“All she can do is tell them to stop harassing you. If they don’t listen, then they’ll kick them out.”
“Great. They’ll probably watch me through the peephole and spring into action as soon as they see me leave your room. They won’t care if they get kicked out. As long as they take all the photos they can.”
“There’s not much more we can do,” I say.
“Thanks for trying. How do I get back into my room?”
“Someone will come up as soon as possible to give you a replacement keycard.”
She shuffles back on the mattress until her back is pressed against the headboard, making herself comfortable. Tilting her face to the ceiling, she gives a heavy sigh. “I just want to disappear.”
There’s nothing I want more too, yet I’m stuck with her. Well, only until she gets a key to her room.
Her eyes flutter closed as she mumbles, “To a place no one knows who I am. Where no one can find me.” A few seconds later, her head tilts to the side and she’s making soft breathing sounds.
“Did she fall asleep?” Angel asks.
“I think so.”
“What do we do now?”
“I don’t know.” Tonight has turned to shit. The woman in my bed was not meant to be Penelope Aldin.
Angel slaps her palms on her thighs and rises to her feet. “Well, we should try this again another time.” She walks over to me, cups my cheeks with her hands, and kisses me long and deep. “Call me.” And then she struts from the room.
I could stop her and tell her we can continue what we had started as soon as Penelope leaves, but I don’t. And I won’t be calling her either. That kiss didn’t stir an ounce of interest. It’s like the events of the evening has caused my body to malfunction. All thanks to Penelope.
Yet, when I look at her with her robe scrunched around her upper thighs and the top gapping open, there’s nothing wrong with the way my body is responding. Christ! I rake my fingers through my hair. I can’t be perving on a sleeping woman.
Turning away, I walk to the door and look through the peephole. I see a hotel staff member talking to the men. With disgruntled expressions, they make their way down the hallway and disappear from my line of sight.
A moment later, there’s a soft knock at the door. Answering it, I take the keycard, thank the man, and give him a tip for his assistance with the paparazzi. Now I can get Penelope back into her room and salvage what’s left of the evening.
Maybe I can go back to the club and find another woman to hookup with. I immediately shake the thought away. I’ve lost all desire. Exhaustion is catching up with me, and I just want this night to be over.
Ready to give her the keycard and get her out of my room, I walk to the bed. My shoulders slump. She’s fast asleep. Well, she’s not staying here a moment longer; I’m going to have to wake her up. I stare down at her. With her makeup-free face soft in sleep, her mouth slightly open, she doesn’t look like the cold, heartless bitch I know she is. Instead, she looks sweet and innocent. My spine stiffens. I can’t let her fool me.
“Penelope.” I shake her shoulder. “Wake up.”
No response.
“Penelope.” I nudge her harder. “You can go to your room now.”
She grabs my hand and hugs it under her chin. “Just five more minutes, Mom,” she mumbles.
Mom? She’s obviously dreaming and talking in her sleep, and has taken my hand prisoner. I try to pull it free, but she grips it harder.
“Don’t tell Lucas,” she mumbles again.
Hmm. I could get some information from her. Maybe even hold it against her. “Don’t tell Lucas what?”
A smile spreads across her face. “Don’t tell him I think he is hot.”
Now I know she’s dreaming. There’s no way she’d confess something like that fully conscious. I smirk. “You think he’s hot?”
She nods. “Mmm-hmm.”
“How hot?” Asking the question gives me a moment of amusement.
