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Trent chuckles. “She moved you out of that room, didn’t she?”
“She certainly did, Trent.” I can’t possibly hide the smugness in my tone.
“And the Thing?”
“Inside joke.”
“Consider it done, Mr. Fox.”
FIVE
WINTER
Afucking sing-a-gram!
I’m going tokillhim. I got out of the shower, startled by the sound of someone rapping on the suite door. On the way down the hall, I peeked into Aleck’s room and he wasn’t there, so naturally I assumed he came back from his run and had forgotten his keycard. Especially since everyone I know won’t be here for days, and I haven’t ordered room service.
I wrapped my towel around my body tightly, still dripping with water, and shimmied to the door to let him in. Imagine my surprise when I opened it wide with a few choice words and foundthe Thingstaring back at me. Aleck’s version of me staring back atme. Then the ugly Marvel character started to sing. Loudly. While I stood there dripping water all over the entryway in my towel.
“It was so nice of you to help me move, so I’m going to help you groove! You’re such a cool chick, that is for sure. Let’s make this hallway our dance floor…”
The Thing, clunky in his giant boulder-like costume, awkwardly grabbed my wrist—the one holding up my towel, mind you—and pulled me into the hallway while I struggled to keep my body covered, then proceeded to bee-bop around me like an idiot.
“Next time you need someone, I’ll be there. Because for you I will always care. My moving buddy, I’m so dang lucky. Have a wonderful week!”
When the ridiculous, ill-written song was over, I stood horrified while the Thing cleared his throat and unskillfully muttered,“Okay, um, this message has been sent to you by Mr. Fox, courtesy of Sing and Celebrate With Us Party Rentals and Entertainers. Book us for your”—he pointed his sausage-like finger at me—“next party!”
Then he turned around and started down the hall toward the elevator where a very pleased with himself, grinning from ear-to-ear, Aleck Fox leaned against the wall watching.
I narrowed my eyes on him, drew in a breath of lava-hot oxygen, whipped around, and stomped back inside the suite, slamming the door behind me. Then I charged to my room, where I am now, awaiting the taunting that’s headed my way.
Who the hell does he think he is?
Did heseriouslygo through that much trouble just to irritate me? Did I mention I hate him? I bet he’s only happy when the people around him are miserable. Well, guess what, I’mtickledhe sent a teenager dressed as the Thing to harass me. Even if I was dripping wet and naked. Even if I was hurrying to get to the door, thinking he had locked himself out.
The door to the suite opens and closes in the distance. I pull a black V-neck T-shirt over my head and slip a pair of panties under my towel. Hearing Aleck coming down the hall, I slip into my walk-in closet and pull a pair of jean shorts on.
I don’t just hear Aleck enter my space, IfeelAleck enter my space. Maybe I feel the suffocation of his arrogance, or his smugness, but Ifeelhim all the same.
I grab my brush from the sink counter in the en suite and walk into the bedroom with a smile. Because reacting is what Aleck wants. I willnevergive him what he wants. Aleck saunters across the room, then plops onto my bed, shirtless, sweaty, and blissfully delighted. He stretches out across my duvet and kicks his almost pristine sneakers up, crossing one leg over the other. Then, he throws his arms behind his head in the most blasé way.
“Hello, Roomie.”
“Hello, Aleck,” I say, feigning indifference, ignoring that the way he’s laying displays every muscle in his abdomen. Every. Single. One of them. “Have a nice run?”
“I did. It was very satisfying. Very productive. I got quite a few calls made, scheduled a few meetings… Overall, a very satisfying run. I could almostsing a songabout it.”
The glint of smugness in Aleck’s eyes is almost enough to send me over the edge, but I peer back at him, refusing to show my frustration, and run my brush through my wet hair.
“That’s good for you. We have to meet with the wedding planner in an hour, so I suggest you go take a shower.”
“You got it, Grimm.” He scoots off the edge of my bed, his self-righteous smile still in place, and stands slowly with his eyes boring into mine.
I hate Aleck Fox. I do. He’s everything I can’t stand in a man. He’s narcissistic, privileged, and conceited. He’s probably had every single thing handed to him without having to work for it—women included. He doesn’t know what it is to be humble, gracious, and kind. That said, the way Aleck looks at me, the way he studies my face when I speak, the predatorial spark he gets in his eye when I provoke him, makes my body heat to dangerous temperatures.
The way he’s looking at menow, like getting under my skin is his favorite pastime, makes my equilibrium falter. And I don’t know if that’s because Aleck Fox is one of the sexiest men I have ever seen, felt, and experienced. Or if it’s my heart sending warning shots into my brain...
Don’t get close. Stay away. Run!
