“She lives in DC.” Greta stared at him as if she could somehow transfer the information into his brain without saying it. “It’s complicated.”
“Oh?” He raised both brows. “How complicated, Greta?”
“Complicated,” she repeated. “We met before… before we knew we had any connection. She’s a writer, actually.”
“I see. That could be awkward if you were to run into her at work or something and it was a surprise.” He shook his head. His tone was half questioning as he said, “Like ‘people awkwardly running to the bathroom to figure it out’ awkward?”
“Exactlylike that.” Greta felt like her face was on fire.In for one detail, in for all of them.She blurted out, “The lunch with Emily was to discuss this. She deserved to hear it from me.”
Ian made a sympathetic noise.
“I’ll have a handle on it by next week.” She shook her head. “I thought I was done with relationships or even situationships, but I want this to work. Maybe it’ll turn out to be nothing, but I need to go find out. Either way, I will need you to step up as her editor.”
Ian nodded. “Oh, on unrelated notes, Idohave an editorial letter and line notes on K.C.’s second book ready to go.”
Greta laughed at his wide-eyed, faux-innocent expression. “I didn’t even realize I was ready to move on, but I am. I want… I want the big romance, the person who is my automatic holiday party date, and all of it. I also wantherto be that person. I mean, maybe we won’t click if we are together for four days, though.”
“Go get your mystery date,” Ian encouraged. “She’s a lucky woman to catch your eye. I hope she knows it.”
“Maybe it’ll be nothing, but…” Greta smiled at him, letting herhope leak out more. “I rarely click with people so quickly. I have to see what that means. If I don’t, I’ll kick myself later.”
After she left, Greta headed home and packed lightly, taking no work at all with her. This weekend she was not an editor, especially not Kaelee’s editor. She was a woman who just wanted to be loved, to be held, to matter because of who she was.
A few hours later, she was standing in a hotel lobby, thinking back to another hotel where she sat and waited for Kaelee. This time, Greta checked in and sent the room number to Kaelee over text with a message to come up when she arrived.
Kaelee:About twenty minutes out.
Greta:Dinner out or room service?
Kaelee:Room.
So Greta gave in to her impulses, ordered a few options on room service, and asked for it to be delivered in forty minutes. Then she unpacked. Once that was all settled, she still had ten minutes left, so she drew a nice bath and flipped through the hotel television options. Her nerves were less settled than when she’d met Kaelee as a stranger, less even than when she’d met her at the train station. Now, everything was different. They’d chatted, talked about mundane and important things. This was real, though, for both of them.
We both have the power to wreck the other’s career.
Neither of us would. I believe that.
But it was a leap of faith, trusting each other, hoping that trust was not misplaced. Greta mulled it over as she debated the far less weighty topic of pulling on one of the plush robes. She decided she’d keep on her dress instead. She’d peeled off her tights and boots so she had on only a dress and underthings. Once room service had come and gone, she’d be able to take off her dress and get more comfortable.
Fifteen minutes later, a light tap on the door announced Kaelee’s arrival. Greta looked through the peephole and then opened the door. Foolish or not, Greta drank in the sight of her. She had a gym bag, a garment bag, and a backpack, but no actual suitcase. Her eyes were weary, and she looked even more muscular, as if she’d been taking her stress out at the gym.
“Hey.” Greta leaned in and brushed her lips over Kaelee’s in a brief kiss. The mere touch of lips ought not make her heart or body sing, but she’d thought they’d never kiss again. Her heart tightened in joy.
Kaelee’s smile came over her face like she was dropping worries aside. “Hey yourself.”
Greta didn’t offer to take her bag, remembering her tension over that last time. “Long drive?”
“Not as bad as I expected for the night before Thanksgiving. I guess I left early enough in the day to miss the post-work chaos.” Kaelee’s expression belied the casual words.
Greta opened the closet for Kaelee to deposit everything. “I ordered a mini buffet for dinner. Should be here in about ten.”
Kaelee smiled widely. “You’re perfect. Have I told you that today?”
“There’s a bath ready, too. Should be cool enough by now,” Greta continued.
The smile on Kaelee’s face morphed into something less affectionate and more ravenous. “Is it big enough for us both?”
“It is.” Greta stepped back, slightly out of reach now. “I suspect answering the door naked is not a great idea, though, so I need to wait on room service before I can join you.”
