Mallory nodded. “People often are when matters of the heart are involved.”
“I should go find him.” I glanced up and down the corridor again. “But he’s probably already left the resort, and I have no idea where to look for him.”
“Try room 1320.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Room 1320, here at the resort,” Mallory replied. “That’s where Tucker is staying. He’s been here ever since the night of the fight at the Mitchell mansion.”
“How do you know that?”
Mallory shrugged again. “Finn and Silvio have their sources, and I have mine. Once Gin told me Tucker was staying in Ashland, I figured he would have to check into a hotel sooner or later. So I asked around, and a friend who works here at the resort was nice enough to email the information to me while Stuey and I were on our honeymoon.”
“So you’ve known that Tucker was staying here this whole time?” Suspicion filled me. “Wait a second. Is that why you had your party here instead of at the country club again?”
A sly grin spread across her wrinkled face. “Well, you couldn’t very well run into Tucker if we’d had the party at the country club.”
Another laugh bubbled out of my lips. “I can’t believe you set me up like this. You reallyaretrying to play matchmaker.”
Mallory’s grin widened. “Something like that. I just want you to find the same sort of happiness that I’ve found, whether it’s with Tucker or someone else.”
She stepped forward and hugged me.
“I love you, Grandma,” I rasped, emotion clogging my throat as I returned her hug with an even tighter one of my own.
“Love you too, pumpkin.”
We broke apart. Mallory cleared her throat and blinked back the tears gleaming in her eyes. Me too.
“I really should get back to the party. Stuey and the guests will be wondering where I am. And I believe you have a date to rustle up.” She gave me a saucy wink. “I’ll call you in the morning, and you can give meallthe juicy details.”
“Is that so?” I asked, a smile spreading across my face.
“Absolutely.” Mallory patted my arm, then headed back toward the ballroom.
I waited until she had vanished around the corner, then strode in the opposite direction. A minute later, I reached a bank of elevators and stepped inside one. The door slid shut, but the car didn’t move. I stared at the panel, my index finger hovering over the button marked13.
Doubt crept over me. About myself, my feelings for Tucker, and especially his for me. But everyone else was moving on with their lives, and it was time for me to do the same. And right now, I wanted Hugh Tucker. I’d worry about everything else later.
I punched the button, and the elevator started to rise.
ChapterTen
I gotoff on the appropriate floor and made my way to room 1320, which was located at the end of the corridor. Before I lost my nerve, I raised my hand and knocked on the door. A few seconds later, it opened, and Tucker appeared.
He’d shed his ruined tuxedo jacket, bow tie, and cummerbund, although he was still wearing his white shirt and black pants. His shirt was unbuttoned, and his feet were bare, which somehow made him even more ridiculously attractive.
Surprise filled his face. “Lorelei? What are you doing here?”
Instead of answering, I stepped past him and found myself in a luxury suite, complete with a kitchen and a sitting area filled with chairs and a long couch arranged in front of a fireplace. A door off to the right led into the bedroom, along with an attached bathroom.
I tossed my purse down onto the kitchen counter, then faced him. “I came here to tell you that you’re wrong.”
“About what?”
“Pretty much everything.”
I stepped out of my kitten heels and used my foot to scoot them off to the side.
