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The palm of his hand lightly cupped my cheek as he quietly urged me awake. I came to slowly, finding my cheek tucked against his hard chest.
It wasn’t the worst way to wake up.
Looking up at him, his face so close to mine, I entertained the errant thought that it wouldn’t be a bad way to go to sleep either.
Dark eyes fringed with sinfully long lashes studied me.
I smiled into them.
His face shuttered. Shifting me carefully off his shoulder, he leapt to his feet. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
I had hoped to share a cab to the hotel, but he was off the plane before I was even fully awake.
And he took my book.
Which is how I found myself alone in my room. Bookless. Again.
Eloise wouldn’t be here until later in the week. We were dividing and conquering, hoping to avoid another mid-week surprise trip.
Not every month would be so travel-heavy, but some months everything seemed to come together at the same time. This month we were preparing for the Christmas Fashion Show, the magazine, and the Christmas photoshoot.
And we were a far cry from where the last photoshoot took place. Montebello was damn cold. Whatever happened to manmade manufactured snow? By the time they were finished manipulating the photos, you couldn’t tell we’d actually been anywhere anyway.
Every time I thought about Ratcliffe sending me to Montreal last week, an easy day trip from Montebello, my blood boiled. Taking a deep breath, I pushed all thoughts of him out of my head. I wouldn’t allow him to occupy my headspace. Especially when we weren’t sharing the same physical space.
I stood to look out my window. Snow. Too much of it. But it did light the night so prettily.
I assessed the massive sunroom where the shoot would take place on my way in. It was essentially a 360-degree window to the outside world. Like a life size snow globe. With the snow on the outside.
A reverse snow globe.
But we’d still have to venture outside for some of the shots.
My body shuddered in anticipation.
I flopped onto my back on my bed.
I loved my room. Rich wood and grey stonework alluded to roughing it, but it was an illusion quickly shattered by the jacuzzi tub and walk-in, rainfall shower.
I made an imaginary snow angel. To describe the king-size bed as comfortable was a massive understatement. And the gas fireplace looked exactly like a wood-burning fireplace, complete with stone chimney stretching to the ceiling.
I could stay here all night. No need to go out.
My stomach growled.
It was already nine o’clock. I curled up on my side and willed the hunger pains to subside. The flames danced in the fireplace. Why was I so bent on staying in my room?
I winced as it came to me. I didn’t want to see a ‘Nora’ entering or leaving Ares’ suite. I didn’t even know where his suite was. Rolling onto my back, I considered my options. At least if I knew where his room was, I could plan to avoid it.
Violent rumbling ensued, and I patted my tummy over my sweater. “Okay, okay. Let’s get you filled.”
Ares
Sitting in the hotel bar, I swirled the ice around my glass and thought back to the night I met Hope. The callous words I hurled at her like mini grenades.
If it wasn’t for that phone call, I never would have spoken to her like that.
I tossed a healthy swallow of whiskey down my throat.
