“Are you sure?”Please don't let that question change your mind.
“Room,” she repeats.
I don't need to be told a third time. Stepping back, I offer Natalie a hand. She takes it and hops down. I lead her quickly out the door, swiping her shoes from the ground on our way out. The greenhouse door clangs shut behind us.
Our pace is hurried, our feet tripping over the stone pathway. I pause at the entrance to the reception hall. The last time I came through here, I was hurrying for a very different reason. I bend down and set Natalie’s shoes on the ground before her. She steadies herself with her hands on my shoulders and slips her feet into her shoes.
Squeezing her hand, I lead her into the hallway, casting a quick glance in the direction of the reception as we pass it. Maybe Malachi and Karis aren't so crazy after all.
“Natalie?”
I stop abruptly at the sound of Natalie's name coming from another man’s mouth.
The jilted groomsman stands two steps out of the restroom, a paper towel still balled up in one hand. He looks at Natalie's hand in mine and his eyebrows draw together.
“What's going on?” His eyes are on me now.
“Beckett, this is my best friend.” Natalie turns to me. “Aidan, this is Malachi’s brother Beckett.”
Beckett relaxes when he hears Natalie call me best friend.
“Beckett, thank you for the dances,” Natalie continues. “They were fun. Aidan and I are going to take off now. Have a nice night.” Without waiting for a response, Natalie pivots on her heel and starts walking away.
I start after her without a backward glance at Beckett. We round a corner, and Natalie presses her back against a wall and laughs.
“That was awkward. I feel bad.”
“Don’t. He won't be lonely long.” I can think of three girls in particular who wouldn’t mind keeping him company.
Natalie still has her back pressed to the wall. She looks like a gorgeous piece of art, one of those real life contemporary pieces that you come upon in a park somewhere.
“Have you changed your mind?” I ask.
Her tongue darts out and swipes against her lower lip, leaving it glistening. “No. Have you?”
Stepping back, I offer her a hand. She takes it and peels herself away from the wall and into my side.
When we get to the front desk, I pull out my credit card and push it across the counter to the front desk attendant.
“One room, please.”
The attendant glances at Natalie, then back to me. “One king or two full?” He keeps his expression flat, but I see the confidence in his eyes. He already knows the answer.
“King,” I say.
“Yes, sir.” The man types quickly, looking down at his computer screen.
He recites the total and I nod, but Natalie balks. “Aidan, that's too expensive,” she murmurs, her lips lightly pressing against my shoulder.
“Shhh. It's fine.”
The cost of the room is nearly the same as my portion of a month's rent. I have savings, which admittedly doesn't have much in it. This night, however, is worthy of using my trust fund.
The transaction wraps up, and the guy slides the key card across to me. I slip it in my pocket and nod at him. I'm sure our lack of luggage has not escaped his attention. I'm also certain this isn't the first time he has seen that. Or the fiftieth.
We move to the elevator. There is an energy between us, a sizzling electrical current. It travels over me, pressing into Natalie through our intertwined fingers.
We share the elevator with four other people: one couple, and two men dressed in business attire. We stand at the back, Natalie pressing her body into my side. My free hand runs the length of her back, left bare by her dress.
