Page 20 of Night and Day

Chapter5

Tessa

“We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”

I smiled at the older couple checking out. “I’m so glad.”

“My Thomas proposed to me here, forty-seven years ago.” Mrs. Palmer had a pretty face and carefully dyed ash-blond hair. She tipped her head up to look at her husband.

Mr. Palmer, tall and fit, had plenty of distinguished gray in his thick hair. “It can’t have been that long already. You don’t look a day over twenty-nine.”

She playfully swatted him, then looked back at me. “It was delightful to have dinner in the same spot where he proposed, and the flowers you organized were lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.”

“My steak was overdone.”

“Thomas.” Mrs. Palmer rolled her eyes. “That man loves his steak still mooing.”

“I’ll make a note of that for your next trip.” Thomas was right, Chef Harvey tended to overcook the meat. The man was nearing retirement, and, in typical chef fashion, believed he could do no wrong. I’d think of a way to broach the subject with him. I waved at one of the bellmen. “Your car to the airport is here.”

“Thank you again,” Mrs. Palmer said with a smile.

I smiled as they walked out, then scanned the busy reception area and the new guests checking in. I headed across the lobby, the lemon-fresh scent of floor cleaner hitting me. I made a note to tell the cleaning staff they’d done an excellent job. No one could tell we’d had a masquerade ball here the night before last.

Yesterday, I’d had the day off. Okay, I’d slept in, then made several calls to check in with the staff who’d been dismantling the ballroom.

And avoided all the texts from my friends. And wondered what the hell had gotten into me at the masquerade. Well, apart from the very fine cock of a man whose name I didn’t even know.

Heat hit my cheeks and I fought back a shiver. I wondered if anyone could tell that I’d fucked a complete stranger…in the ballroom of the hotel I managed.

Swallowing a moan, I held my pass card to the reader and hustled into the staff area. It’s not like it was stamped on my head. As I walked, I felt a twinge between my legs. I was still a little sore in sensitive places. Pausing, I pressed my back to the wall and closed my eyes. My hand touched my bracelet, toying with the stones.

It reminded me that he’d done that too. Instantly, I was flooded with memories. His hands on me, his deep voice murmuring to me, his mouth between my legs. Heat pooled in my belly. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d moved inside me.

“There you are.”

My eyes flew open, and I saw Sierra, Jazz, and Allie. I’d managed to avoid even my assistant this morning. Sierra wore a Windward Mountain Resort polo shirt, Jazz was in a floral dress, and Allie wore her dark-brown housekeeping uniform. It consisted of slim-line pants, and a tunic-style top with a square neckline and small hotel logo.

“We didn’t see you at the end of the masquerade,” Sierra said. “And you didn’t text me back yesterday.”

Jazz raised a brow. “She didn’t answer mine either. You were answering emails, so at least I knew you were alive.”

Allie propped a hand on her hip. “I hope you didn’t sneak out of the masquerade and go to bed.”

“She didn’t.” Jazz looked a little smug. “I saw her dancing with a guy.”

Sierra grinned. “Really?”

Jazz nodded. “He was a long drink of tall, dark, and handsome.”

“Good for you,” Allie said. “I danced with this one guy, but I don’t think my toes will ever recover.”

“Did you kiss him?” Sierra asked.

“Um…” Suddenly my brain decided to stop working.

Jazz tilted her head. “Why are you blushing?”

I clapped my hands over my cheeks. “No. I’m just hot. It’s hot in here.”