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After texting to let her know I was there, I checked myself out one last time in the rearview mirror before getting out and entering the hotel lobby.
“Hello, sir. Can I help you?” the receptionist at the front desk asked. She was a young woman who looked to be about college-aged.
I smiled politely. “No. I’m just waiting on one of your guests. She should be here in a moment.”
“Okay. Please feel free to take a seat,” she said, gesturing to the couches.
“Thank you,” I said, and took a seat. The couch cushions were all worn out, and as I looked around, it became apparent that the hotel was fairly old and had seen better days. If I had known Scarlet was in town, I would have happily given her better arrangements, or even opened the doors of my home to her. But then I recalled her discomfort over the money I’d spent on her during our prior rendezvous. Somehow, I doubted she’d appreciate if I offered her a fancy hotel, or my home.
I suddenly felt grateful for deciding to drive on my own rather than pick her up in a limousine. I could already tell that Scarlet wasn’t exactly the type of woman whose affection could be bought. Money wasn’t going to win her over.
Is that what I’m trying to do? Win her over? The thought alarmed me. I had warned myself repeatedly to not let my feelings run too deep with Scarlet, because what we had going on wasn’t serious. Deep down though, I knew I hadn’t exactly succeeded with that plan, especially since I’d been thinking about her nonstop since the last time we were together.
Still, it was a slippery slope. I had to stay realistic and accept that even now that we had reunited, there was no guarantee things would go any further. Last time may not have been our final goodbye, but who was to say that this time wouldn’t be?
Unless I tell her that I want to keep seeing her, I thought to myself. What’s stopping me?
Thoughts of my ex suddenly came to mind. My trust issues remained a hinderance that I worried I would never get over. That’s what was stopping me. Stupid.
I sighed and leaned back on the couch, realizing that the receptionist was still looking at me, although she was doing her best to pretend she was busy with some task or other. I chuckled, wondering if she thought I was shady or something.
I was just about to attempt engaging her in small talk before I heard the elevator ding. I turned, seeing the doors open.
Out stepped Scarlet, looking like beauty personified.
I thought back to when I took her out to dinner before, how stunning she had looked. That was no comparison to how she looked now though. In a long flowing dress with her hair elegantly pinned up, she took my breath away. There was something different about her that I couldn’t place my finger on. Whatever the case, she was positively glowing. The deep burgundy dress she wore made her skin look absolutely radiant. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or not, but her figure seemed slightly fuller, and it looked wonderful on her.
The receptionist looked at her with wide eyes. “Wow,” she said. “You look gorgeous, Ms. Kale!”
Scarlet smiled. “Thank you.” She then turned her gaze toward me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I wanted to pay her a compliment, but she had left me speechless. And judging from the way her eyes sparkled and how her lips curved upward into a sly grin, she knew it.
“Well,” she said, “I guess it’s time for us to leave?”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said, finally finding my voice. “Damn, Scarlet. Could you get any more beautiful?”
She stared at me for a long time, seeming as if she wanted to say something, but then changing her mind. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”
I smiled, holding my arm out to her. Laughing, she looped hers through mine, and together, we exited the hotel.
I led her to my car, where I opened the passenger’s side door for her.
“You know, I was worried you were going to show up in a fancy stretch-limousine or something.”
I laughed awkwardly, officially grateful that I hadn’t. I then got into the driver’s side and we set off on our way.
“So where are we going? I’m not overdressed, am I?” she asked, once she had fastened her seatbelt.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. You’re perfect.”
I sat across from Scarlet, feeling more self-conscious than I could remember feeling in a long time. We ate dinner in relative silence, our conversation never managing to cross over into anything beyond small talk. The whole time, I got the overwhelming impression that Scarlet was holding something back. Even though our conversation wasn’t anything seriou
s, she remained only half-engaged in it, continually glancing around the restaurant. She also refused to share a drink with me. She did, at least, seem to enjoy her food.
When I’d eaten as much as I could, I wiped my mouth with a napkin and leaned back in my seat. “Scarlet, what’s going on?” I asked. I may not have known her for long, but I knew that the woman seated across from me was a far cry from the playful and seductive stranger I’d encountered some months ago. She wasn’t even the same woman who walked into my office just a few hours ago.
She smiled and shook her head.
I sat up straight again. “Well, you never did tell me what you were in Chicago for. Business? Visiting? Vacationing?”
