Page 6 of Masked Secrets
Maybe the security desk in the building’s lobby can look up information about her based on her badge. Yes, that’s it. They’ll know what to do.
I push the button for the first floor and wait for the lift to descend. When the doors open, I gently pick Brooke up. It’s eerie walking across the deserted lobby. My heavy steps echo in the cavernous multi-story space. Brooke is still asleep, only emitting an occasional sigh or moan.
Reaching the security desk, it’s empty. A sign says, “security is temporarily closed due to the power outage. In case of emergency, dial 9-1-1.”
Damn.
I rack my brain for a solution. At this point, I have no choice except to carry her to my suite and let her sleep off the effects of the whiskey.
Now that power is restored, I carry her back to the bank of lifts and use my keycard to access my floor.
Minutes later, we reach my suite, and I place her on my bed, remove her shoes, and cover her with a comforter. Grabbing a bottle of water from the mini-bar, I place it on the bedside table in case she wakes up thirsty. There’s no night light in the room, so I turn on the light in the adjacent bathroom and pull the door slightly closed. I’d hate for her to wake up in the dark and think she’s still stuck in the lift. She’ll be confused enough when she doesn’t recognize her surroundings.
That done, I’m left with another dilemma. Should I sit in the room with her to make sure she’s okay? I’m not sure whether she’d be frightened or reassured to find me watching over her.
Where did all this protectiveness come from? I barely know this woman, but it’s as if she’s already important to me. It doesn’t make any sense.
2
BROOKE
Brightness invades my sleep, but I’m not ready to open my eyes. It’s too early to leave my cocoon of warmth. Rolling to the side, away from the light, I groan as my stiff muscles complain.
I lie there for several minutes, hoping to fall back into dreamland. No such luck. Anticipation of my morning alarm going off any minute keeps me awake. Eventually giving up, I turn onto my back, letting my head nestle into the fluffy pillow.
Hmm. Since when is my pillow so soft? And the sheets are like satin. Maybe I’m still dreaming. If so, I don’t want to wake up from this luxury. But my mouth feels like it’s filled with cotton balls. And my head aches. I need water.
I reach for my usual glass of water on my bedside table. Instead, I grasp a plastic bottle.
I open my eyes just enough to form narrow slits so I can look around without shocking my system with the bright morning sunshine that’s filtering through the sheer window coverings. Wait a minute. That’s not right either. My bedroom doesn’t face the morning sun.
“Something is off this morning,” I murmur to myself.
“Brooke, are you awake?”
“No, I must still be dreaming.” I smile, happy the dream isn’t over yet.
“It’s not a dream. You’re here with me. I’m Stuart. We met last night when we were stuck in the lift during the brownout. Remember?”
Oh. I remember Stuart. He calmed me when my claustrophobia caused me to panic. He was so sweet helping me breathe and giving me his jacket to stay warm. And I could listen to his deep, British accent any time.
Wait a minute. I jerk upright. “Where am I now? Why is my head throbbing?”
“You’re in my suite. While we were stuck in the lift, you drank some of my uncle’s whiskey to calm yourself. Then a little more. I suspect you’re not used to drinking straight shots. Combined with the stress from your fear, when you relaxed a little, you fell asleep in the lift. When the power returned, I tried to wake you. It didn’t work. You were in such a deep trance, I couldn’t rouse you.”
He’s right. I rarely have more than one martini. “Oh. How did I end up here?”
“I would have helped you home last night, but I had no idea where you live. You didn’t even have a handbag with identification, and the security desk in the first-floor lobby was closed. So, I carried you here to rest. I slept on the sofa in case you’re wondering.”
“So, we didn’t ... you know?”
“No. Other than sharing a short, but quite enjoyable kiss before you fell asleep in the lift, nothing happened. I kept you quite safe.”
Oh my god. I initiated that kiss. I should regret it, but I don’t. His lips were warm and tender.
I quickly shake off that line of thought, instead declaring, “I have to go home. I’m so sorry to have inconvenienced you.”
“Taking care of you was no problem at all, and it’s still very early in the morning. I suggest you sleep a little longer, and then we can arrange a ride home for you at a safer hour of the day.”
