Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I say, standing. “Whatever the outcome, I just want to say thank you for believing in me. It means a lot.”
Hotel work is something I just fell into. It never felt like a passion or a calling at The Rookery. Maybe that’s because I was a teenager when I first started. Many of the staff that were working there then, are still employees, and I think they still see me as the kid who worked at the weekends. I’ve never felt like that at Hotel on Ninth Street. Here, I feel like an adult with a career. I feel like I have my own life.
I head out, clutching the papers, and cross the lobby, trying to tamp down my smile. It’s so flattering that Poppy and Avril want to promote me so quickly. I know some of it is because they want to relieve the pressure on themselves with a site for the Boston hotel being identified. But even so, it’s a huge responsibility to give me, and I know they wouldn’t do it unless they were sure.
On my way to put the papers with my personal belongings, I pass the lifts. As the doors open, Deacon and I lock eyes.
“Hi,” he says as he steps out.
I glance in each direction to see if anyone can see us talking, but things are quiet.
“Hi,” I reply, slowing to a stop.
“You snuck out,” he says.
For a second, I don’t know what he’s talking about—but he means that I left him asleep in his basement while I snuck home. “I had to get home and…”
I needed to go home for my things, and I didn’t want to be there in the morning when Willow got up in case that freaked her out. Or maybe it would freak me out. Willow’s the kind of kid who would be easy to fall in love with.
“I missed you when I woke up.” He shakes his head. “I miss you all the time I’m not with you.”
My stomach flips over and I press my lips together to resist a smile.
“I just can’t get enough of you. When is your next day off?” he asks.
I try to remember which days I’m on. “Oh, actually it’s Saturday, but I have something…”
“Saturday?” he asks. “I have something that night as well.” He frowns. “Are you on a date on Saturday?”
The question hits me like a fist in the chest. Why would I be on a date when Deacon and I are sleeping together?
“Are you on a date?” I ask.
“You know I don’t date,” he says.
“Okay, so are you on one of your non-dates?” I ask. He might not date, but he certainly has a lot of women he takes to bed.
“No one since you,” he says on a breathy whisper.
My nipples bead and wetness gathers between my thighs. “I have a family thing on Saturday night.”
“You do?” he asks.
“Yes, well…kind of. Friends of the family, who are based in New York. They’re back from being in Canada. So I’m seeing them.” I can’t believe Ryder’s going to be forty. It feels like yesterday that we were playing hide-and-seek in the stables and climbing trees and paddling in the river. Now his kids are almost big enough to do all those things.
“I have a party,” he says. “I hate parties, but I have to go after I’ve put Willow to bed. It’s a networking thing. I promised my COO.”
“Another time,” I say.
He growls. “I want to see you.”
The clatter of heels across the lobby floor brings me back to my surroundings. “I’ll text you,” I say. “Have a good day, Mr. Black.” The sound of Deacon’s growl echoes in my head as I head off down to the staff quarters.
Being able to make a man like Deacon Black growl never gets old.
TWENTY-SIX
Deacon
I put the towel around my neck and head out of the changing rooms onto the gym floor. I don’t have much time to socialize, but keeping close to Ben is something I’m trying to prioritize more and so we’ve agreed to meet regularly at the gym. Today is our second time of catching up while sweating.
“I can’t believe you’re dragging me to the gym again,” Ben says, as he comes up beside me.
“I’m not dragging you,” I reply. “You asked me to breakfast. I suggested the gym.”
“Hate to break it to you, but this isn’t breakfast.”
“It’s where I spend breakfast time.”
He shakes his head, grinning. “Admit it, you just want to do something else while you speak to me,” he says. “You can’t just relax and have a casual breakfast. It’s about Willow or your work. Anything else gets squeezed in on top of each other. Me and the gym being a perfect example.”
I roll my eyes exaggeratedly. “Are you going to complain this entire forty-five minutes? Let me know, because I have earphones I can use if you are.”