Page 59 of Five Days to Be Mine

Maybe he has more confidence than I do, but I don't want to be in the way.

“Not going to run out the door?” He leans close, wraps one of my stray curls around his finger.

“I agreed to these five days.” I’m blushing because I feel awful about running out on Evan that night.

“Perfect.”

He slants his lips across mine, bringing me to his chest. “Then I will get through this booking. Do you need me to take you to the apartment?”

“I can find my way.”

“Good. Can you do me a favour, pretty girl?” He tilts his head.

“Of course.”

“It’s a nice bouquet, but I don't like the scent.”

My stomach rolls. I recalled that Evan had said he didn’t want flowers that smelled for the restaurant and I remember the calls he used to have with the Wilsons on low scent flowers.

“Sorry.”

“No, you didn’t know, Mara. It's a nice gesture.”

“A lot of people are scent sensitive.” I smile, trying to cover up my unease.

“I can’t wait to spend time with you later. I’ll be down as soon as I can.”

“No problem.” I clutch the bouquet. Evan opens the dining room doors for me and follows me out.

In the entrance way of the restaurant, two big beefy security guys are standing around.

“Your guests are on the way up, sir,” the bigger one of them says.

“Thank you.” Evan touches the elevator button for me. “I’ll see you soon, Mara.”

He brushes his lips against mine as the doors close.

Instead of stopping on the floor of Evan's apartment, I take the elevator down to the lobby, the doors opening to a bustling evening scene.

I step through and walk around the lobby, passing a waterfall and turning left past the gym, the business centre and the hotel’s café.

Sitting in a seating area, is an older woman with grey hair, reading a Kindle.

“Here, these are for you.” I extended the bouquet to her.

She looks up, a flush on her face of surprise. “Oh, thank you! Where did these come from?” She inhales and closes her eyes.

“A secret admirer,” I grin.

The woman chuckles. “That can’t be true but I’m going to pretend it is!”

I give her a wave and make my way back up to the apartment.

I have friends, but nobody I'd want to explain this one night stand turned into a fling to. Not that I’m embarrassed…I frown. Maybe it is because I’m embarrassed and I don’t want to be talked out of it.

I think of calling my mom but she’d only tell me to feel and shut off my brain because that’s been her advice with pretty much everything from the time I wanted to try to skateboard, to when I discovered that floral design was an actual thing and changed my career ideas.

Mom would be delighted with this whirlwind romance.

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