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Chapter One
James
“Whereareyou,Martie?The opening is in three days. A reported snowstorm is rolling in soon, and you should be on a flight here already.” I was furious; it was so unlike Martie to be late and I had no time for games.
Martie coughed and cleared her throat. “I told you yesterday I would try and make it, James. I’m sick. I think I have the flu. I have an awful fever, my body aches from head to toe, and I can’t get out of this bed no matter how hard I try. Nick stopped by and he wouldn’t even come into the room without a mask on.”
Groaning, I stuffed my luggage in the Uber.What in the hell am I going to do now?
“I need you here! I can’t do this alone, Martie!”
She coughed again, then sneezed. I almost sympathized.
“I’ll give you a five-thousand-dollar bonus if you can be here tonight. Take some over-the-counter medicine and get your sick butt here. I’ll carry you around if I have to.”
I was angry, frustrated, and needed a damn cigarette. I threw myself in the Uber and waited for her response, prepared to up the funds if needed.
“Let me make a call. Give me five minutes.” She hung up.
Two minutes later, she was on the phone again.
“Okay. My cousin lives in New York. She’s currently out of work and could use the money. She’s just as good as I am, if not better, and said she’d help. What do you say?”
I studied the ceiling of the Uber car, then eyed the driver, a young man in his twenties with tons of piercings and tattoos everywhere I looked. “Fine, what damn choice do I have? She’d better be good or you're flying out tomorrow morning. What’s her name?”
“Okay.”’ She moaned in pain. “If she’s not everything I promise, I will. I gotta go. Her name is Gwen and I gave her your number.”
She hung up before I had a chance to debate the topic further. I was annoyed, but thankful when the driver pulled up to the Made Hotel.
I was planning on wooing you into my bed, Martie, and stealing you away from your annoying boyfriend.
The concierge helped me with my luggage, but the room was a huge disappointment from a personal perspective. Martie was supposed to be in my bed tonight. My plans were to woo her there and seduce every square inch of her delicious body as she proclaimed she was in a relationship over a few drinks.
I wanted her badly. I’d been trying for two months to win her away from that simpering idiot of a boyfriend who was all too trusting and much too annoying for her. I tossed the luggage guy a tip and shoved him out the door.
“Thanks, I’m good.”
The room was stunning, and the view was even better. It was made for two: a couple, or at least two people joining for a sexual liaison.
“Damn it all to hell.”
My phone buzzed across the room where I’d left my coat. Taking long strides, I reached it quickly, hoping to God it was Martie. Some unknown number flashed on the screen.
“Who’s this?” I was growling but needed a bit of release if I wasn’t going to get laid on this trip.
“Gwen Sterling, Martie’s cousin. Is this James Renegade?”
The air whooshed out of my lungs as I soaked up the sound of the seductive voice on the other end of the line. “I’m James.”
Well, if I can’t have the queen, perhaps one of her court, the beautiful and seductive siren Gwen, will have to.
I smiled. “So, I understand you can help me in Martie’s place?”
“Yes, I’d be delighted to help you. I’m recently unemployed, but I have extensive experience. Sounds to me like it’s kismet.”
“Kismet?” My brain was starting to fog over. If I didn't get the business going — or at least get into bed with a beautiful woman — soon, I was going to lose my mind.
“Yes, destiny.” She laughed.
