Page 9

Right.I take a deep breath and mentally shake my head. Idon’t dare move my bags and drag dirt through the place but I run my hand through my hair, pull my shoulders back, and flash a beaming smile. “Hi. Taylor Nova, checking in.”

“Yeah. I got that.” He smirks and I have to bite down on my bottom lip. His eyes trail me, and I should feel embarrassed with the state I’m in, but my entire body heats under his gaze. That is until he clears his throat and focuses intently on the computer screen. His brow furrows and his fingers begin typing away andOh. My. God.My mouth parts as I slowly cross my arms over my chest. My chest that all my adult life I’ve been told was ‘too small’ but I didn’t care, because it meant I didn’t need to wear a bra. My chest that now sits completely exposed to this man through my soaking-wetwhiteT-shirt.Wonderful.

“Alright, I’ve got you all checked in. Breakfast and dinner are included in your stay, the kitchen opens at seven a.m. Here's a brochure of the services we offer, and if you have no further questions, I’ll show you up to your room now.” He recites his monotone speech as well as the flight attendants gave their safety instructions on the flight over. With my arms still crossed, I dip down toward the desk and grab my papers.There. That didn’t look ridiculous at all.

A slight dip of his head and the way his mouth twists, attempting to hide that smirk, are all the confirmation I need that I’ve been here for seven whole minutes and already this hot as-sin man has seen my nipples. He stands from behind the desk and my head drops back to take him in fully. I’ve never seen a human specimen like him in my life. Maybe the Rock and CGI superheroes, but men like him don’t exist in the real world. Or maybe, they’re just built differently in Ireland. I force a swallow as he rounds the desk. In all my fawning over him, I somehow missed the cast and sling that cradles his arm.

“I can get those.” Before I can lunge toward my grimy bags, he’s draping my duffle over his good shoulder, sliding my carry-on under his free arm, and then picking up my full-size suitcase by the handle. He’s easily holding a hundred pounds in one arm with another fifty or so draped over his shoulder.

“This way.” I stumble back a step, letting him by. He climbs the steep stairs to the second floor, and I follow two steps behind. My face is now eye-level with the world’s most massive ass. Seriously, this man is draggin’ a wagon. My climb slows as he gets higher, showing off his impressive legs. These are legs that if given the chance to wrap around you, would do more harm than a boa constrictor. Each calf is easily the width of an overgrown watermelon, and they’re covered, for fucks sake. I can’t even imagine how they would look when he’snotwearing jeans.

He turns right at the top of the stairs and continues down the hall until he reaches the last door. I hurry my steps behind him but halt abruptly when he bends over and the hem of his long-sleeved T-shirt lifts slightly. I try to focus on the way he handles my things with surprising grace—although I suppose anything would seem graceful compared to the way I manhandled them earlier—but the sliver of tan skin and rolling muscles down his lower back suck me back in. He turns to face me and quirks a brow and—lovely.I’ve been caught staring. I quickly avert my gaze, but it feels unnatural. When have I ever been embarrassed to look at someone? If anything, I wouldhopeto be caught. I’m not the girl who gets dry mouth in front of a guy so I’m not sure why my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth now. I roll my shoulders back and remind myself that I’m the girl whose favorite accessories are her nipples. Tilting my head with a sweet smile, I proudly show off what I’m working with.

He taps a large key in the palm of his hand while his lips twist to the side like he’s weighing a life or death decision here, and then he inserts the key into the lock of door number nine.

A queen-size upholstered bed sits in the middle of the room with enough pillows for a small village. Just like downstairs, the room is clean and homey. An old wood nightstand on one side and a wicker and wood chair that acts as a bedside table on the other. “If you need anything, dial one on the phone.”

I look to where the man is now crowding me in the doorway. In any other situation, this room would seem comfortable, spacious even, but the width of his body isn’t shy about taking up space.

“And what will that do?”

“It’ll call the front desk.”

“You?”

“Mhmm.” The rumbly sound is low, deep, and comes straight from his chest and I’m blindsided by the beat that begins hammering between my legs. I don’t dare falter though, I stay firmly in place and lift my chin just an inch higher, fully meeting his gaze.

“Do you work down there every night?”

“It’s my first night.”

“Do you like it?”

“Tonight?” His eyes scan my body up and down while his knuckles drag along his beard and my eyes follow the movement like I’ve bet all my money on a sleight of hand trick. “It’s not so bad.”

His large body presses off the door frame, invading my space, and I have to crane my neck all the way back just to keep my eyes on his. I can’t tell if my blood is flowing erratically or has just stopped moving altogether when he leans inanother inch. He’s so close that if I take a deep enough breath, my nipples would absolutely scrape against him. His long, thick fingers grip the key to my room in front of my face, and sparks fly from my hand to his when I grip it, but I make no effort to pull back. His tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip, and he flashes another one of those smirks which, upon closer inspection, appears a bit more cocky than I first thought. And according to the thrumming between my legs, I rather enjoy cocky.

“Enjoy your stay, Nova.”

I exhale the breath I was holding and listen to his heavy footsteps retreat down the stairs before I drop my head to the door.What the hell was that?

My wet clothesfall to the bathroom floor with a loudplopandI check my phone while I start the shower. Three missed calls from Camila and a never-ending text thread.

Mila

I saw your plane was delayed

This seems way too long to be traveling even with delays. Please let me know you’re ok.

Miles says he knows people and if you don’t answer me in the next hour, there’s going to be a witch hunt out for you.

I check the time on the last text. Forty-eight minutes ago. I smile at my phone, tempted to see what she’ll do if I wait, but I can’t stand the thought of her worrying for a minute longer. I don’t have the energy to call her back right now though so I send a quicktext instead.

Taylor

I’m here! Made it to my hotel.

Mila