Page 7 of Koda's Love

“Hi! Can I help you?” The girl at the counter was chipper as hell for it still to be before noon.

“Hi, yes. I’m staying in room 1031, and the television isn’t working.”

She pressed a few buttons on her computer as she said, “Oh, no. We’re sorry about the incon—” Her words were cut off when Koda stepped next to her. I didn’t even notice the small office that was behind the counter until he walked out of there.

“Good morning, Ms. Avalon. I heard you are having a problem with your TV?”

Koda walked closer to the counter. My throat dried up when his cologne hit me. It reminded me of sage, ginger, and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. Like there was a magnet attached to my shirt, I leaned forward on the desk. I wasn’t right in his face, but I was close enough.

“Ye-yes. I tried multiple times to turn it on, and I even unplugged it. Nothing worked.”

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I can get you into a new room, and I’ll make sure the television works first.” He winked at me and blessed me with a crooked smile that made my knees shake.

“No, that’s not necessary.”

“I insist. I want to make sure your stay is perfect.” Without taking his eyes off me, I spoke to the girl next to him. I was so caught up in his presence that I forgot homegirl stood next to him. “Dana, is the executive suite still available?”

I paid for a regular ass room, so for him to ask about the executive suite threw me off.

“I’m sure there is a regular room I can take.”

“Avalon, I insist.”

Butterflies took flight in my stomach when he said my name in that voice of his. It was like he seduced me without even trying. How did these women work around him and not be affected by him. Homegirl barely paid him any attention. Meanwhile, I looked at that man like I had hearts in my eyes.

“Um, I guess. I never stayed in the suites here, so thank you.”

“No problem. Let me ride up with you to make sure the television works, and to help you with your bags.”

“It works, sir,” she informed him. “I checked the suites this morning.”

“Thank you. I guess I just have to help you move your stuff.”

My eyes were on Koda as he came from around the counter. He wore another T-shirt, but this one was money green, with dark blue jeans and Air Max sneakers that matched his shirt. I noticed the night before that he wore Air Max that matched his shirt too.

“I don’t have that much stuff, so you don’t have to help me.”

“I have to make sure everything works in the room for you.”

“Okay.” There was no point in trying to tell him I didn’t need help, because he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I really didn’t want to tell him no anyway.

He told Dana to get the key for him, then we walked toward the elevator bank. When we got there, Koda pressed the button, and the doors opened. He stood to the side to give me space to enter, then he got on behind me. Before the door closed, he asked me what floor I was on. I told him, then moved to the back of the elevator.

“I stink or something?” The side of his mouth turned upward.

“Far from it. You smell good actually.” I was supposed to keep the second part of that sentence to myself.

Koda smiled and stuck his hands in his pockets. It looked like his cheeks reddened a little, but I didn’t call him out on it.

“Thank you. You smell good as hell too. I only asked because you moved away from me like I have cooties or something.”

He didn’t know that being so close to him made my heart race and my head spin. He didn’t know that my hands felt clammy because I was so nervous. It was one thing being around him in the restaurant, or at the front desk, but in a closed space like the elevator was a different story.

“No. I just didn’t want to invade your space.”

My heart sped up even more when he moved closer to me.

“What if I said I don’t mind you being in my space?”