“Come on. Let’s get you to the closest room so you can warm up.”
He led the way, and she followed close behind him. He was tall and lean, and after lying on top of him, she knew he was solid muscle. It felt like she was ogling him from behind, but what else was she supposed to look at other than his back and his butt?
I could pay attention to the space, especially since I want to decorate it!
That was probably what she should be doing, but by the time that really registered, they had already crossed the massive lobby and were heading down a wide hallway that housed a bunch of rooms. Axel stopped at the first one and motioned for her to go in.
When she stepped inside, it was completely bare. The walls were painted white, and there was paper covering the floor everywhere except for the bathroom. The tile floors were new, and so were all the fixtures, but it was very basic.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why didn’t you wait to do the bathrooms until after you hired a designer?”
“We were testing things out to see if we could do that sort of thing on our own. Plus, fixtures in almost any hotel are the same. We’re not looking for over-the-top luxury or to go super cheap. Everything you see was somewhere in the middle. We figured a decorator would come in and pick colors and wallpaper, but bathrooms are typically just white, right?”
“They can be.” She noticed there were no accessories—no towel racks or toilet paper holders—and knew she could turn this very basic space into something stylish and functional with very little effort.
But she’d wait to talk to him about that until they were both warm and dry.
“Um, anyway,” he said as he took a step toward the door. “The water gets really hot, you’ve got towels, shampoo, and a robe. Take as long as you need, and I’ll meet you back in the kitchen when you’re done.”
“Thanks, Axel.” Then, she waited for him to leave before locking the door behind him.
Nice guy or not, it was just the smart thing to do.
The water truly was hot and so much better than the shower she had at that cheap hotel in town. So, she lingered a little and luxuriated a bit as she got warm. When she stepped out to dry off, she cringed at her reflection. She didn’t have her makeup, moisturizer, a hair dryer, or even a brush with her.
“Well, it wasn’t like you were looking great before,” she mumbled as she rubbed her skin until it was dry. Thankfully, the robe was big enough for her. So many times she stayed at five-star resorts where their complimentary robes were meant for petite people and they always made her feel like she wasn’t good enough to warrant a nice garment.
But this one? It was white and fluffy and it fit her perfectly.
The toiletry kit had some body lotion, and she opted to use it on her face because it was better than nothing. And she towel-dried her hair the best she could before combing her fingers through it. It had a natural wave that she tended to straighten, but for now, it was just going to do its thing.
With nothing left to do, she gathered her wet clothes and used towels before sliding her feet into the slippers. If the situation weren’t so bizarre, she’d say she felt very comfy and cozy.
Leaving the room, she slowly made her way back to the lobby and found Axel standing in front of a massive stone fireplace. It was the focal point of this area, and she could envision some amazing chairs positioned in front of it—upholstered, oversized leather, set up in several small gatherings along with a large coffee table. It was so clear in her mind that she wished she could whip out her computer right now and mock it up in her design program.
Axel turned and smiled at her. “How was your shower?”
“Glorious,” she said, smiling back at him. “Thank you.”
“I’ve already got a teapot on the stove in case you wanted tea, but there’s also a Keurig out there if you prefer coffee.” Then he motioned to the mismatched chairs he set up close to the fire. “You can put your clothes and things out here so they can dry.”
Thanking him again, she did just that and then followed him out to the kitchen. But this time she took her time and admired the space.
In the kitchen, Axel was putting a pod in the coffeemaker, and Maisie considered her options and went for the tea. He had been considerate enough to put out a mug for her along with a selection of teas plus milk and sugar. The natural thing for them to talk about was the decorating and her interview but based on the way he reacted when she asked Connor about it, she decided to bide her time.
“So, how’d you end up being the lone guy here this weekend?”
Shrugging, he placed his mug on the stainless-steel table and then went into what looked like a pantry. When he came out, he had a couple of boxes of assorted cookies and put them out for them.
“There are five of us who own the resort,” he explained. “Well, five of us and the original owners who kept a percentage of the place. Anyway, we’re at a stage where we don’t all need to be here all the time. I’m the guy who’s working closely with all the contractors, so I tend to be here the most.”
“What does everyone else do?”
He sat down on one of the stools, carefully adjusting his robe so he wasn’t flashing her. “Walker manages a small chain of luxury resorts. Or…he used to. He’s currently in Galveston interviewing for a promotion where he’ll be higher in the corporate division. His grandparents are the original owners of the resort.”
