One of them calls me over, the other gestures for Nick, so we split at the front of the line, each of us heading to opposite ends of the counter.
I offer the woman a warm smile along with my ID, letting her know right away that I don’t plan to be a problem. “Jessica Carrington, checking in.”
The clerk doesn’t offer me much in return, but she takes my ID and taps away on her computer.
“It’s really coming down out there,” I comment uselessly.
She turns to me for just a second, blinking a few times in disbelief before turning back to her screen. A frown deepens on her face and a feeling of foreboding washes over me. “I’m very sorry, Ms. Carrington, but I don’t seem to have a reservation under your name.”
I close my eyes for just a minute, taking in a calming breath so I don’t unload on this poor woman, letting her know all the reasons why I absolutely cannot handle one more problem today. “Can you check again, please? My publisher was supposed to make the reservation for me. Maybe I’m under some sort of SVP umbrella?”
The woman shakes her head. “I’m sorry, but all of the SVP-allotted rooms have been claimed.”
I sigh. Of course they have. I hand over my credit card. “Can you just give me one room for tonight then? I’ll check out first thing tomorrow.”
I’m going to have to beg SVP to reimburse me for theexpense because this place has got to be pricy this close to the holidays, but there’s no way I can even think about going back out into the snow tonight. I need a hot bath and a glass of wine, stat.
This time the woman looks genuinely upset. “Unfortunately, all of our rooms are booked. We don’t have a room to sell you, I’m afraid.”
I’d like to tell you that this simple bit of information doesn’t bring a tear to my eye, but that would be a lie. This day has been a total disaster, from Alyssa’s flight cancellation, to running late for the party, to having to sit next to Nick at dinner, and now it looks like I have no choice but to go back into the ever-worsening storm.
“Fine. Could you call me a cab to the train station then?” I start buttoning up my coat, rooting around in my bag for my hat, scarf, and gloves.
“The trains aren’t running, and I don’t think you’ll be able to get a cab either.” She looks at me with so much pity it clears the tears from my eyes. “You’re welcome to stay here in the lobby. I know it isn’t much, but at least you’ll be out of the cold.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Nick bends down, once again taking my bag in his hands. “I have a room. You can stay with me.”
Chapter Eight
Nick
I know I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping on Jess’s conversation at the check-in desk, but honestly, I’m glad I did. Like I’m going to let her sleep in the lobby of a hotel when I have a perfectly good room upstairs.
“Absolutely not.” Like she is going to let this be an easy decision. “There is no way in hell I’m sharing a room with you.”
I hoist her bag over my shoulder and grab my suitcase with the other hand. “Jessica, for once in your life can you not argue with me and just go with it?” I turn toward the elevator, marching across the lobby, knowing she’ll follow me since I have all of her stuff.
“Geez, Nick, not even your heroes are as bullheaded and stubborn as you are, and they’re supposed to be misogynistic.”
I stop in my tracks, spinning around to face her. “Excuse me, but neither I nor my heroes are misogynistic. We’re strong yet sensitive men. I’m just trying to keep you from having to sleep in the hotel lobby.”
“What you’re doing is railroading me and not giving mea say in what happens in my own fucking life!” She seems surprised by the force of her words, her eyes widening as they land.
But they have their desired effect, cutting deeper than she probably intended, more layers of truth under them than she even knows. I drop a mask over my face so she can’t see how much her words hurt. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” I hand her back her bag. “I have a room reserved here for the rest of the week. You are more than welcome to crash there for as long as needed. But you are a strong, independent woman and you certainly don’t need me to make decisions for you.” The words tickle at the back of my throat, like the ghost of our past has somehow lodged itself there. “Have a good night.”
I barely make it ten feet.
“Wait.” Her sigh is long-suffering, and since I still have my back turned to her, I let myself smile, just a little.
I pause, allowing her to catch up with me.
“This doesn’t mean anything. I will only be staying in your room for one night. And only because I need a hot bath, like, yesterday.”
“Noted.” I call the elevator and hold the door while she steps inside first, trying not to think too hard about Jess in the bathtub, and push the button for the top level.
“Of course they put you up in some kind of penthouse suite,” she grumbles, under her breath but not really.
“Pretty sure this place doesn’t have a penthouse.”
