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“Scott. How are you?” She cleared her throat and continued before he answered her. “It’s been a long time.”
Yeah, he’d call almost a whole year a long time. “I’m good, but at the airport so I can’t talk long. Is there something I can help you with?”
He only heard background noise for a few seconds. Then she spoke again. “I need to talk to you.”
Wasn’t that what they were doing? “Okay, I’m listening.”
“Not on the phone. Will you be around this weekend? I’m in Manhattan now; I can stop by and see you anytime that works. It’s important.”
Her voice contained more emotion than he’d ever heard in it. Even when he’d seen her act in movies, her voice hadn’t projected as much emotion. “Sorry, I’m away all weekend.” While he didn’t have feelings for Nicole, something was bothering her enough to reach out to him. He’d see her if she wanted to meet and talk.
“Where will you be? I can either drive or fly there and meet you. I don’t mind.” Desperation snuck into her voice.
No matter how upset or desperate Nicole was, he didn’t want his ex-girlfriend cutting in on his time with Paige. “I’ll be back in the city next week. We can meet then. Call me.”
***
“This isn’t a prison, Pidge. You’re free to leave whenever you want,” Joe said from across the room, addressing her by the nickname only he used. According to their parents, he’d given it to her the day they brought her home from the hospital and had never stopped using it.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” She’d been staying at her brother’s condo since she arrived. Today was her last day though. Scott had booked them a room at a hotel on the beach.
“Trying to save your neck and your wallet. If you keep looking down at your watch, you’re going need physical therapy.”
She stopped herself from checking the time again. Scott had texted her when his plane landed in Norfolk twenty minutes ago. If he hit no traffic the drive here should take him less than an hour, so she should start for the hotel soon herself.
“Go. Trish didn’t expect you to wait around for her to come home. Just make sure you bring Scott over before you leave Virginia. If you don’t, Trish will never speak to you again.”
If she didn’t bring Scott by, her sister-in-law wouldn’t be the only one ticked off. Joe made it a point to meet anyone she got serious with. He’d started doing it in high school and had never stopped. Back then it annoyed her, but the older she got the more she understood he only did it because he cared and took his big-brother role seriously.
“Will do. Give Gabby a kiss for me when she wakes up.” She’d pop into her niece’s room and do it herself, but the baby was a light sleeper. Even a light kiss on the forehead would wake her up, something Joe might not forgive her for doing.
“If you decide you want to spend the rest of the week here, Pidge, come on back.” Joe hadn’t been thrilled when she’d told him about Scott’s arrival. He’d thought it was too soon for them to be going on vacation together. She’d not bothered arguing with him. He was entitled to his opinion. Even if he was wrong.
Coming to her feet, Paige crossed to her brother. “I know,” she said, hugging him. “Thanks for having me. I’ll see you soon.”
She’d visited the shops as well as the beach, but she’d never stayed in any of the hotels lining Atlantic Avenue. There’d never been a need before today. Although on the smaller side, Joe’s condo had enough room for an overnight guest or two and it wasn’t far from the beach. Even so, she hadn’t asked if they could stay there when Scott arrived. She loved her brother and his family but didn’t want extra eyes watching every move they made. And if they stayed with Joe, they’d get not only extra eyes but extra ears too.
Paige continued down the street extra vigilant of the pedestrians. Although crosswalks were painted at various spots up and down the road, people routinely ignored them and moved out in front of traffic. Crossing Thirty-First Street, she pulled into the hotel’s small parking lot and into a spot reserved for visitors checking in. Later she’d move the car across the street to the hotel’s garage, but first, she’d get her luggage inside.
She’d let Scott make their reservations. Judging by the hotel’s main lobby he’d booked them a room at the nicest and probably the priciest hotel on the whole beach. If they went on vacation again together, she’d have to make the reservations, because even splitting the cost of the room here was going to throw her monthly budget off. And she planned on splitting the bill with him. She’d tried bringing it up when she initially invited him along, but he’d changed the subject. She’d avoided the topic since then because she wanted to avoid a disagreement. In the time they’d been together they hadn’t disagreed on anything, a fact that would certainly change at some point. No couple went forever without arguing, but she’d prefer to avoid it as long as possible.
Stopping beside a potted palm tree, she looked around. A party of four dressed for an evening out sat by the windows sipping drinks. An employee in his early forties with one serious tan stood behind the front desk helping a family check in, and a man dressed in a tuxedo, perhaps there for a wedding, waited for the elevator. She didn’t see Scott anywhere.
Fingers closed over her shoulder, and she didn’t need to look. Her whole body knew.
“Hope you haven’t been waiting long?” His palm slid across her skin, and his fingers caressed her jaw. “I broke every speed limit getting here from the airport.” Scott’s lips replaced his fingers, igniting a fire deep inside. “I’ve missed you.” He whispered the words against her lips before kissing her.
Oh yeah, she’d missed this so much. And she couldn’t wait to get to their room so she could get what else she’d missed since Scott left Sunday night. “I only got here a few minutes ago,” she answered when he finally gave her an opportunity.
“Let’s get checked in then. Is this everything you brought?” He gestured to the oversized suitcase she’d rolled in. When she nodded, he took it as well as his own bag, leaving her to walk alongside him. “Where’s your car, babe?”
Now seemed as good a time as any to move it. “Out front in a reserved spot. I should go move it. Be right back.”
“Ask the valet to do it. I don’t want to waste any of our time together.”
She hated having someone do something she could handle herself. However, she shared Scott’s sentiments. They had limited time together, so why waste any of it moving a car? Besides, it was their job. The valets wouldn’t mind.
Paige had traveled to Manhattan enough times with Aunt Bebe that the room, or more appropriately suite, she stood in now didn’t shock her. Regardless, huge dollar signs kept dancing in her head while she unpacked. She shouldn’t have left this up to Scott. Next time she’d know better.
