The bathroom was as nice as the room outside, and the green theme had extended in here. The tiles were bright emerald jewels that gleamed in the lights surrounding the large mirror over the sink. There was a tub and shower to choose from, but with the way I was feeling I would end up falling asleep if I soaked rather than scrubbing down, so I dropped my duffel on the counter next to the sink and started stripping off my damp, muddy clothing. As I removed my squelching boots, I was happy I had my dress shoes from earlier to wear, even though they wouldn’t go with my workout gear.
“Why can’t I ever just look good and act sane around Wick?” I asked the universe quietly as I opened my bag. I took the clothes out and laid them on the counter, then grabbed the shower essentials, and less than fifteen minutes later I stepped into the bedroom clean and dressed with damp hair. I adjusted my glasses on my nose as Wick breezed past me into the bathroom, cradling a stack of clothes and towels.
“We need to do something nice for your friend. Can you remember to send him a thank-you card and gift?” Wick asked, then the door closed behind him.
“Yes, sir!” I called, and his answering chuckle sent tingles skittering across my skin.
Flopping on the bed, I pulled my T-shirt down when it tried to creep over my stomach and closed my eyes. The next thing I knew, someone was shaking my shoulder and calling my name.
“Maurice, wake up,” Wick said, and that soft, low tone was delicious. I hummed, and a familiar chuckle made me crack my eyes open. I sat up fast and my head did a little spinny thing that wasn’t great.
“You okay?” Wick sat down beside me, and I stared and stared. He was beyond tasty. His silver hair flopped over his forehead, and his gray eyes were bright and interested. “What?”
“I’ve just never seen you in jeans,” I said, blinking at him. “You only wear suits in the office, and once I saw you in cargo pants when you came in to get a contract after visiting a work site.” He didn’t look bad at all. The green V-neck T-shirt tugged wonderfully across his firm chest, and the jeans molded to his muscled thighs. I swallowed hard. “You look better than I do, though. That isn’t fair. You started with zero clothes.”
He grinned. “The old Guidry luck at play.”
“Must be nice,” I grumbled.
“Maybe if you get closer it’ll rub off on you.” He smirked and leaned in, and I wasn’t prepared for the softness of his lips as they danced over mine before he sat back and studied my face. I did something I’d wanted to do for a long time and traced my fingertip over the curve of his top lip, then shivered at the smile that spread across his face.
“Dinner?” he asked, voice raspy.
I nodded because I was having trouble doing anything else.
Feeling awkward as hell, I stood, then caught him sneaking a glance down my body. I pushed my glasses up and fought back an internal wince. I tried to dress nicely to offset the way I looked, and right now nothing made me feel good about myself, except maybe the fact that Wick’s smile never dimmed.
“Okay,” I said and gestured at the door, and he laughed and went out ahead of me.
“So,” he said as we walked toward the staircase, and he shoved his hands in his pockets, then puffed out a breath. Was he nervous?
“What about that weather,” I replied in my blandest imitation of my grandfather, and he chuckled. We were halfway down the staircase when the lights cut out, and he gasped. The power flickered back on, and we rushed the rest of the way to the bottom, but by the time we had our feet firmly planted on the red marble floor in the lobby, the electricity cut out again—and this time it stayed out.
“No one panic! We assumed this would happen!” Hyeon called, rushing into the lobby. No one appeared to be doing any such thing, but it was good of him to worry. He flipped on an LED lamp and passed it to me, and he had at least five others hanging off his arm. “We’re fully prepared for this mess.” He gave a lamp to the girl at the desk, then took off to our right into the restaurant, which was still full of people.
“So much for getting away from the problems,” Wick murmured.
“They might have a generator.”
“I’m not worried about it,” he said, and we strolled into the restaurant together.
“You aren’t? Why?” I touched his arm and his muscles tensed under my fingertips.
He shrugged and grinned at me. “Because I’m here with you, and you’ve proven once already that you won’t let anything happen to me.”
I had no idea what to say, but when he draped his arm across my shoulders again, I leaned against his side.
The restaurant was busy, and the lack of electricity didn’t make anyone stop having a good time. In the center of the tables, flames from candles in white holders wavered and reminded me of something for weddings—maybe they were normally used for events. Silverware clinked and laughter and chatter burbled around the room, rising and falling in a natural rhythm. We found an empty table and sat, and the plump woman who rushed to our side grinned at us. She was dressed casually in jeans and a band T-shirt. Maybe she’d been called in last minute.
“Hello, sirs. If you don’t have cash, this will be charged to your room, and we’ll run your card as soon as we’re able to do it. Is that okay?”
“Of course. What—”
“We cooked up a bunch of barbecue earlier today because we thought this might happen.” She gestured at the dark lights above us. “So, you have a choice of baked potato, salad, and pulled-pork sandwiches. We’ll serve them until they’re gone. Or burgers, but they’re already cooked, so you can’t order them any other way than how they already are.”
“Pulled pork,” Wick and I said at the same time, and she laughed.
“Got it, boys. Cold drinks?”
