Less than five minutes seems like hours before I finally hear her say she’s done. Turning around, I rake my eyes down her body.Her wearing my shirt may possibly be the death of me. I feel my heart pounding loudly, mixed with the rush of blood through my veins.
“It’s very big on me, but it will have to do.” She rolled up the sleeves and tied the bottom into a knot since it was too long to tuck in. I linger on the small glimpse of bare skin showing off her toned abs above the waistline of her black pants. I can’t help but wonder, if one single piece of flesh can make me feel like this, then what would seeing her body completely exposed feel like?
“Thank you for saving me,” she says quietly, pulling me out of my thoughts.” I flick my eyes up to hers and see something flash across them, but it’s gone before I can make sense of it. “I’ll make sure to leave it with the front desk when I leave, and you can get it back before you go home.”
I grab my jacket off the counter and roughly put it on. “Keep it. It looks way better on you than it ever did on me.” I shove the cuff links in my pockets and keep my hands there, not trusting myself not to reach for her.
What the hell is wrong with me?
If it were any other girl, I would have acted on the signals her body is giving off. I can tell she wants me. I can practically taste her arousal dripping off of her, and as much as I want to give in to what my body wants, she’s different.
I can’t quite get a reading on her because of the mask she puts on, but it’s there lying in the deepest, darkest corner of her. I saw it earlier, and I got glimpses of it when she let her guard down. She’s afraid of something, and I would rather die than move too fast and see her fear directed at me.
“What about you? You can’t go back out there wearing that?” She gestures toward my suit jacket over my naked chest.
“Maybe I want to start a new fashion trend?”
A giggle escapes, and it’s the best damn sound in the world.I grin at her, and even though it still doesn’t quite reach her eyes, I get a smile back.
“I’ve got a room booked for the night and have another shirt upstairs. I’ll just run up and change before heading back to the reception,” I explain.
She nods her head. “I better get back out there. Clara is probably wondering where I am.” She hesitates briefly before walking quickly to the door.
“Wait,” I say, turning around. “Since you’re wearing my shirt, don’t you think it’s fair that I get your name?”
For a second, I don’t think she’s going to give it to me.
“Lyla,” she says quietly. I expect her to ask me mine, but she surprises me when she turns to go.
“Do you want to know mine?”
She stops outside the door but doesn’t look back. “No,” she says. “It’s better this way.” She disappears around the corner, and I lean against the sink, wondering what in the hell just happened.
Lyla.
The name rolls over my tongue as I whisper it. One name, that’s all she gave me. Four fucking letters of the alphabet that mean nothing separately but mean everything when they are placed together in the right order.
Eventually, I head upstairs to change into another white dress shirt I brought just in case of emergencies and jog back down in record time, wanting to get back as quickly as possible.
I have the rest of the evening to work out a plan because one thing is for certain…I’m not leaving here until I know everything I can about her. I won’t let her disappear on me because a big part of me fears that’s exactly what she’s planning.
CHAPTER THREE
LYLA
Iforce myself to put one foot in front of the other, putting distance between us as I walk quickly down the hall and back to the kitchen. My chest is tight, and I will my body to remember it needs to breathe as I try to take in air that this man just stole from me.
Never in my life have I ever felt that alive…that wanted. I should have been afraid. He’s everything I said I would never have again. Dominance and control ooze off of him. You can feel it in the air when you are next to him. This unseen energy that snakes across your body, wanting you to give in to temptation.
But I wasn’t afraid. My body didn’t flinch when he touched my cheek. In fact, it was the opposite. I wanted to lean into his touch and feel it more. That’s when I knew I had to step back and break contact. Wanting things I can’t have will only result in someone getting hurt.
Pushing him out of my thoughts as best as I can, I walk through the door and grab another tray of desserts. All that matters now is getting these treats into the hands of the guests. The more people who taste what I can create, the more chances of getting that small break that I so desperatelyneed.
Balancing another tray on one hand, I make my way to the reception, this time being more careful around closed doors. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see dinner plates just now being cleared. I’m not running behind like I thought I was.
The bride and groom wanted small desserts at each table right after dinner. They plan to cut the wedding cake later so guests can get another treat later this evening.
I get busy passing out the desserts to each table. Two other wait staff members join me on the other side of the room as I watch my sweets get handed to people. I can’t help the pride that washes over me when someone takes a bite, and you can see the bliss as the flavor hits their tastebuds.
