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***
Gray spent the rest of the night pacing and flipping through television channels. He had to try talking to her again. Maybe now, after several hours, she’d listen and not threaten to call hotel security on him. She might not accept the ring, but perhaps she’d give him a chance to make things right.
Without changing out of the clothes he’d worn all night, he went downstairs. It was still early. He hoped Kiera hadn’t checked out yet.
A too perky young woman stood at the front desk when Gray approached.
“I need to know what room Kiera Renault is in,” Gray said as he kept an eye out for Kiera. In order to leave she’d have to check out first and come through the lobby.
“I’m sorry sir. I cannot give out that information.”
Under other circumstances, he’d accept the answer and walk away. Not today. “Why don’t we ask the manager, then?”
The clerk picked up the phone and asked the manager to join them.
“Mr. Sherbrooke, what can I do for you this morning?” the hotel manager asked when he appeared.
Gray forced a tight smile and read the man’s nametag. “I just need to know what room my friend is in, Miles. I paid for it last night.”
“Yes, yes. I remember when you called.”
He watched each guest who passed by while he waited for the information.
“She was in room four-twenty,” Miles said.
“Was?” He should’ve camped out in the lobby last night.
“Miss Renault checked out at five o’clock this morning, sir.”
She had a two-hour head start on him.
“Thank you, Miles. I’ll be checking out myself soon.”
He’d head back to Providence and try talking to her again. For now, that was all he could do.
***
“We’ve reached cruising altitude; you may now use any electronic devices,” the flight attendant’s voice came through the speakers.
Kiera unclipped her seatbelt. The way she saw it, the safety device wouldn’t make a bit of difference in an emergency anyway. Then she reclined her seat and looked out the window while trying to ignore the passenger next to her who kept moving around as she pulled one item after another from her carry-on bag.
What a different plane ride this one promised to be. On the trip down, she and Gray had been alone. The only other people on board had been his private flight crew. Now, she was surrounded by at least a hundred other passengers.
“Do you mind if I use your tray?” The passenger next to her asked, a laptop and several file folders out. “I need to get some work done, but don’t have enough room.”
“Go ahead.” Kiera lowered the tray, grateful she never worried about getting work done while traveling.
“Thanks. I was in Anguilla for business. I work for a linen company. We supply the towels and bedding to many of the resorts. My boss wants all these requisitions on his desk the moment I land.” The overworked female passenger put some files on Kiera’s tray. “What about you? Were you in the Caribbean for business or pleasure?”
Heartache. “A short vacation.”
“I haven’t had a vacation in over three years.”
She hoped the passenger didn’t talk all the way back to Providence. Right now her overtired brain couldn’t handle it. “This was my first one in a while.” Kiera pulled her ear buds from her purse, hoping her neighbor would notice and focus on her work.
“My last one was right before my husband moved in with his new girlfriend. We flew down to the Florida Keys to celebrate our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, then two weeks later, he moved in with his twenty-two year old fitness trainer.”
Kiera had enough heartache of her own, she’d rather not have anyone else dumping stuff on her.
