AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 14
Knock knock.
Even though Nayome was expecting it, she jumped at the sound. Peering through the peephole, she unbolted her hotel room door, swinging it wide open to allow the dinner cart to be rolled in.
“Where would you like it, Miss?”
“Just set it down anywhere. Yes, that’s perfect.”
“Enjoy, Miss.”
“Thank you,” Nayome said, nodding as the bellboy disappeared down the hall.
Alone again, she was about to sit down to tuck into the meal when—
Knock knock.
“Did you forget someth—” As soon as she cracked open the door, someone pushed it open from the other side. Caught by surprise, Nayome stumbled backwards, landing on hands and knees, fingers curling into the plush red carpet that cushioned her fall.
Nayome saw the shadow of a large figure pushing the rest of the way into her room, shutting the door quickly behind themselves. She felt ice in her veins at the sound of the deadbolt being slotted in place.
“HEL—” She started to scream. The bellboy had just been here, there was a chance someone might hear her.
A hand landed over her mouth, silencing the scream on her lips. Nayome’s eyes flicked up to the face of the man leaning over her. All the tension released from her stiff shoulders at the sight of Bal towering over her. Gripping his hand, she pulled it from her mouth.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded, voice coming out in a hiss.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I had to be quick to make sure I wasn’t seen.”
Adrenaline still spiked, Nayome took Bal’s offered hand and let him help her to her feet.
“Are you hurt?” He asked, doing his own once over as he grabbed her hands and inspected her for injuries.
“No, I’m fine. The carpet cushioned my fall,” Nayome said, snatching her hands back. “Bal—what are you doing here?”
He ignored her question and continued his inspection of her person, gripping her shoulders and running his hands down her arms.
“Bal, what—” Nayome’s breath hitched as his eyes finished their inspection, and landed square on her face, seeming to be looking for some indication of something in her eyes.
So many questions were battling with each other in her head.
How had he known where I was staying?
What was he doing here?
How much trouble would his being here get them both in?
Yet she remained silent, still breathing a bit heavily from the shock of his arrival.
“I interrupted your dinner,” Bal said.
“Are you hungry? There will be much more than I can finish on my own,” Nayome said, latching onto the normalcy of talking about food, rather than asking any of the burning questions ping ponging through her brain.
Nayome uncovered the klosh to reveal a traditional Scottish spread, including haggis, potato mash and neeps, all coated in a thick whisky gravy.
“When in Scotland, right?” She joked lamely.
Bal’s stomach growled audibly, the uncovered klosh having carried the fragrance of savory spices and gravy to him. They both chuckled, releasing some of the tension in the room.
