“You can babysit the rest while walking back to the resort. And do me a favor, pretend you still care about our company and scold them all. Tell them I expect them to be on time in the morning, fresh-faced, and alert, presentable to our client.” I slid behind the wheel and peeled away.
The five-minute drive back to the hotel gave my pulse time to slow. Under the porte cochère, I waved off the valet and parked by a side entrance. I carried Penny in. A night staffer passing by wisely didn’t ask questions.
In my room, I laid her on the bed and went full into nursing mode. I took her boots off and then placed an extra blanket over her. I put a water bottle on the nightstand, and the tiny hotel garbage can within reach just in case. Two ibuprofen from the courtesy basket would come in handy in the morning.
She stirred. “Archer…”
“I’m here,” I murmured. “You’re okay.”
I studied her face, every detail, like a blueprint I couldn’t stop memorizing, until her breathing fell back into an even rhythm.
I crashed into a nearby chair with a blanket. Every second replayed, from anger to regret. My blood pressure boiled higher than a building code violation. I’d get an earful if my doctor were here.
I focused on tomorrow instead, with the lodge walk-through, seeing Holden again, my team making sketches of everything so we could draw up ideas and plans to present to him soon.
I tried not to picture Caleb and his easy charm, and the way he looked at Penny as if she were a shiny new toy to play with.I definitely worked hard at not picturing Penny and me in afriendlyhug.
The rules were clear. I’d written them myself. I needed to enforce them. Fuck, if I could just get her off my mind somehow.
At some point, exhausted from it all, I leaned my head back, shut my eyes, and prayed for rest…
A rustling noise startled me awake. Judging from the low-lit windows, it was early, maybe just past sunrise.
The rustling of paper came from the bed. I blinked a few times to clear the sleep. There Penny was, in a cocoon of the blanket, raiding my box of lemon Popelini cream puffs.
“Morning,” I croaked. “Go ahead. Have one—or three.”
She quickly set the box on the nightstand, swallowing, as if she could hide the dusting of powdered sugar on her nose, lips, and cheek.
“Hi. I forgot how heavenly those cream puffs are,” she said with a sheepish grin.
I sat upright and rubbed my eyes. “Here I was, worried you’d throw up overnight.”
“I hardly ate much at dinner. I don’t know. Being back in this town set me on edge.”
“You’re seeing your mother before you head back to the city, right?” I crossed to the bed and pushed the water and pills toward her. She nodded and took them.
“Mom would kill me if she knew I was here and didn’t make the effort. ”
The mattress dipped as I sighed and sat on the edge, resisting the pull toward her warmth. “Penny, last night?—”
“I know. I’m sorry. So sorry. Things got out of hand. I rarely drink much, but this town… and everyone was letting loose and... I wish I hadn’t had a drop, because I hate seeing the disappointment in your eyes right now.” She sniffled, eyes watering.
How could I scold her when she already felt bad enough?
“Not disappointed,” I whispered. “Just wishing things could’ve been different.”
She shifted to her knees, closer to me, swiping a tear from her cheek before my thumbs could reach up.
“Different how?” Her sugar-sweet breath wafted and caught me in a storm.
“I’d have let loose last night, too, if we were on a proper date. Danced, drank, dared each other for a game of drunk karaoke. Believe it or not, I have been known to have fun once in a while.”
“Oh, I believe it.” Her hand slid onto my thigh, lips curving with a tease.
Fuuuuck. Blood roared south, dying for a morning round with her. One taste. One thrust. More than one. Several, and who the fuck would be counting? If only I could get this woman under me one time, and then off my mind.
“I should kick you out of the CEO suite,” I rasped.
