"Would you like them on the coffee table?"
"That will be fine, thank you."Claire eyed the massive arrangement of freshly cut flowers that instantly brightened the room and made her forget the unexpected conversation with Molly.
"Will there be anything else, ma'am?"the young man asked.
"I don't think so.Thank you very much."
He produced a slip of paper from the inside pocket of his jacket."If you'll sign here."
She obliged, leaving her signature on the bottom of the receipt.The attendant tucked it away with a nod then closed the door behind him.
Claire untied her robe and let it fall to the floor.She reached for Jay’s tuxedo jacket, pulling it up around her shoulders as she settled onto the chaise with a smile.She searched the bouquet but found no card.Her eyes then moved to the large box, wrapped in exquisite floral paper, and tied with a lime green organza bow.She grinned as she removed the wrapping, unsure what she'd find inside.She laughed out loud when she uncovered a pair of pale pink bunny slippers.She held them up, shaking her head in amazement.In the bottom of the box, she found something else.An over-sized ivory dance card, elegantly embossed with images of cherry blossoms.Ten spaces for signatures of potential partners were printed down the center of the card, each line bearing the same name: Plain Ol’ Jay.
He likes to play the humble nerd, but this man’s got serious romance game.
She pushed her feet into the fuzzy softness of the slippers and grabbed her cell phone.She glanced at the matchbook briefly before dialing, but she’d already committed his number to memory just minutes before falling asleep.Her heart raced, and he answered on the first ring.No formal greeting.Just a single, direct question.
"How do they fit?"he asked in a flirty tone.
"Like a glove."
Looking down at her feet, Claire grinned and bit her bottom lip.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
CLAIRE
Claire’s plan was simple: hit the shops to fill the afternoon hours until her date with Jay, because staying sequestered inside her hotel suite all day would be brutal.She roamed Knightsbridge, drifting in and out of luxury clothing stores, her hands skipping along racks of high-end items.After two hours without a single purchase, she ducked into a coffee shop to rest and refuel.
Disappointment filled her when she found a line of people at least ten deep, with a small gathering of patrons waiting at the end of the counter for orders.Three baristas darted around, shouting to one another in coffee-coded language but all wearing smiles and not seeming the least bit stressed.Claire checked her watch, deciding to wait it out because she had nothing else to do.She pulled her phone from her pocket and checked her email and various socials.There were no texts—not that she expected anything.Should I text Jay?Something playful?A funny meme?Or maybe something simple and flirty, like ‘thinking of you.’Is that too pushy?
No, better to wait until tonight.
It took fifteen minutes, but she finally secured a latte and an enormous scone.She squeezed into a seat at a wobbly table in the corner, watching the foot traffic on the busy street.This day would be a lot more fun with Molly, she decided, catching sight of a couple walking hand-in-hand—the man, gray-haired but lean and fit, and much older than the striking woman beside him.It had taken her forever to fall asleep, as images of her best friend and her uncle branded her brain like a red-hot poker.The anticipation of seeing Jay again and continuing what had started the night before—or back in Negril, really— should have been enough to quiet her thoughts.I can’t wait to tell Dad about this turn of events.He’s gonna shit a brick!
“Order for Calvin!”a barista called out.
Claire’s head whipped in the direction of the counter, her stomach plunging down to her toes.Thoughts of Molly and Hamish and Jay were immediately forgotten as she prepared for the horror of seeing his face once more.A swollen face that had been all cuts and bruises during the final moment together.
Oh God… surely not.
As stealthily as possible, she leaned back in her chair and zeroed in on the crowd standing at the end of the counter.Frantically, her eyes scanned faces, bodies, and backs of heads but didn’t lock on anyone who looked like Calvin.
It’s not him.Just relax… and stop being so damn jumpy.
Chair upright and eyes back on the street, she continued to people-watch until tears blurred the moving masses beyond the glass.
Calvin wouldn’t be standing at a counter ordering coffee.He’d be seated… in a wheelchair… because Calvin’s legs were crushed in an accident that I caused.
With Jay only minutes away, Claire stood before the full-length mirror in her hotel suite, examining herself as she pushed a pair of sparkly chandelier earrings into place.She nodded at her reflection, pleased with choice of classic little black dress with a slightly revealing neckline and a shorter-than-she-would-normally-wear hemline.The addition of a shiny trench coat in a dramatic shade of gunmetal elevated her chic look even more.Her blonde locks were styled in soft, loose waves, and she ran her hand through her hair for a quick fluff.She definitely looked like a woman ready to step out on the town, though her eyes told a different story.Despite a pair of much-hyped eye patches and a cold compress, hers were still a little puffy.The scare at the coffee shop tore open a wound that ended her shopping trip early and prompted a tearful return to the hotel.
Her cell buzzed with a text, and immediately her stomach filled with nervous energy.He’s here!She quickly pulled her phone free from the charging cord and texted him her room number.She made a quick sweep of the living area, tidying up but leaving the flowers, Jay’s freshly cleaned tuxedo jacket, and the bunny slippers in plain view.
She transferred the necessary contents of her large handbag to a petite clutch.She'd just dropped a tube of lipstick in her bag when a soft rap sounded behind her.Her eyes fell closed and said a quick prayer—for what, she wasn’t exactly sure.To keep her guilt at bay?To reveal the truth about Calvin?A combination of the two?One thing was certain: she wouldn’t do anything to ruin Jay’s evening.He’d been so kind and attentive.He deserved the very best Claire could put forward.Shoulders back and standing tall, she crossed the room to the door, her knuckles popping with each step.
Claire stood frozen in the doorway upon sight of him.Though he'd looked handsome in his tuxedo the night before, tonight’s look screamed magazine cover.His suit—perfectly tailored to his tall, toned frame.Her mind shuffled through a list of possible adjectives.Gorgeous didn’t begin to cover it.The feeling that consumed her the night before as he'd held her on the dance floor returned, causing her heart to beat faster.Much faster.
"Good evening, Mr.Avery."
