Fortunately, over time, we got better… or smarter rather. Instead of trying to do the fancy things, we’ve learned to keep things simple. Needless to say, my hair hangs straight, no frills, making it easy to manage.
I take the elevator down to the first floor, and, wouldn’t you know it, as the doors open to the lobby, there’s Riggs, looking every bit as hot as he did in my bubble bath last night, only now he’s sporting some new clothes. I blink twice and try to stop my eyes from roaming over him, keyword “try.” His khaki shorts stop just above his knees. Those calves could break hearts. And wherever he shopped, they must not have had his size because his earth-tone green t-shirt looks two sizes too small. He showered. He looks good with his thick brown hair tousled with a hint of gel. Maybe too good, but that’s not the best part. His tight shirt reveals a hint of his ripped abs, and don’t get me started on the size of his arms! The whole package is sending serious heat to my lady parts.
The elevator doors closing in front of me yanks my mind out of the gutter. Suddenly I’m keenly aware that I’m just standing here, practically drooling like an idiot. My cheeks heat as I reach out in the nick of time. The doors closeon my hand, then open again while he’s watching me with a cockeyed grin, like he’s wondering what’s wrong with me. He’s not alone. I’m wondering what’s wrong with me too.
As I step out, I find myself face-to-face with the guy and he smells like sex on a stick. Damn.
“Have you seen my brother?” he barks in a gruff tone that’s so cold, I can feel icicles forming in my vagina. What’s gotten into him?
“Good morning to you too, Mr. Grumpy Pants.”
I could let him know that Ash is probably with Rhonda, but before I make that big reveal, I want to know what his sour mood is about. Maybe Ash and Rhonda don’t want him to know they’re together. Come to think of it, I’m not sure they are. I haven’t talked to her yet.
“Sorry.”
The pouty look on the big guy’s face almost makes me laugh, but at least he apologized so he gets points for that. “What’s going on?”
He runs his fingers through that gorgeous head of hair then shakes his head with, “My sister had a couple of phones delivered, and Ash has both of them. I need a way for Elsie to reach me.”
“Did you try the concierge? They can call his room for you.”
He nods, looking over at the front desk. “I tried that. He didn’t answer, and they wouldn’t tell me what room he’s in.”
“Hold on, he might be with my friend.”
I pull out my phone and bring up Rhonda’s number.
Maddie:Hey, are you with Ash? Riggs needs to talk to him.
No answer, so I try calling. Straight to voicemail. That’s interesting. She must still be asleep.
I turn to Riggs. “Sorry, no answer. But I’m sure she’ll text me back as soon as she’s awake.”
“You said she might be with Ash. You’re not sure?”
“No. I mean, we texted briefly last night. She and Ash went for a walk. That was around eight, but I haven’t heard from her since. I can check her room if you want.”
He takes a moment to mull that over and I can tell he’s stressed. “No,” he finally exhales like it pains him. “I don’t want to disturb her if she’s still asleep. It’s not that important.” His mood shifts back to the nice guy I met yesterday. “You look nice. I take it you’re not hitting the slopes today?”
I wish they wouldn’t, but memories of last night keep trying to pry their way into my head. Shirtless cowboy Riggs turned into Riggs and I alone on a white-sand beach, followed by Riggs the rich, well-dressed businessman taking off his tie, and everything else, followed by Riggs’s hard body on top of me, my fingernails clawing into his back, and before I knew it, the big O. And it was big, oh my!
That reminds me, the bubble bath was good and all, but I can take baths at home. I can’t do jacuzzis at home, so starting tonight, it’s only hot tubs for this girl.
“I don’t ski, not yet anyway. I might try it later.”
“You should, it’s fun.” He checks his watch. It looks expensive, rugged and thick with all kinds of buttons and knobs. It’s the size of a hockey puck, but it looks normal on his giant forearm. “I’m kind of stuck until I get that phone,” he says with a side glance toward the food court. “You hungry?”
“Absolutely not. And to be clear, whatever this is between us has to end now! I don’t want to ever see you again, so please, respect my boundaries and leave me alone,” is what my brain thinks I’m saying when my mouth says, “Yeah, I could eat.” Stupid brain.
Of the resort’s four restaurants, he chooses Katie’s Diner and as we step inside, the smell of greasy food makes my stomach grumble. I’m still a little full from the bagel I had earlier, but this is making me hungry all over again. After we take a seat at a table that’s barely big enough for the two of us, he orders the chicken-and-waffles platter along with an omelet meal that includes toast, hashbrowns, breakfast sausage and bacon. I thought maybe he was expecting Ash to miraculously appear, but it turns out all that food is for him. The man can eat. I ordered a chicken-and-avocado sandwich with a Diet Coke.
“Do you know when the film crew is coming?” I ask as I watch him finish off the waffles and start in on the chicken. It’s like watching a bear being fed at the zoo.
He washes his latest mouthful down with his Coke then wipes his mouth with a napkin. “It could be this afternoon. That’s why I’m stressing. But there hasn’t been any sign of them so my best guess is it will probably be tomorrow. Sometimes these things take a little longer.”
“Well, it looks like you’re ready. Nice clothes by the way.”
He looks down at his shirt. “Yeah, I don’t know how my sister did it, but somehow, she managed to have my shirts altered to a smaller size. Not sure how I feel about that.”
