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Chapter Nine

A urora

Ouch!

I straighten my legs beneath the sheets and wince again.

Why am I so sore?

I crack my eyes open to the bright morning sunlight streaming in from a small opening in the windows. Hotel windows.

Oh, right. I’m in Columbus for the conference.

The conference!

Shit!

My eyes fly open. They only grow wider as the events of last night come barreling back to me. Slowly, I turn my head to the right.

Oh my God.

I’m in his bed. I peek under the sheets. Still naked.

At least he’s naked, too. And half hard. Is Tate ever not ready to go?

My core constricts, craving another round with the man who wore me the hell out last night.

But there’s no time for that.

I glance at the clock on Tate’s side of the bed and breathe a tiny sigh of relief. I have two hours to get ready for work—the actual reason I’m here.

This was a one-night stand, Aurora. Don’t lose the plot.

Guilt swamps me as I lie in a stranger’s room, blissed out from a night of sex instead of being focused and prepared for today’s events.

Now I have to do a walk of shame to my room and hope I don’t see anyone I’ll meet later today, because it’ll be obvious what happened.

No one is wearing the dress and heels I’ll be wearing this early in the day.

Or looking so thoroughly fucked.

I rub my forehead, trying to slow my thoughts down.

I have to get out of here.

After a glance at Tate’s chiseled abs and sexy shoulders, I climb out of bed as quietly as I can.

I tiptoe into the living area, closing the bedroom door softly behind me, and gather my discarded heels as I go. My dress is where I stepped out of it last night. I do a brief search for my bra to no avail.

“Forget it,” I whisper, slipping the dress back on with shaky hands. “I don’t have time.”

There isn’t a mirror to check my reflection, but I’m positive I’m a mess. Tate and I took a bath at one point in the night. But before we had time to wash anything, like my face, I was bent over the side of the tub and getting railed from behind.

My stomach clenches at the memory, and I can’t help but smile. Was there a surface in this suite that I didn’t get pounded on last night?

I ignore the temptation to climb back in bed for one final hoorah and instead grab my purse and the rose Tate brought to me at Ruma. I start to leave but stop.

My breaths are hurried, and my heart pounds. What do I do? Do I walk out without a goodbye of any sort?

That seems like a viable solution, and one that’s merited. I told him this was a one-night thing. He must expect that I’ll be gone … right ?

I groan, finding a small pad of paper and a pen on the desk by the wall.

Thanks for an incredible night.

“How do I sign this?” I whisper, nibbling my bottom lip.

I can’t put Aurora, and writing Kelly is more than I can handle this morning. After the way he treated me yesterday—so sweet and kind—my guilt is exceedingly high about using a fake name. Acid bubbles up my throat at the thought.

“Just … put something ,” I whisper, scribbling a final line.

Call me. Xo

I roll my eyes, realizing how ridiculous that sentiment is—considering he doesn’t know my name or my phone number—and toss the pen next to the paper.

On an exhale, I turn to leave and spot the blueberry pie on the couch. My stomach growls.

I glance at the bedroom door again before grabbing the pie.

After carrying it to the small kitchenette, I locate a paper plate and a plastic knife.

My handiwork looks more like a serial killer than a chef, but one slice finds its way to the plate.

I carry it across the room and leave it with the note.

A sound makes me jump. I cover my mouth, listening closely, uncertain where it came from. I watch the bedroom door, praying it doesn’t open.

I have to get out of here before it gets weird.

With my purse and rose in one hand, and the rest of the pie in the other, I slip into the hallway.

The elevator is only a few steps away. I hit the down button and shift my weight from foot to foot. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, it opens.

Luckily, the elevator is empty, and I hit the button for the lobby.

“Oh God!” My jaw drops as I catch a look at myself in the mirrors lining the car. “I look like a tiger has mauled me.”

I set my things on the floor and try to make my hair somewhat presentable. Nothing can be done about the raccoon eyes from the mascara, and my lips are swollen from Tate’s onslaught. All I can do is hope people think it’s filler.

My phone begins to ring. Dammit. “Where are you?” I groan as I forage to the bottom of my purse, barely answering it before the elevator’s doors open.

“Hello?” I ask, sweeping my possessions into my arms without making eye contact at the couple waiting to board.

“Why do you sound … rushed?” Jamie asks.

“Because I am.” I tuck my chin and step into the hallway. “This is not a good time. Can I call you back?”

“No. Now I’m curious. What are you doing?”

I fake a smile at one of the ladies at the front desk as I scurry past to my bank of elevators.

“You probably won’t believe me even if I tell you,” I say.

“Try me.”

I sigh, hitting the up arrow to go to my room. Thankfully, it’s too early for much traffic because the elevator is waiting and empty.

“Are you still there?” she asks.

Once the doors close, I sag against the wall. “I did what you suggested.”

I drop the line in the air, the weight of it similar to a dumbbell dropped from a bridge into the sea. I can almost hear my admission sinking into Jamie’s brain.

“You had a?—”

“Yes. I met him on the plane,” I say, talking fast. “He was young, insanely hot, and charmed my dress right off me.”

“Holy shit, Ror.”

If you only knew . “I can’t get into it right now.

I’m almost late for my conference because not only did I get fucked until about four o’clock this morning, I fell asleep in his room, and now I’m doing a walk of shame through the hotel with no bra or panties, trying to get to my room so I can get cleaned up, dressed, and down to the conference room before I miss the keynote speech.

” I suck in a hasty breath. “And I stole his pie.”

“Is that a euphemism?”

“A what?” I make a face. “No. I actually stole an entire blueberry pie. I did leave him a piece for breakfast, but that isn’t the point. Don’t get hung up on that.”

“I am so proud of you,” she says, laughing.

“This is not good, Jamie! I just had the best sex of my life, and I gave the guy a fake name,” I say, lowering my voice as I step off onto my floor.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because …” I dig around in my purse again for my key card. “Because I didn’t expect all of this to happen. I was trying to be safe and thought an air of anonymity would be fun. I don’t know. I’m not good at this.”

“Clearly.”

I march into my room and toss the pie, purse, and rose onto the bed. Then I plop down next to it.

My brain is spinning too fast to sort through all the jumbled thoughts. But there’s one I can pluck out. A very important one.

Tate.

Memories from last night float through my mind.

I can feel Tate’s hands on me, both aggressive and tender.

His smile warms my heart and makes my knees weak.

The way he looked at me has me sitting taller.

I’ve never felt more beautiful, sexier, or more desirable than I do this morning even though I currently look like a hag.

I’ll never forget a single detail of last night. I’ll probably never lose the dull ache of wanting him, either. Still, it was worth it.

I stare at the dark television and smile. “I don’t regret it.”

“I’m glad.”

“I was afraid I would,” I admit. “Maybe I didn’t play it off perfectly, and I’m not sure I’d do a fake name again because something about lying is driving me crazy. But this single encounter has split me open—in more ways than one.”

“Girl! That’s what I’m talking about.”

I laugh. “It was so good, Jamie. I’ve been fucked in ways I didn’t know were possible.

At one point, I was lying on the edge of the bed, right?

He lifted my legs and pulled me up and to him.

I was basically lying with the top of my head on the mattress and my legs over his shoulders.

I don’t know what kind of magic that was, but yeah, he was hitting my G-spot and playing with my clit at the same time while making eye contact … ”

My thighs are soaked once again. I’m going to have to masturbate before I can leave this room.

“Can we talk about this later?” I ask. “I have a little more than an hour to get ready, and you should see me right now.”

“If you don’t call me as soon as you’re done today, I will catch a flight there. I mean it. I want every single detail.”

I smile. “I’ll give them to you. Promise. But I really do need to go.”

“I have a client walking in the door right now, anyway. Love you. Drink your water.”

“Love you, too. Bye.”

“Bye.” I exhale harshly and check my phone. “Shit!”

There are three missed calls from my boss, and one voicemail. I spring to my feet and hit play.

“Hey, Aurora, it’s Charlie. I’m sorry to call you so late on a Friday night, but I need to talk to you as soon as you can give me a call back. Okay? Thanks. Call my cell, please.”

Blood pounds in my temples as I clear my throat. Then I hit Charlie’s name.

“Aurora, hi. Good morning,” he says almost instantly.

The sound of his voice piques my curiosity. It’s flatter than usual. Deeper. It’s without his usual addictive excitement and energy.

“Good morning,” I say, kicking off my heels. “I’m sorry I missed your calls.”

“It’s no problem. But thank you for calling me this morning.”

“Of course. I called you back as soon as I got your voicemail.”

He sighs. “I hate to ask this of you, but I don’t see another way.” He pauses, giving me enough time to full-out panic. “Is there any way you can return to Nashville today?”

What? “I’m flying back this evening after the conference.”

“I was hoping you could miss the conference and come back as early as you can this afternoon.” He blows out a heavy breath—the kind that someone holds when they’re about to break. “Aurora, my mother is in hospice.”

My heart drops. “Oh, Charlie. I’m so sorry.”

“Me, too. It all happened very suddenly. She had pneumonia last week, and we didn’t think it was that big of a deal.

My sister called me a few days ago and told me that Mom has taken a turn for the worse.

She’s in her eighties, and I knew her health was starting to deteriorate, so I informed management that I’d probably need to leave soon.

But last night, my sister called and said hospice had been called, and I need to get back to Salt Lake City immediately. ”

I sit again, tears gathering in my eyes. “I lost my parents a few years ago. I really am sorry. If you need anything—even an ear to listen—I’m here for you. Please know that.”

“I truly appreciate it. And I might take you up on that.”

“The offer stands indefinitely.”

“I’m leaving Nashville tomorrow afternoon,” he says. “I have no idea if or when I’ll return. But I need to pass the baton to someone, at least for the time being, and you’re the person most informed of our plans for the rebrand.”

“Okay.”

“So I’d really appreciate it if you could come back to the office—today, if at all possible—and let me go over a bunch of things with you.”

I swallow past a lump in my throat. “Yes, of course. Whatever you need.”

“I’m sorry to do this to you.”

“Don’t be sorry. Are you kidding me? I’m at this conference to help you, but if I’m more helpful to you there, then that’s where I’ll be.”

“You are the best, Aurora. I hope you know that.”

His words make me smile. “Thank you. You’ve been an excellent boss.”

“Thanks.”

I look around the room. “Let me get my things together and find a flight. I’ll text you my ETA as soon as I have it.”

“See you soon.”

“See you soon. Goodbye, Charlie.”

“Goodbye.”

I waste no time pulling up flight information and find a flight leaving in three hours. I get it booked, cancel my original ticket, and find Charlie’s name in my texts.

Me: I should be in the office by two thirty or three. I’ll keep you posted.

I take a breath, toss my phone on the bed, and head to the shower to wash off the most amazing night of my life.

First class has nothing on you, Columbus.

But now, it’s back to the real world.