“Michaelisan asshole. I’m not blind to what he does, or what his organization does, or what I do for him and his business. But he’s not an asshole to me.”
There was too much for me to dissect and unpack there. We were both tired and needed to get to bed. I quickly finished so I could get Taylor back to the room and let her unwind a bit.
“Do you think I’m an asshole?” I asked.
“I’ve watched you alongside Michael for years. If you want my honest assessment, I think you’re cocky and arrogant. You’re very dangerous with the uncanny ability to be extremely violent without a conscience. But that isn’t what makes you the most dangerous. You’re charismatic, almost in a lethal dose. You think highly of yourself, and why wouldn’t you? Every woman, straight or not, finds you attractive. Do I think you’re an asshole? Yes, I think you’re an asshole. But are you a genuine asshole to me? No. But I thinkyou’rethe jealous one. You’re just the same kid from the playground who would get mad if I got too close to Michael. You’re just wearing bigger shoes now.”
I picked up the bill the server quietly dropped off at the table. I set the two vouchers down and then set a nice tip in cash beside the bill. I looked at Taylor while I finished my Coke. Her chin was resting on her hands that were clasped together, and she faced the window to look outside. I could say she was just tired after a long day of travel and time zone jumping, but I was pretty sure our conversation had bothered her.
I set my empty glass down and tried to go for a bit of humor.
“I think you want me to fuck you,” I said.
Her face instantly became an expression of repulsion.
“There you go again. You’re so wrong. I don’t even like you.”
“I don’t like you either. But I think you want to be fucked like Holly was.”
“Don’t you worry about getting diseases or having a million kids running around?” she asked.
“No. Not in the least. I get tested twice a month.” I held up two fingers and repeated, “Twice. And I’m snipped, so no little fuckers running around that I need to worry about.”
She shook her head at me for the millionth time today before she pushed her chair back and stood.
“Are you ready?”
“I’m always ready.”
“I’m tired. We need to be on point tomorrow.”
“I agree.”
I stood, zipped my coat, and waved to the server. Pulling my luggage behind me, I followed Taylor out of the restaurant and then walked beside her, closest to the street. The wind was so fucking cold that I regretted not being able to put both of my hands in my pockets.
We hurried to the hotel lobby entrance and then to the elevator. I pushed the button to call the elevator and then pulled out the key card for the room. Our room was close to the elevator and both of us were eager to get inside.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Sawyer
Iheld the key card over the card reader until the light turned green and the door clicked. I pushed the door open and then held it so Taylor could walk in first.
“Thank you,” she said and stepped inside.
I followed her in, and the first thing I did was put the “Do not disturb” door hanger on the door handle, then I locked the door using both locks.
“Um,” Taylor said.
“What?” I asked and then went deeper into the room where she stood. For whatever reason, I was almost expecting to see someone in the room. But upon glancing around, I saw what she was referring to.
One queen-sized bed.
One.
“Well, that wasn’t listed in the room description,” I said.
“This isn’t funny, Sawyer.”
