between the curtains is blinding, the snow acting like a magnifying glass. Since I stepped foot in her hotel room, it’s as if we’ve been in our own little world without responsibilities—other than making each other come. The bright sunlight has reality slamming into me. I shift to check the time on the alarm clock. The power still isn’t on, so I try my phone. 7:37 a.m.. There’s also an email notification and a text from Isaac. He never texts.
