Page 5 of Wild Hope

“Good,” he said, though her reassurance didn’t make him feel much better.“You can mark this room off your list as well.I’m good on towels.”

“How was your brunch?”she asked, peering around him as if she wanted to make sure he really was okay without her cleaning his room.

“Successful,” he answered succinctly.

“That’s good.I know you said you’re here for business, but have you had a chance to do any sightseeing?”

He shook his head, pleased that she seemed as anxious to keep the conversation between them going as he was.If he’d been smart, he would have asked her to clean the room, just so he could be with her a few minutes longer.

Joel had never been so overwhelmed by such an immediate attraction.He was definitely succumbing to lust at first sight where Andi was concerned.“I’m afraid there won’t be time for that on this trip, though I have been trying to hit some good local restaurants at mealtimes rather than ordering room service.Got any suggestions?”

Her eyes lit up.“You absolutely have to go to Pat’s Pub.It has the best food and ambiance, and the waitstaff is top-notch, second to none in the entire city.”She giggled, then confided, “I wait tables there.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”Joel didn’t even bother to hide his dark scowl, and her smile wavered.

She worked three jobs?

“Um,” she stumbled, taken aback by the vehemence in his voice.

“I can’t imagine it’s good for you to work such long hours, Andi.”Joel was fighting hard to keep a lid on the part of him that was compelled to swoop in and take charge of this woman’s life.A foolish notion considering they’d just met and he had no right to do so.The problem was it appeared no one else was doing it and…well…goddammit, he wanted to.He’d have to analyze that compulsion later, or maybe he should just pretend it wasn’t there.

He was well aware he had an overly dominant personality, and while that trait had served him well in his career, it had never crossed over into his personal life.

Not until Andi.

“What’s that saying?”She was clearly trying to put them back on more steady ground.“No rest for the wicked.”

Joel took a couple deep breaths, his impulse to help her suddenly overridden by a more powerful desire.One that was ignited by her comment.He leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms.“And are you wicked?”he asked in a deep, dark tone.

He didn’t think she meant the smile she gave him to be one of pure seduction, but damn if it didn’t nearly bring him to his knees.

“I’d like to be,” she confided with outright honesty.“But there’s not a lot of time in my schedule to be naughty.”

“Jesus,” Joel breathed.

She blushed as if she hadn’t meant to cross that line.“Well, if you’re good to go,” she said, turning to her cart.

“When do you work at Pat’s Pub?”he asked, anxious to see her again before he left town.

“Tonight.”

It was the best and the worst thing she could have said because while he looked forward to seeing her, there was no question in his mind now that he was about to become a part of Andi’s life.God help the woman.

He stood straighter.“Tonight?”

“Yeah,” she said cautiously as if she could tell the tide had turned, but she didn’t have a clue why.So the clever girl decided on a quick escape.“I have a couple more rooms to take care of.Will I, um, see you tonight?”

Joel nodded.“You will.”

Wild horses wouldn’t keep him away.

Joel glancedaround Pat’s Pub, and he could see in an instant why Andi had spoken so highly of it.The place was inviting, and from the camaraderie shared by the patrons sitting around the bar, it was clear the pub was popular with the locals.He could imagine large groups of people gathering here on Sundays in the fall to watch football on the big screen TVs or popping in after work on Fridays for a weekend-launching happy hour.

The bartender noticed him standing by the door.“You can grab a seat anywhere,” he called out with a smile.

Joel looked around for Andi, wanting to sit in her section.He was hoping to entice her to join him during her break, and he planned to leave her one hell of a tip.It was obvious money was a concern for her, given the fact she was working three jobs.

Joel claimed a table near a small makeshift stage, nodding his thanks when the bartender walked over and handed him a menu.