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I laughed. “Macho? Well, I think maybe he’s softer than he lets on. Not that he isn’t sexy. Because he is…really, really sexy.” I was rambling just thinking about his abs. My words were greeted by silence. I pulled my phone down to see if the call was still connected. The seconds were still ticking by. I put the phone back to my ear. “Marie? Are you still there?”
“Bee, are you falling for him?”
Was I falling for a guy who knew every secret underground strip club in the city? Was I falling for a guy with a reputation for one night stands? Was I falling for a guy who had inadvertently ended my engagement? “I think I am.”
Marie squealed into the phone. “Kendra can suck it! I knew setting you up with him was a good idea.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I really owe you one.”
“Maybe I should quit my job at Blue and start a matchmaking service.”
“Maybe you should.”
“I’m sure Carter would love that. You should call Kendra and tell her that you’re in love with Mason and that she was completely wrong.”
“I’m not going to do that. You just love being right about stuff. I’m sure you’re going to call her as soon as we hang up anyway.”
“You’re right. I am.”
“And I never said I was in love with him.” I was falling for Mason Caldwell. But I wasn’t in love with him. I couldn’t be in love with him. I wasn’t ready to be in love again.
“Right again. You didn’t. But Kendra doesn’t need to know all the details. I’m going to call her now. Bye, Bee!”
“Bye, Marie.” I was pretty sure Marie had hung up before I had even said goodbye. I looked down at the note Mason had left me. I couldn’t be in love again. Because I wasn’t ready to be hurt again. And Mason was the type of guy who didn’t stick around for long. I needed to remind myself of that. If I allowed my head to catch up with my heart, then I’d be back at square one, alone in this horrible city. That was what love always led to. I just wished I was better at compartmentalizing.
* * *
My mind had flitted back and forth all day. But here I was, standing in front of the veranda with Trump International Hotel And Tower written in huge gold lettering. I felt like I had been standing still ever since I had given the ring back to Patrick. Mason made me feel like moving again. And if tonight was going to be the last time I saw him, I was going to take advantage of it. I was going to spend the night in a hotel that I would never be able to afford to come back to, with a man that was way out of my league. And I was going to sleep with him. Because I was an adult. And that’s what adults did.
Sleep with rich men for one night? Slut! I shook the thought away. I refused to stand still anymore. I wanted to live again. I walked up the stone steps.
“Good evening, ma’am.” The doorman said as he opened it.
I had spent so much time standing still that I had become a ma’am instead of a miss. “Good evening,” I said and walked into the building. The entrance was breathtaking. The floor was marble. And all the walls were adorned with mirrors with gold accents. I instantly felt out of place in my worn wool coat and boots that were knock offs of Steve Madden. And where was I supposed to go? I pulled out my phone.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” The man at the front desk asked.
I should have called Mason while I was still outside. This was awkward. I put my phone back in my pocket and walked up to the front desk. “Hi, sorry, yes. I have plans with Mason Caldwell. Dinner plans. Nothing weird. He lives here somewhere. In the building. Not the hotel part. The condo part I think? I just don’t know what room his is.” What the hell was that? Does he know I’m here for sex?
“You’re here for Mr. Caldwell?”
“Yes?” Why did I just say that as a question? “Yes, I’m here for Mr. Caldwell.”
The man frowned. “One moment please.” He lifted up the phone and pressed a few numbers. “Mr. Caldwell, there is a young woman at the front desk who is here to see you.” There was a pause before he continued. “She doesn’t seem like the normal…” He had clearly been cut off. “Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry. Very well, sir. Have a good evening.”
I didn’t seem like the normal what? Women he usually dated? I probably wasn’t. Mason was rich and I was just me.
“Sorry for the confusion, ma’am. I will need to see your I.D., though.”
I wanted to ask why. But I didn’t want to seem out of place. Maybe visitors always had to show their I.D.’s at fancy places. I pulled my driver’s license out of my purse. It still said I lived in Delaware. I hadn’t taken the time to switch everything over yet.
“Bridget Cowan?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Very well.” He hit a bell on the front desk and a bellboy magically appeared. Magically because I hadn’t seen him before and there didn’t seem to be any doors nearby. “Adam will take you up to Mr. Caldwell.” He handed me my driver’s license back. “Sorry again about the confusion.”
“What exactly was the confusion?”
