I sat up, my jaw tensing as I reached for my clothes.You’re such a fucking pussy, I berated myself as I cleaned up and got dressed.
Morgan wrapped her robe around her as I finished getting dressed, then walked me out of her room to her door. When sheopened it, I stepped into the hall and turned to see her lean up against the doorframe as she casually folded her arms.
“Well…don’t have too much fun without me,” I quipped.
She chuckled. “I’ll try to refrain.”
I stared at her, those unspoken words roaring in my head again. “Listen, uh…” My palms began to sweat. And once again, I froze up like the goddamn recreant I am, swallowing thickly. “Just…be safe.”
She held my gaze and nodded. “I will.”
“See ya…”
“Yeah…see ya.”
I offered a nod before turning and making my way to the elevator. I gave her one last glance before I slipped inside, and when the doors shut, I laced my fingers behind my head.
“You coward,” I grumbled. “You stupidfuckingcoward.”
I dropped my arms with a growl before driving my fist into the steel wall.
Chapter 39
When I walkedinside my suite at the hotel in Miami, I glanced around as I dropped my bags onto the floor, letting out a low whistle. “Damn, Lucas…”
I walked further inside, taking in the entire space. The suite had a parlor, an office, a bedroom with a king-sized bed and ensuite luxury bath, and a private balcony. When I opened the door and stepped onto the balcony, I gasped at the wide-open views it offered of the Atlantic. Growing up in a place like Bayport, I was no stranger to beaches, but there was something almost tropical about Miami.
It made me feel much further from home than I was.
I took the next couple of days to get settled and acquaint myself with the area I’d be staying in for the next two months. I scoped out local shops, restaurants, and bars and walked the vicinity around the hotel to familiarize myself with it. I even met Marcelo, Lucas’s friend from college whose family owned the hotel, when he popped in to check on me to see how I was doing so far; he said he was honoring hisword to Lucas to keep an eye on me, and gave me his number in case I needed anything.
Sunday evening, I had a video chat with Grace to go over any last-minute details, and after my call with her ended, I stared at my phone. It had only been two days, but I found myself waiting for a message to pop up from a certain lawyer, a message I knew more than likely wouldn’t come, considering I wasn’t home to respond to why he’d be messaging me.
By the time Monday rolled around, I was already feeling restless and ready to get to work.
“I’m pulling up now.”
“Is Brian already there?” Grace asked.
“Yes.” I recognized him from our several video calls. “With some other guy, probably the electrician.”
“Okay, well, just remember, these aren’t our usual guys who are used to working with you. Don’t let them try and make you feel like you don’t know what the hell you’re doing just because you’re a woman. Our guys know better.”
I scoffed. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I know,” she said with a chuckle.
“I’ll let you know how it went when I’m done.”
I ended the call with Grace just as I parked my rental in one of several open spaces in the all-but-empty lot. I grabbed my tablet and bag and got out, approaching the two men.
“Morgan.”
The GC was standing in front of the new Ashbourne Investments office alongside another guy, and I smiled and shook his hand. “Hello, Brian.” I looked up at the building, taking in its sleek architecture—I’d seen it in photos, of course, but it hit differently in person. “Looks good.”
“This is Chris, the lead electrician.”
“Ma’am.” He tipped his head in acknowledgment before offering me his hand.
