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“Yes, baby.”
I can’t help it and huff in exasperation, laying back down.
He ignores me. “Don’t forget to call Luke if you go somewhere.” Cole leans over me and kisses me on the top of my breast. “See you tonight, Cookie.”
I’m officially mad, so I don’t say anything. Cole doesn’t seem to notice; he doesn’t turn around and I hear him walk up the stairs and leave. I’m feeling like a plaything. The only time I’ve seen Cole in the last forty-eight hours is when he’s waking me up in the middle of the night to make love, or kissing me goodbye for the day.
I get out of bed around ten to get ready for lunch with Olivia. I’m still upset about Cole, and the idea of going to lunch with her isn’t improving my mood. At 11:30, I’m standing in front of the villa entrance with Luke. Someone I don’t know and really don’t give a rat’s ass about, is in the driver’s seat of the Escalade while it idles. At 11:45, Olivia still hasn’t shown up. She hasn’t called to say she’s running late or can’t make it. If I was wearing a mood ring, it would be black. Luke’s phone beeps, the look on his face as he reads it isn’t good.
I roll my eyes, enough is enough. “I’m going back up to the villa. I’ll call you if I need something.” Luke nods then jumps in the SUV speeding out of the driveway. Yikes, whatever the message is; it must be bad.
I stomp angrily up to the villa. I’m flustered, angry, annoyed. I feel played. I’ve got to get rid of the tension. Ten minutes later, I find myself in the gym, running my heart out. I forgot my phone in all my huff. So, all I get is the pounding of my heart in my ears and CNN. The gym is empty this time of day, so I pour all my energy into running. Forty-five minutes later, I’m sufficiently exhausted.
On my way back to the villa, I get turned around and end up in the shopping mall of the hotel. Whoops—oh well, I didn’t do it on purpose. I walk past a shop that has the cutest dresses. Well, I’m here, I might as well browse. I shuffle through a rack of dresses, finding the cutest navy blue knit wrap dress.
A cute little old sales lady comes up to me. “Would you like to try it on?”
“Oh, thank you, but I just got done working out. I’m all smelly and sweaty, besides I didn’t bring my wallet with me.”
“Are you staying here at the Upper House?”
“Yes I am.”
“You can charge it to your room?”
“Wow, seriously? That’s tempting.” I look the dress over. It is cute but I don’t have any shoes to wear with it. “I like it but then I’d have to find shoes to go with it.”
“Oh, we have the perfect pair of open toe pumps that match.” She’s not wrong. The shoes are adorable. They are navy blue with little white bows on the side.
“Shoot, okay I can’t resist. Ring me up.”
“Excellent, what’s your hotel room number?”
“That’s a good question. We’re staying in a villa.”
“That’s okay, just give me your last name.”
“Great, it’s Holt.” The sales lady slowly lifts her head, tilting it slightly. “All right,” she says. “And your first?”
“Kate.” This is almost laughable. She doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. Nobody wants to believe me or they hate the idea.
“I just need to call the villa’s front desk to verify everything.”
“Okay.” I shrug. I’ve got all day, lady, I’m not lying. She picks up the phone and dials a number. I hope she doesn’t call security. Whatever either way it doesn’t matter. I hope.
She walks out of my ear shot. Oh crap, maybe she really is calling security. I see her nod then the poor lady’s eyes bulge. I hold my laugh in, just barely.
“Well, Mrs. Holt, sorry about that.”
“No problem.”
She puts the shoes in a bag and covers the dress with plastic.
“You’re all set.”
“Great, thanks so much.” I think about asking her how to get back to the villa’s, but I don’t want her to think I’m a moron—now that she knows I’m married to the hotel’s owner. I try going back the way I came, but that doesn’t work, and I somehow end up at a day spa. What I wouldn’t give for a pedicure.
“Can I schedule a pedicure?” I ask the receptionist behind the desk.
