Apparently satisfied, he cleared his throat and shot her a look. “Get a load of this,” he said, and started to play.
The laugh that had risen up in her throat at his arrogance faded away as the music streamed out from his fingertips. She didn’t recognize the piece but was immediately caught up in it. The haunting melody washed over her like a caress, soothing and inciting at the same time so that by the time the last strains faded away on the night air, she was well and truly seduced.
“Play something else,” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. She felt warm and soft inside, as though the music had snuck in through her pores and worked its magic.
“What would you like to hear?” he murmured, his fierce eyes a direct contrast to the mellow quiet of his voice.
“Something with words,” she said, and lay down so her head pillowed on her bent arm. “Sing to me.”
He smiled, warm and knowing, and began playing again.
She recognized the Eric Clapton song right away, and part of her wanted to scoff at the cliché. A man singing to a woman about how wonderful she looked, how trite was that? But his eyes were dark and serious, without a hint of the laughter that would have kept the moment light and comic, and his voice when he added it to the guitar’s melodic tones was sure and strong.
The knot forming under her heart made her want to close her eyes, to hide from the knowledge and feeling she read in his. But she couldn’t make herself shut him out. She felt as though she were drowning, caught in the romance of the moment in spite of herself, and his eyes were the only thing keeping her from going under.
She forgot to listen to the words, forgot to think or question or do anything other than feel. And by the time the last note had faded away, she was sure. She was in love with him.
Swamped by it, unable to speak, she simply held out her arms. He was already setting the guitar aside and easing down beside her, sliding into her arms as though he’d been doing it for years.
“What?” he murmured, and brushed a tear from her cheek she hadn’t even been aware of shedding.
She shook her head, unable to speak, and pressed her mouth to his.
She poured everything she had for him, everything she felt but couldn’t say, into the kiss. He seemed to know that she needed slow and gentle rather than frantic, and he sank into her.
They sank into each other, clothes melting away under stroking hands until they were naked under the darkening sky. Sighs were whisked away on the summer breeze, moans blending with the rustle of leaves in the trees that shielded the yard from prying eyes and cocooned them in a private, wooded paradise.
They came together slowly, fluid and easy but with no less heat. Instead of a burst of fireworks, the explosion when it came was quiet and intense.
Later, he carried her up to her apartment and drew her a bath. He climbed in the tub behind her, washing away the dirt and the grass and the sticky residue of sweat and their lovemaking. Then he made the bed with her new sheets—after going all the way down to the car to get them—and slid in beside her to wrap his arms around her.
* * * * *
The next morning at work Lily walked around with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. She was in such a good mood that even having three washing machines explode and water all over the basement couldn’t dampen her spirits.
She supervised the cleanup, informed the guests whose turn-down service would be affected by the flooding that they would receive coupons for complimentary massages in the hotel spa, and then settled down in her office to catch up on paperwork.
“Come in,” she called out at the knock on her door, and looked up with a smile. “Jason. What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to tell you, Ms. Michaels, the repairman says he’s got the machines working again.”
“Excellent. Was he able to find out what happened?”
Jason shrugged, tall and handsome in his uniform. “He said it looked like the drain lines had gotten clogged. He said the only reason they all didn’t go is that the other machines weren’t in the spin cycle at the same time as the others.”
“Thank God for small miracles,” she quipped, and nodded at the slip of paper in his hand. “Is that the bill?”
He shook his head. “Someone left it at the front desk for you,” he said. “It’s marked personal, so I didn’t open it.”
She took the note. “Thanks. Is there anything else?”
“No.”
“Okay. Julia’s working in reservations today since we’re short staffed there, so if you need a hand at the desk just buzz me.”
He nodded and closed the office door behind him, and she turned the note over in her hand. Her name was typed across the front of the envelope, and she frowned. If Nate were leaving her love notes, she doubted he’d take the time to type out her name.
Doubly curious now, she slid a finger under the flap and tore the envelope. She drew out the single sheet of stationary—from the hotel, she realized, the kind available in all the rooms for the guests to use for correspondence—and unfolded it.
“‘Your friend has something of mine’,” she read aloud, “‘and I want it back. Convince her to give it to me, or you’ll both be sorry.’”
Well, that killed her leftover romantic buzz, she mused. Envelope and letter still in hand, pushed out of the chair to dash out of the office.
Jason was speaking to a couple of guests when she emerged from the office, so she waited impatiently for him to finish. She noted halfheartedly that Jason was getting to be very good with the guests, helpful and friendly as he gave them directions to a local restaurant, suggesting a few local activities they might enjoy trying. She really ought to see if he wanted to do more on the event planning side of things, he’d probably be good at it.
She waited until he’d sent the couple on their way before stepping forward. “Jason.”
He looked up. “Ms. Michaels.” He frowned. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, fine. Jason, did you see who left this note?”
He shook his head. “It was here when I came on shift. Kenny’s on second shift this week, he was probably here when it came in. I can call him if you like.” He reached for the phone.
“No, it’s okay. It’s only nine thirty, I’m sure he’s still asleep. I’ll ask him tonight when he comes back on shift.”
“Okay. Are you sure everything’s okay, Ms. Michaels?”
He was watching her with concerned eyes, so she worked up a smile. “I’m fine. Isn’t it about time for your break?”
“Yeah, but…it can wait. I can take it later, when Julia gets free of reservations.”
She waved that away. “Don’t be silly, I can cover for you. Go ahead and take it now.”
He looked doubtful. “Are you sure?”
She shot him a look. “Jason, I’ve been working the desk since you were in junior high. I think I can handle it.”
He flushed. “Yes’m,” he mumbled, and hurried toward the employee lounge.
Lily winced. She hadn’t meant to embarrass him. She’d make it up to him, she decided with a sigh.
To give herself something to do, she pulled up the day’s reservations list and began checking the list of assigned rooms. She was halfway through the alphabetical list when someone walked up to the desk.
“Welcome to the Pavillion, may I help you?” She spoke automatically before she’d even looked up, and when she did she had to blink twice to make sure she wasn’t seeing things.
Oh my, she thought, that is a handsome man.
He finished his approach and grinned at her as though he knew what she was thinking. And he probably did. Tall and muscular, he had the kind of body that Madison Avenue used to sell everything from underwear to cologne, broad shouldered and lean hipped with a loose-limbed walk that Lily was sure made women of any age drool and sigh.
Topped off with sandy, bleached-blond hair, stunning blue eyes that shone like the darkest sapphires and a smile that she imagined could tur
n Margaret Thatcher’s knees weak.
“I sure hope so,” he drawled, and leaned an elbow on the desk. “I’m looking for a hotel room.”
Lily fixed a sunny smile on her face. “Do you have a reservation, Mr…?”
“Keller,” he told her, and held out a hand. “Jonah Keller. And no, I’m afraid I don’t.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” she assured him. “Just let me check and see what we have available.”
A few quick strokes of the keyboard brought up the information she wanted. “We do have a room ready now, Mr. Keller. It’s a suite, I’m afraid, but I can give it to you for the single room rate.”
“That’d be great,” he told her and smiled again.
Lethal, she thought with amusement, and boy, does he know it. “I’ll just need to get some information from you, if you don’t mind.”
He pulled out his wallet and got out his driver’s license. “You can get most of what you need from that.”
“Yes, I certainly can.” She began efficiently keying his address into the computer, her brow rising slightly as she realized he had a local address.
“Termites,” he said, and she blinked.
“I’m sorry?”
“Termites.” He pointed to the license. “You were wondering why I’m checking into a hotel in the town where I live.”
“It’s none of my business, sir.”
He shrugged, a simple movement of muscle and bone that he somehow turned into a dance move. “I don’t mind. I’m renovating my house, and the foundation inspection was yesterday. They found termites. So we have to shut down the construction and tent the place.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said. Finished, she handed his license back to him. “How long will you be staying with us?”
“I hope not more than two nights,” he said. “But it all depends on the termites.”
“We’re happy to have you here as long as you like,” she told him. “How would you like to pay for the room?”
“Hmm? Oh.” He reached for his wallet again and handed her a credit card. She swiped the card, keyed in the security code, and handed it back while the printer spit out his room confirmation.
She cursed to herself when she realized he was toying with the torn envelope she’d set down next to the computer. He flipped it over, noting the name on the front. “Is this you? Lily?”
“Yes.” She smiled and slid the room confirmation page in front of him, tucking the envelope safely under the counter. “If you could sign here,” she said, marking the page with an X and handing him the pen. “How many keys would you like, Mr. Keller?”
He signed his name with a flourish and handed back the pen. “Just one,” he said with a smile.
No way this guy was hurting for female companionship, she thought, but said nothing as she programmed the key card and slipped it into an envelope.
“Here you are.” She handed him the card. “You’re in room 614. Would you like a bellhop to assist with your bags?”
He held up his single battered leather duffel back and winked. “I think I got it.”
She smiled back. “Take the elevators at the end of the hall here to the sixth floor then follow the signs. Your room is at the end of the corridor overlooking the pool.”
“Great,” he said. “A room with a view.”
“I hope you enjoy your stay with us,” she told him, and was already turning back to the computer when he spoke again.
“I’d enjoy it if you joined me for a drink,” he said, and raised one tawny eyebrow. “Unless it’s against the rules for employees to fraternize with guests? Because I’d be happy to find a new hotel if it is.”
Her smile was appreciative but cool. “It’s not against hotel policy, but it is against mine.”
“Taken, huh? Figures.” He tapped his key card on the desk thoughtfully then smiled again, this time with genuine humor instead of calculated interest. “No hard feelings?”
“Of course not,” she assured him. “Enjoy your stay, Mr. Keller.”
“Thank you, Lily.”
“You’re welcome.” Amused, she watched him walk to the elevator bank.
“Too handsome for his own good,” she muttered, and went back to the reservations list.
Across the room, Jonah Keller slipped his cell phone out of its belt clip and punched in a number. “Janie, it’s Jonah. I’m at the hotel.” He listened for a moment then punched the button for the elevator. “I made contact. No, she doesn’t suspect. I know how to play it, Janie.” He rolled his eyes. “Will you just shut up and listen for a second? Tell MacIntyre I’m here, and so far everything looks fine. I did overhear her say something about a note that was left at the front desk, but I couldn’t get a look at it. That’ll have to wait until later.”
The elevator doors slid silently open and he stepped inside. “Yes, Janie. Yes. Dammit, Janie, I know what I’m doing. Just tell MacIntyre what I told you, and that I’ll be in touch.” He hit the button for the sixth floor. “Fine, tell Mom I cursed at you. But if you do, I’m telling her you flunked French last semester.”
He clicked the phone shut on his sister-slash-assistant’s shriek of outrage. As the elevator doors were closing, he caught sight of Lily Michaels at the front desk.
“Shame,” he muttered. “I would’ve enjoyed that drink.”
* * * * *
At three o’clock that afternoon Lily set aside the guest comment cards she was going through—the ones from the debutante reunion had been a real riot—and stood to stretch before leaving the office. She wanted to make sure to catch Kevin before he started his shift on the front desk so she could talk to him away from the rest of the staff about the note that was left the night before.
Kevin was already at the desk when she emerged from the office. He sent her a smile that flashed the metal of his braces.
“Hey, Ms. Michaels. How’s it like, going?”
Amused, her lips twitched. “Just fine, Kevin. How’re you?”
“I’m cool.”
Yes, you are, she thought, amused. “Kevin, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah. I mean, yes ma’am.”
Lily fought back another wave of amusement. He was young, but he was learning. “There was a note waiting for me when I came in this morning,” she began then stopped when his head bobbed.
“Oh yeah, from that guy.”
“What guy?”
He shrugged his narrow shoulders. “I’ve never seen him before. Oh hey, I hope it’s okay that I like, didn’t hand it right to you, you know. But you weren’t here when I went off shift…”
She waved a hand. “It’s fine, Kevin. Did the guy leave a name?” She bit down on frustration when the response to that was another shrug. “Can you tell me what he looked like?”
Kevin frowned, his long face a study in concentration. “He looked like a used car salesman,” he finally said.
Lily bit back a laugh. If ever there was a description that fit Max… “Dark hair, about so tall?” she asked, holding her hand out to indicate height.
“Yeah. And his suit was shiny. You could like, see yourself in it.”
Yep, she thought. That’s Max. “Thanks, Kevin. That helps.”
“Cool,” he said.
She laughed, patting him on the shoulder as she turned to go back into the office. A flash of movement in the lobby seating area caught her eye, and she looked out to find Jonah Keller sitting on one of the sofas with a newspaper across his lap. He lifted his hand in a wave, that charming smile spreading across his face.
Amused, she waved back. He really was crazy handsome, she thought. About as movie star handsome as one could be and not be Brad Pitt. She felt a purely female tug of appreciation as he unfolded himself from the sofa and, setting the paper aside, strode to the front desk.
“Are you enjoying your stay so far, Mr. Keller?” she asked.
“Very much,” he told her, flashing another smile. “I was just about to head into the restaurant for a late lunch.�
�
“Try the steak sandwich,” she suggested.
“Actually, I’m a vegetarian,” he told her, and she laughed.
“Well, then I recommend the tomato basil soup and the green salad. And if you can eat dairy, a slice of cheesecake for dessert.”
“I’ll do that,” he said. “I don’t suppose I can persuade you to join me?”
“I ate lunch several hours ago,” she told him.
“Then we’ll call it an early dinner,” he cajoled, leaning on the counter and giving her the full force of his charm.
She smiled, charmed in spite of herself by the completely unthreatening pass, and had opened her mouth to respond when she saw the doors open over his head. Her smile went warm as she saw Nate stride in, casually sexy in jeans and a plain white tee, and when his dimples flashed she felt her whole body go on alert.
“Excuse me,” she murmured to Jonah, and stepped to the other side of the counter.
“Hi,” she murmured, and though her personal sense of professionalism kept her from leaning over the counter to kiss him as she wanted, the heat in her gaze left little doubt that she was happy to see him.
“Hi, yourself,” he murmured.
She glanced over her shoulder. Kevin was watching avidly, a bright flush staining his cheekbones, but Jonah had disappeared. She caught a glimpse of his back as he disappeared into the restaurant before Nate caught her chin in his fingers and turned her back to face him.
“Is anything wrong?” he murmured, and she shook her head.
“Just missed you,” she said, and watched his dimples wink into view again.
“I missed you too,” he said. “So I figured I’d kidnap you for the afternoon.”
“Really?” she laughed, reaching out to twine her fingers with his. “And what are you going to do with me once you’ve spirited me away from here?”
He chuckled. “There’s a Mel Brooks movie marathon showing at the old theater Main Street.”
“You mean the one with the velour on the seats that’s so thin you can see through it, and the sticky floors and tiny bathrooms?”
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