“So sensitive. Anyway, I just want to reiterate once more, in case you weren’t listening the first time: when I saidcouch, I meant it. That golden ticket of yours did not include sex with the bearer. Are weclear?”
“Can I at least kiss you?” he asked, playfully hovering his lips over mine without actually making contact. A slight tremor fluttered through me. Finn’s presence was driving me wild. I was making a huge goddamnmistake.
“I think we need to keep itprofessional.”
“Professional?” Finn sized me up. “There’s not one damn thing that’s professional about what’s going onbetweenus.”
“Do you want to go back to the car?” I asked, like a parent scolding achild.
“No.”
“Thenbehave.”
“Fine.”
He held on a moment longer before loosening his grip and allowing me to roll out of his embrace. I led him through the lobby and up theelevator.
“What floor?” heasked.
“Thetop.”
“Uh huh.” He nodded,grinning.
Travis looked up when the door opened, but I didn’t make eye contact. I knew he was smirking inside, so I didn’t need to add fuel to the fire. I saw Finn’s confused reaction to the security guy, and when we were far enough away, he asked, “What’s with the guy at theelevator?”
Not knowing how to respond, I just ignored thequestion.
“Do you know him?” Finn continued, pressing foranswers.
“He’ssecurity.”
“Forwhat?”
“Musicians staying at the hotel, Iguess.”
“On this floor?” Finn asked, looking around with interest. “Likewho?”
“I don’t… you know, anyway, you can put your stuff down overthere.”
He shot me a quizzical look, but didn’t press. Another question I’d left hanging. He had to be confused as hell. I needed to tell him about Jake, but for some reason, I’d always found it an awkward conversation to have. “Hi my name is Emma, and my brother is Jake McKallister… yes, THAT Jake McKallister.” Although at the same time, the longer I waited, the weirder it would get for the bothofus.
“This is an expensive room on a nurse’s salary,” Finn said, fishing for clues. “Don’t youthink?”
Ishrugged.
“I mean, before Richie and I decided to camp out on his friend’s floor, we’d checked into renting a hotel room. One of these suite-style abodes was a couple grand for theweekend.”
“Oh,yeah?Huh.”
“Come on, Emma. What are you hidingfromme?”
I ignored his question and pointed at the couch. “Yourbed.”
“Awesome,” he nodded. “Would you mind if I showeredfirst?”
“I thought you’dneverask.”
13
