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Small-town Midwestern girl that she was, the atmosphere of luxury and wealth was dazzling, but with Quinn at her side, not overwhelming. Maybe she’d never feel she belonged in places like this, but she would love to keep trying.
They headed for the check-in desk. Ten feet away, Quinn’s steps slowed. Slowed some more. Marie slowed with him, then turned to see him looking uncertain.
Uncertain? Quinn?
“Two rooms, Marie?” His voice was low and gentle, but he might as well have shouted it for the way the meaning reverberated through her head. Her heart started pounding.
Two rooms, Marie?
He didn’t just want to spend the night, he wanted to spend it with her.
She couldn’t look at him. The emotion was so powerful, the dream held for so long unfulfilled, that she was nearly frightened.
“One is fine,” she whispered.
His face relaxed; he took her hand and strode toward the front desk as if he couldn’t wait to get her upstairs.
Oh, my goodness.
“Good evening sir.” The reservation agent greeted them warmly, took Quinn’s special guest card. “One room?”
“Yes, please. Nonsmoking.”
“A king or two doubles?”
Quinn didn’t even hesitate. “Two beds.”
Marie went rigid. She’d assumed asking for one room meant they’d share a bed. Maybe Quinn had been thinking all along of separate beds to share platonically. Rooms here had to be extremely expensive. He was probably concerned only with saving money.
Her face flamed; her stomach turned sick with disappointment. Two beds. Quinn hadn’t even blinked, hadn’t even paused to consider it. She wouldn’t have the nerve to tell him how she felt about him now. It would take all her courage to make it through this night, breakfast tomorrow and the long drive home.
His sweet little sister Marie. She wanted to cry so badly her throat hurt.
“We’re spending the night unexpectedly. Would you have necessities sent up, please? You can check my account…”
“Absolutely, sir.” The man looked at Quinn a few more seconds, then searched his record on the computer and nodded. “I see it here. Yes, understood. We’ll send that right up. You can take advantage of our laundry service, and we’ll have the clothes you’re in now cleaned by morning.”
“Thank you.”
Quinn handed over a credit card. The man tucked key cards into a tiny envelope and after asking if there was anything else they needed, pointed them to the elevators.
Marie followed Quinn numbly. Yes, there was something else she needed. But it didn’t look as if she was going to get it. And if not tonight, what hope did she have for the future?
They made it to the fifth floor in agonizing silence, so uncharacteristic between them. Marie dragged herself after him down the hall, hardly even curious about the room now.
However, it was beautiful, spacious and airy, subtle colors accented with bold shades of blue, gold, burgundy and olive-green. Two damn beds, a comfortable-looking recliner, a huge flat-screen TV on a long, low credenza. Next to the door to what must be a balcony, a chair and table, on which sat a lamp and a pretty bouquet of yellow flowers Marie didn’t recognize.
She tossed her purse on one of the beds and kicked off her heels, trying as hard as she could to act naturally. Little sister Marie spending the night with big brother Quinn.
“Nice room.”
Quinn nodded, took off his jacket and loosened his tie. Oh, lord, at some point before sleep, he’d be taking off his shirt. His pants. Sleeping in a bed right next to hers. Waking up languid and sleep-rumpled.
Her physical longing for him became ridiculous. She wished she’d thought to ask the staff to send up sleeping pills suitable for knocking out a moose. Because she wasn’t going to get a single wink tonight.
“Want to hang out on the balcony until our overnight stuff shows up?”
“Sure.” Anything to get out of the bedroom and put off the strain of spending their first and last night together in total non-intimacy.
The air was chilly, a stiff wind blew toward the lake on their right. But the magnificent view of the river and Chicago’s glittering downtown more than made up for the discomfort. Physically, anyway.
“Gorgeous.” Marie tried to concentrate on the sights, but she was so aware of him standing next to her that she felt off balance. Good thing there was a railing or she’d pitch right off the balcony.
