When I reach out to shake his hand, he clasps it tight with a smirk. “Now get the fuck out of here. My date just showed up.”
I glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, Mandi’s standing by the door, looking around the bar, trying to find Carlos, just like I had when I first arrived. I turn back to my friend. “It’s a school night, so you better not keep her out late. I’ll be pissed if she’s late to work tomorrow.”
His grin widens. “Don’t worry. I live very close to your office, so she won’t have to commute far.”
With another laugh, I slip out of the booth and shove my hands in my pockets as I walk toward the door. I pass Mandi and I give her a nod in greeting. I can’t tell for sure, but I’d be willing to bet her cheeks are bright red if the look she gives me is any indication.
I don’t know why she thinks I’d care. I’m the one who gave her Carlos’s number and told her he was interested. Iguess she just didn’t expect me to have a date with him before her on the same night.
Stepping outside, I suck in a lungful of fresh, cool spring air. I don’t even really care if Mandi is late, because the first place I’m going tomorrow is to see my newest client.
9
Lily
Islam my hand on my hip and stare at the pile of clothes I bought yesterday, all spread out on the bed, my phone pressed to my ear. “I know, Cheryl. I promise, I’ll let you know. But I should be good to go back to work tomorrow.”
Cheryl is the owner of the marketing firm I work for. She’s one of my first and oldest friends in Nashville and has been a mentor for the last twelve years. I texted her last night, but I wasn’t ready to actually talk to her until this morning. She sent me a text saying she was calling and that I’d better answer or she’d show up at the hotel. And she would too. So I answered, and she’s been fussing over me for the last ten minutes. I was scared of what she’d think, but she hasn’t wavered in her support for me or in her belief in me, and it makes my face prickle with emotion. I just hope that doesn’t change.
“I’m trusting you to tell me if you need more time. But I’ll also be checking in with Anna, and you know Anna will tell me the truth,” Cheryl insists.
Chuckling, I tell her, “Yeah, because she’s scared of you.”
“As she should be. I miss the days when you were scared of me,” she teases.
Cheryl is one of the best bosses anyone could ask for. She’s tough but fair. She expects a lot but is always quick to praise. She jokes that the staff is afraid of her, but really, we just all respect the hell out of her and want to make her proud. Even though she’s partially retired, she still comes into the office on occasion.
My head pops up when a loud knock sounds, echoing through the suite. “Cheryl, someone’s here. I have to let you go, but I’ll talk to you soon. And I’ll be back in the office tomorrow.”
As I make my way across the suite, I hold a hand to my aching ribs. I should’ve known that shopping for a few hours yesterday would’ve been too much for my still-healing body, but I couldn’t help it. Besides being a necessity at this point, I needed something to feel normal. Anything to make me feel like I could get my life back, all the while ignoring the dark cloud over my head threatening to take that very thing away. All I had to do was shop for clothes, makeup, and toiletries. I can’t wait until my ribs and face are healed so I can resume my regular yoga practice. I haven’t gone this long without taking a class in a while. That’ll also help me feel like my life isn’t a completely uncontrolled spiral.
Assuming it’s housekeeping, I whip open the door, and I immediately wish that I’d showered. Or maybe did something with my hair besides pull it up in a messy bun on top of my head, because Chris Rivers is standing in the hallwaylooking entirely too sexy for this early in the morning. His expensive suit molds to his body like it was sculpted to fit perfectly at all times, and his designer sunglasses give him a mysteriously laid-back air that has my stomach doing flips.
Last night, I spent way too many hours reading every article, looking at every picture, and looking into some of his more prominent cases. My research has done nothing to quell the curiosity and interest that’s been blooming toward the man standing in front of me.
He has two large to-go coffee cups in his hands and a bag that I’m assuming is filled with donuts based on the logo on the bag. When I don’t move to invite him in or say anything because I’m apparently rendered speechless for a moment, Chris cocks his head to the side and raises everything he’s holding. “I, of all people, can understand people’s aversions to attorneys, but I come bearing gifts.”
I snort a laugh and step back. “Sorry, I haven’t had enough coffee this morning, so I’m a little slow. Come on in.”
He smiles, and my heart skips a beat as he passes by me, his cologne teasing my nostrils with its masculine, woodsy scent.
I follow him into the sitting area as he says over his shoulder, “Lucky for you, I brought you a large one.”
Ignoring that he probably does this for all his clients, my cheeks flush at the rush of emotion. It’s been so long since someone did a random act of kindness for me that I’ve forgotten what that feels like. “That’s really nice of you. Thank you.”
He turns around and hands me the cup of coffee before removing his sunglasses, his dark eyes assessing. “I hope you like what I got. The barista told me this is their mostpopular drink, but if you hate it, you can have my black coffee, and I’ll drink that one.”
I take the cup and inhale the sweet scent of a latte. A smile creeps onto my face. “It smells amazing.”
With a small shrug, he says, “It’s some maple something latte.”
After I take a seat on the couch and he sits in the chair to my right, I take a sip and hum my appreciation. It really is delicious. I take another sip before meeting Chris’s intense stare. His cup is suspended halfway to his mouth as his eyes lock on me. His Adam’s apple bobs with his swallow before he shakes his head and breaks the connection. He takes a sip of his coffee before looking around the suite. “Have you decided what you want to do?”
I nod with a scowl, thinking of the conversation I had with the front desk last night. “Yes, I’ve asked to extend the stay. I asked them to switch it to my credit card, but I was told that they had been instructed to leave your card on file for as long as I stay.” I pause, and when he doesn’t respond beyond giving a mild smile, I continue. “Chris, can I please repay you for this room today?”
He waves away my comment, as if we aren’t talking about what I’m sure is thousands of dollars. “We’ll figure that all out later. Just stay as long as you need to.” He juts his chin toward a shopping bag. “Did you get everything you need to hold you over?”
Glancing behind me, I say, “Yep, it was expensive to get everything, but hopefully this will hold me over until I can get back in the house to pack some of my belongings.”
