A bellman brought their bags up. Mitch tipped him. The man said thank you and left. Mitch looked at her. “You need anything?”
She shook her head. “I think I’m going to shower and crash.”
“Same. Knock when you’re up in the morning and we’ll go eat, then get on the road. I know you’re probably anxious to get this all taken care of.”
“I am, but there’s no reason to rush too much.” She put her hand on his chest, leaned in and kissed him. “See you in the morning.”
“Night,” he whispered.
She wheeled her luggage to her side and closed the adjoining door. He’d gone to a lot of expense to get her here, and now more expense so they could get a fresh start a few hours later. He was doing all of this for her. It was a lot to take in.
She got her shower, then wrapped up in the complimentary robe and went to stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. So much light and activity. So much going on down there. People partying and spending money and living their lives.
Something her mother would never get the chance to do again. But that wasn’t fair, and she knew it. Her mother hadn’t been capable of anything like that in a long time. It was just Harper’s grief getting the better of her. Trying to squeeze a few more tears out of her.
She was done with that. Her mother had had a good life. She’d been a great mom. Harper wanted to celebrate her, not mourn her. She knew from having worked with so many grieving clients that a lot of her sorrow was for herself.
Her mother was no longer in pain, no longer lost in the fog her mind had become. She was in a better place. Harper was the one left behind.
She pulled the curtains and went to bed.
She didn’t remember falling asleep, so waking up felt odd. She knew where she was, and why she was there. She checked her email on her phone. One needed a response, but she’d do that later in the car. She tossed the covers back and went to theadjoining doors. Theclick-clackof fingers on a keyboard was just audible.
Mitch was up and he was working. Or doing something on his computer.
She hustled to get ready. She dressed in white denim capris and a blue and white striped T-shirt, fixed her hair into an easy ponytail, then put on some makeup and her jewelry. She knocked on the adjoining door. “Mitch?”
He opened it a moment later. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”
“Hard. Like I needed it. You?”
“I slept all right. Ready to eat?”
“Yes.” It was seven a.m. in Vegas, which meant it was ten a.m. in Hideaway Bay. She hadn’t slept in that late in ages, although it had been pretty late when they’d gotten here.
They went downstairs to the Veranda, one of the hotel’s restaurants, and quickly got a table. Vegas wasn’t necessarily a town of early risers, evident by how few people were in the restaurant. Mitch immediately ordered a carafe of coffee for the table.
There was a buffet, but they both decided to skip it. They perused the menus as they waited for the coffee. She lowered hers to see him. “This feels strange to me. Like a vacation, but not.”
He nodded. “I get that.”
The server returned with the coffee. Harper ordered the California Club omelet, Mitch ordered the Sin City.
The server took their menus and left. Mitch poured coffee for both of them. Harper rested her forearms on the table, crossed in front of her, and leaned in. “We haven’t talked about it in a hot minute but are you still good to do that reading at the library? They emailed me to confirm.”
He nodded. “Yes. Remind me when it is?”
“Two weeks from now.”
“We’ll be back by then. And we don’t leave for L.A. for three weeks. Go ahead and confirm.”
She took her arms off the table to drink her coffee. “I will once we’re in the car.” She sipped, then looked at him. “Unless you want me to drive?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
“Thanks. Were you working this morning? I thought I heard you on the computer.”
“I was. Something about traveling always inspires me. It wasn’t anything major. Just adding some color to a scene.” He let out a small laugh. “You know, I always say I hate traveling, which is sort of true, but at the same time, it’s a great way to refill the creative well. Seeing new places, interesting sights, curious people.”
