He leans in closer, looming over me and keeping his voice low for only me to hear. “It’s always good to remind yourself of that when a female reporter, who I barely know, starts making you jealous, huh? And just so we’re clear here, there’s no part of me that wants to befriendswith you, Reese.”
Just a few weeks ago, that statement would’ve meant something entirely different. But I catch the insinuation in his tone.
It’s dangerous. Whatever game is going on here.
And I can’t seem to stop myself from playing.
I look up at him through my lashes. “I don’t want to be friends with you either.”
“Good.” His voice is a deep timbre that I can physically feel crawl under every inch of my skin. “Glad we’re on the same page.”
11
Emmett
Sitting up, I grab the water bottle off the nightstand, unscrewing the cap and bringing it to my lips to chug. But I quickly find out that there are only about three drops of water left and they do absolutely nothing to quench my thirst.
Fuck this night.
The sushi we had for dinner has me parched as hell. I can’t seem to find the right temperature to regulate the room to a comfortable spot. And all of it conspires to keep me from finding a moment of sleep.
I sound like a goddamn diva but fuck it. Maybe I am.
The neon green numbers displayed on the bedside clock remind me that it’s just after two in the morning and I’m far too old to still be awake. And right now, the only thing I can focus on is the lack of water in my hotel room and how dehydrated I am, so I decide to start there.
I find a pair of gym shorts in my suitcase and throw on the shirt I was wearing earlier today to head down to the lobby. I shove my feet in a pair of shoes by the door, grab a room key, then try to fix the thermostat one last time. I press the down arrow, but the screen is displaying the lowest setting at sixty-five, though it has to be at least another ten degrees warmer than that. I toggle with the fan switch, but still nothing in the room changes.
The hall is silent when I step out of my room, the elevator is empty as I ride it to the main level, and the small market next to the lobby is fully stocked,thank God.
I grab the largest bottle of water out of the refrigerator, unscrew the top before I’ve paid for it, and chug it back.
It’s fucking glorious.
Cold and refreshing and makes me believe I may actually be able to get to sleep now. But that hope is quickly paused while my head is tipped back, mid-swallow, and I hear a familiar voice in the lobby next to me.
“Any room would do,” Reese says.
“I’m so sorry.” That must be the man working behind the front desk. “But we’re completely sold out for the night.”
Turning the corner, I find Reese at the front desk, pleading eyes locked on the hotel employee. Her nose is a bright pink. Her cheeks too. Even her lips seem to have shifted to a different color than they typically are as they tremble with each word out of her mouth.
I can’t quite tell if she was crying, if she’s sick, or if she’s just really cold.
But then her clothes answer that question for me.
Her blonde hair is tucked beneath the hood of a sweatshirt. But that sweatshirt has one of her work blazers over it. And not in a fashionable way. But more like a “I’m cold as hell and didn’t pack any warm layers because I’m in San Diego so why would I” kind of way. I can also tell she’s wearing at least two pairs of yoga pants right now with tall socks pulled up over them as high as they can go.
But the most shocking part may just be the slippers Reese has on her feet. I never thought I’d live to see the day when polished Reese Remington was caught out of her hotel room in a pair of slippers instead of her high heels.
It all contributes to the way I’m cautiously walking toward her as if I were approaching a feral animal who’s hurt and just needs a bit of help.
“Please,” she begs. “You must have a hotel partner close by who you could call and see if they have an extra room available? I just need to get a few hours of sleep.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. There’s a popular convention going on this weekend. All the hotels have been booked out for months.”
Her face is equal parts desperate and defeated.
“But I’ll send the mechanic up as soon as he gets here.”
