by Kait Gamble
She put the phone back in her purse and sagged against the seat. It was ridiculous to feel so attached to two men she barely knew. It had to be all the great sex coupled with all the craziness of lying about who she was. She was pretending to be Kiki and that’s the kind of thing Kiki did.
Only Kendra had wanted them. She still did.
Kendra’s stomach rolled at the thought of being anything like Kiki Brandt.
Peeking out of the back window, she half hoped to see them in a car following. But the Lamborghini that followed them was being driven by what looked like a man with a cheetah in the seat next to him.
Even that didn’t amuse her as it usually would. Scanning the lanes further behind and to either side proved fruitless as well. What did she expect?
At least the lies were done with. Kendra didn’t think she could stand it much longer anyway. And with the way Dmitri and Nikos had been behaving, she didn’t know if she could handle that either. They might have said they weren’t going to push her for a decision, but it was obvious that neither was going to back down.
The sense of loss was immense, however—a crushing pain in her chest whenever they crossed her mind—and that was almost constantly.
By the time they arrived at the airport, she was drained mentally. Physically, she was numb. She bade goodbye to Tarik and, with a final wave, she strode into the airport with her head held high and her back ramrod straight.
What was she doing?
Kendra stopped dead in the middle of the crowd, much to the annoyance of the people behind her. She didn’t care.
Running away never helped anything. She needed to get back to the hotel to explain herself, ask for forgiveness then see where that left her.
“Oh my God! It’s Kiki Brandt!”
Kendra froze. Did they actually see Kiki or were they…? She looked over her shoulder toward the voice to find fingers pointed directly at her.
“Ms. Wright!” An attendant from one of the desks rushed over and dragged her aside. “We’ve got you all set. If you’ll follow me.”
The statuesque brunette nodded at a couple of security guards, and they blocked the path of the fans clamoring to get a look at her.
“I’m sorry about the lack of security. If we had known earlier…” There was censure in her voice that Kendra didn’t like, but certainly understood. She knew what it was like to have to deal with last-minute insanity. And just how crazy it could be when it came to celebrities.
“Sorry about that. Things have been a little crazed. There were some very last-minute changes to my schedule.”
The look she got for that comment was equal parts surprised and aghast. “No need to apologize. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Right. Because the rich and famous didn’t apologize. Kendra just hoped that this would be the last time she had to remember she was supposed to be playing the part.
Then it clicked that the woman had called her by her real name.
She was getting all turned around that even her own name didn’t really register anymore.
The attendant rushed her through check-in then to the plane. Kendra didn’t get a chance to do anything but follow and do as she was told. By the time she got the chance to catch her breath, she was in first class and nestled in the softest seat she’d ever experienced on a plane.
It was more than a seat, if she was being honest. She had her own alcove that had everything she could want for the flight. It was like her apartment but scaled down. And probably better furnished.
Kendra reveled in the sensation of safety and, for the first time in far too long, the ability to be herself. It was easy since everyone was enclosed in their own little spaces as well. While the other passengers fussed with their belongings, she settled into her seat and dumped her swag bag onto her lap so she could get a look at the loot.
Again, like everything this past week, she was blown away by the sheer luxury of the toiletries. There was even a bag holding silk pajamas to wear during the flight if she so chose.
It was a world she was going to miss, not because of the opulence, but because of the two men who lived in it.
Since it was better that she didn’t think about them, Kendra curled up in a ball in her seat and closed her eyes.
* * * *
“Ms. Wright.”
Kendra opened her eyes to see a flight attendant smiling warmly at her.
“Good morning. We’re just about to touch down.”
Already? “That was a quick flight.”
The attendant kept right on smiling as she said, “You slept all fifteen hours.”
Well, damn. “I guess I was more tired than I thought.”
She nodded understandingly as she handed over a steaming, warm washcloth with a pair of gleaming tongs. “Is there anything I can get you before we land?”
Kendra took it with a smile. “A glass of water would be great, thanks.”
“I’ll be right back.”
She patted her cheeks before draping the whole cloth over her face to let the heat soak into her. It was only a few moments before Kendra heard footsteps approaching.
She took the cloth off, expecting to see the attendant. Instead, she saw a broad chest in a tailored suit.
Her gaze immediately darted upward only to find a smiling face she didn’t recognize.
“Uh, hi.”
“That’s all you have to say to me?” He leaned up against the partition and posed so she could see the outline of his muscles even through the suit. “It’s been a long time, Kiki.”
Shaking her head, she shrugged at him. “Sorry, you have the wrong person.”
“Aw, come on. Don’t be like that.” His smile turned hard. “I know things didn’t end so well for us, but you don’t have to be so cold.”
Kendra backed up as far as she could go. “Look. I don’t know who you are. I’m not who you think I am. Please leave me alone.”
He glared at her and Kendra glowered right back at him. That was when she noticed that he had a friend with a camera behind him filming the whole thing.
Angling her face away, she muttered, “Am I going to have to call someone or are you going to go away all on your own?”
“Look, just tell my friend that we know each other and I’ll leave you alone.”
Anger simmered, boiling away any peace she had gained from her rest. “I don’t know how else to say this. I don’t know you. You’ve got the wrong person. Leave me alone.”
“I knew you were lying.” His friend guffawed.
“I’m not the one lying.” He leaned in close enough for fear to slice through her. “She is.”
“Excuse me, sir. Please take your seat.”
The attendant had reappeared with the water and a stern expression on her face.
Thankfully, the man left with his friend in tow, but not before giving Kendra a threatening look.
“Are you all right?” She handed Kendra the water.
She was more shaken than she wanted to admit. “I’m fine. That guy thought I was someone else.” Meanwhile, she had wished he was someone else. It was pure fantasy, however, to believe that he could have been Nikos or Dmitri. It was ridiculous to be so crestfallen that it hadn’t been.
“You do look like Kiki Brandt.”
Kendra only smiled a little at that. It didn’t irk her so much anymore. Her resemblance to Kiki had brought Dmitri and Nikos into her life, even if it was only for a few days.
A few glorious days.
She smiled to herself as she buckled up for landing. It was when she sat back that she noticed the screen had turned on to show where they were relative to their destination.
The smile on her face couldn’t have got any bigger.
Vancouver.
She was home.
* * * *
She was whisked through customs then was steered through the airport and given a thick jacket. After living in the desert for so long, Kendra welcomed the blast of cold when they exited the building and she s
tood before a helipad.
Kendra wasn’t expecting that and hesitated a little. She wanted to go visit her dad and maybe give her sister hell. Not that the latter ever did any good.
“Where are we going?”
The pilot looked at her a bit quizzically. “Whistler.”
Her heart stopped before it began to flutter like a bird in a cage. Malika had gotten her a job at the Totally Five Star Hotel in Whistler? Incredible! To be so close to home while working at one of the best ski resorts in the world was a dream come true.
She would have to call her once they landed to thank her profusely.
When she was settled, she could always come back down to visit her dad and get his situation sorted out.
The flight up to the resort was quick. The wild mountainous terrain was breathtaking and a far cry from the barren desert. She grinned down at it.
This was where she was meant to be.
They touched down at the airport, and Kendra was once again rushed through to a car and driven to an apartment building, where she was met by a handsome man who had obviously been waiting for her arrival.
He greeted her with a polite smile and an extended hand. “You must be Kendra. I’m Michel, manager of the Totally Five Star, Whistler.”
Kendra took his hand and shook it. “Hi.”
“I’m going to be moving fast, so tell me if you miss something or don’t understand.”
She nodded and he immediately started walking up the path. “Malika and Julia have nothing but the best to say about you. We’ll have you working at the front desk starting the day after tomorrow, but I’ll expect you to stop by in the morning to take a look around. You’ll be working side by side with someone until you’re comfortable with how we do things. But seeing as you’ve worked in the larger, more complex hotels, it shouldn’t be a problem for you.”
He handed her a stack of books and pamphlets. “Look these over once you’ve settled in. You should have everything you need there. If you have any questions, my card is in there as well.”
“Okay.”
He handed her a pair of keys. “These are to your apartment. It’s fully furnished and I think Julia has had your things sent over. They should be here within the week.”
“Thank you.” She took the keys and looked at them slightly dazed.
“I’ll walk you up, if you like.” He smiled encouragingly.
“Please.” Kendra wasn’t sure if she could be trusted to find it on her own just yet. Her head still reeled from the speed at which everything was proceeding.
“Follow me.” He punched in a code and, when the doors parted, he waited for her to walk ahead of him. Michel waved at the man at the desk as they passed. “In case you’re wondering, I live in the building as well. Across the hall from you, actually. So if you ever need anything…”
She smiled, nodding. “That’s very kind of you.”
“Sure. We might as well become friends if we’re going to work together and live so close to each other.”
And being friends was all she was interested in. Kendra would have to make sure very clear lines were drawn.
They took the elevator to the top floor. Kendra certainly didn’t expect anything grand so, when she opened the door, she stopped dead when she got a look at her new home. It wasn’t the penthouse at the Totally Five Star, Dubai, but it was everything she could have hoped for in an apartment.
Huge floor-to-ceiling windows displayed the village as if it were all there for her amusement. The light woods and stone floor gave the space a rustic cabin feel while still having a very modern look.
“This is amazing.”
“I’m glad you approve.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the door across the way. “I’m just there if you need anything, but right now, I’m late for a date.”
“Don’t let me keep you.” She shook his hand. “Thanks again. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Have a good night.”
Oh, she definitely would.
Kendra walked into the apartment and just smiled. It wasn’t huge, but it was definitely bigger than the apartment she’d had in Dubai. It was more her style as well. It was contemporary and a touch rustic. And perfect.
Grinning, she put the books down and ran her fingers over the marble countertop of the breakfast bar. The place was spotless and well decorated, as if it were waiting for her to turn up. Maybe Malika or Julia had sent people ahead to get it ready for her?
That reminded Kendra that she needed to call them.
After fishing out her phone, she found her number and hit the button to call Malika. It didn’t take long for her now-familiar voice to answer.
“Kendra. How was your flight? Are you at the apartment now?”
“I am and I’m overwhelmed. Thanks so much for everything. The flight was amazing and the apartment is even more so. And you got me into the hotel at Whistler? I can’t thank you enough.”
“Please. You went out on a limb to help me out. It was the least I could do.”
“I was glad to help. Though it didn’t quite turn out as well as I’d hoped.” It truly hadn’t.
There was the one question she wanted to ask, but Kendra didn’t want to sound like a teen girl asking about her crush.
“I guess I’ll talk to you again…sometime.”
“You will hear from me soon.” Malika sounded almost amused.
Kendra hung up and walked to the window to look at the incredible view.
The inky blue of the sky enveloped the sleepy little village from above while the snow blanketed everything on the ground. So much better than manufactured snow in a mall.
Yet the enjoyment she felt from being there was suffocated by the very real knowledge that she wouldn’t be skiing with Dmitri or snowboarding with Nikos ever again.
They would love it here.
Kendra tamped down the thought. She kept herself busy by exploring the apartment. She found the fridge fully stocked, the couch huge and comfortable, the bathroom ready with fluffy towels and stocked with Totally Five Star toiletries…
She should have been in heaven.
Morose and emotionally exhausted, she opted for a warm bath then climbing into the plush sleigh bed.
Nestled in the fine, cool sheets, Kendra mused over how much her life had changed. She finally had everything she could have wished for herself. Almost everything. All except for two men who had come crashing into her life and had changed her forever.
She just had to be happy with still having a job that happened to be her dream and being near her father. The rest of it, she would have to scrape back together and get on with. Life didn’t end because she wasn’t in a relationship.
But it was how the relationship had come and gone that bothered her. It was all the lies and deceit. Getting over just how low she had sunk and just how much it had cost her was the hard part.
She stared at her purse on the vanity across the room, fighting the urge to call Nikos and pour her heart out. She would have texted Dmitri to explain, but she didn’t have his number. It seemed biased to keep contacting Nikos and what would she say anyway?
Sorry I’m such a lying shit?
It actually didn’t sound half bad, but groveling had never been her style. This had to be the first time she ever felt inclined to. Then again, she had never really done anything that warranted it. Until now.
She had wanted adventure. She had gotten it. She wanted crazy all-consuming sex. She got that times two.
Kendra was resigned to put it all behind her as she had planned at the beginning.
Since there was no way she was going to get any sleep, Kendra headed back into the living room and grabbed the stack of literature that Michel had given her. Might as well get a head start on that. At the very least, it might help her sleep.
Flipping through and skimming the information, Kendra managed to learn a little about the hotel and the people working there. She turned on the coffee machine then wandered over to the windo
w. According to the map, the hotel was only minutes away from her new apartment by bus. She imagined walking when the mood struck. It would be a refreshing change to be able to do that without suffocating in the heat.
Imagining the way her life would go from then on, Kendra couldn’t help but picture Nikos picking her up from work in a sleek car or having a late dinner with Dmitri. Sharing her day with them both over a glass of wine next to a roaring fire…
* * * *
By the time she had to get ready to go to work, Kendra had emptied the coffee carafe and had memorized everything Michel had given her, even routes around the village to work and to places she wanted to explore.
She was in the shower when there was a knock at the door.
Dashing through the apartment, she noted that it was still very early. Who could it be?
Kendra knew who she wanted it to be. But when she opened the door, her smile dimmed a little when she saw the man in the dingy gray uniform.
“Hi. We’ve got a delivery for Kendra Wright.” It was her belongings from Dubai.
Waving them in, she watched as they carried in a series of large boxes and set them down in the living room. Kendra signed for them, thanked the men and was then left staring at her pitifully few belongings.
At least she had something to wear now, though she doubted much of it was of any use here.
The plan was to find her jeans, suitable footwear and the jacket from the night before and head into the village to see what she could find. A couple of outfits would do. The rest of the time her usual work clothes were good. It wasn’t like she had plans to do anything else.
Back to the old grind again.
She quickly found the clothes that Malika and Julia had provided her with in the first box. Kendra swiftly hung the clothes up with great care in the huge closet that was just waiting to be filled.
Likewise, the shoes and accessories were carefully stored away ready for the day she might need them again.
She dug out a pair of well-worn jeans and a T-shirt and put them on before tidying away the rest of her stuff. It took about an hour to get everything sorted the way she wanted, get herself made up and have a simple breakfast.