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This wasn’t real.
Rousing myself, I lift my head and blink as the world returns.
Jade Lodge. Our massive suite. The balcony doors still open, and dawn light spilling in, birds calling somewhere out in the trees.
Mel groans and turns over in my arms. Her eyes open and for a moment she looks confused, hair mussed, a frown creasing her brows.
“What—?”
Before she can finish the question, there’s a knock at the door. I stand and throw on sweats, what I normally sleep in, but apparently didn’t bother with last night. We’re both clean. We showered after…
I shut that part of my memory down. Literally shake it off as I head for the door and open it.
A young woman in a staff uniform stands outside, blushing and dropping her eyes at my shirtless appearance.
“Breakfast,” she squeaks, pushing a little cart through the space.
“Breakfast? Everyone else can’t be up—”
She glances up at me, blushes deeper, shakes her head. “You ordered it last night, for delivery this morning. It’s only six thirty, sir.”
I thank her and watch blindly as she scurries down the hallway and disappears. The scent of whatever is under the platters catches my attention.
Mel comes out of the bedroom, a hotel robe wrapped tightly around her middle. It reaches to the floor, her toes peeking out.
“I ordered breakfast for us last night.” It’s a vague memory, one trampled by post-sex euphoria. Mel nods.
“You did. I was half-asleep, but I remember you calling down.”
She lifts the lid on a platter and a small smile quirks her lips at a mound of French toast. I raise my brows, gesture to the dining area, and we both take the plates over there.
French toast, a pile of fruit, a veggie omelet for me. Coffee and juice. We both eat voraciously, Mel downing two cups of coffee as I steal a piece of her French toast.
“Hey!” She laughs, leaning in to cut a chunk of omelet, dodging my fork. I cut her a bigger piece and heft it over to her plate. Our eyes meet and she blushes.
We shouldn’t talk about it.That’s what I tell myself. Not just because it shouldn’t have happened, but because I don’t want to embarrass her. I don’t want to know if she regrets it.
Without a word, I stand and pile my dishes, then head toward the bathroom.
I still need to pull this whole thing off. I can’t let one night of passion distract me, not now.
* * *
It’s a long waitthrough morning as the rest of the lodge wakes up. Mel and I sit in the living area, the TV on with the sound off, a newspaper spread on the couch beside me. Mel is curled up on the chaise lounge.
We both keep catching each other’s eyes.
It’s ridiculous. This feels like high school all over again, but I can’t stop looking at her. It’s like she’s glowing. Or maybe that’s just the attraction still lingering, a Cupid’s arrow right to the heart, knocking me on my ass.
Another knock on the door and we both startle.
“I’ll get it,” Mel says quickly, standing.
I turn my attention back to the newspaper and listen as a voice I recognize informs Mel that a small group is heading out to a local museum. They’re taking the lodge’s bus—would we like to come?
“Definitely!” Mel exclaims, and I bite back a groan. “Just let us get a few things together. We’ll meet everyone out front.”
Once the door is closed again, I sigh and stand up. “I could use today to get some work done.” But it’s an obvious tactic, and Mel gives me a sour look.
