Page 16 of Not Yet Yours

I look at him in surprise, shocked that he not only gets it but has experienced something similar himself.

“Is that a yes then?” he says.

“I don’t… sorry what was the question?” I laugh.

“Can I see some of your stuff?” Liam says.

“Sure,” I agree.

“If I like what I see, I’ll keep you in mind for decorations for any new hotels I acquire,” he says.

“No backsies,” I say, and we laugh.

We reach Liam’s car, and he nods toward the hotel.

“Do you want to go and check us in while I get the stuff out of the car? The booking will be under my name,” he says.

I nod and saunter off into the hotel. The reception area is nice. It’s large and airy and ultra-modern, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel like something untouchable. The vase of sunflowers on the reception desk and the magazines on the glass coffee table next to some low white leather couches give it a more homely feel and make the white, glass, and chrome everywhere seem less clinical.

I approach the check-in desk and the immaculate woman behind it smiles out at me.

“Hello and welcome to The Monique Hotel. How can I help you?” she says.

“Reservation for Liam Monroe,” I say, returning her smile.

She clicks on the computer and smiles again. She turns around and opens a drawer, flicks through the things inside it, and comes out with a key card in her hand. She holds it out to me.

“You’re in room two thirteen,” she says. “The elevators are just through that door and you’re on the second floor. Turn right when you get out of the elevator. The restaurant, bar, and poolopening times are all in your room. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any other questions.”

She seems to be waiting for me to ask her something, but I’m too angry to think of something to ask her and it’s not her fault that I’m angry, so I don’t want to take it out on her.

“Thank you,” I say instead.

“Enjoy your stay,” she trills.

I move away from the desk after giving what I hope looks like a normal, genuine smile, and Liam comes through the door as I debate sitting down to wait for him. That answers that one and I storm over to him. He smiles at me but then he must see my expression because his smile fades away and is replaced by a frown.

“Are you ok?” he says, pausing and putting the bags down.

“Not really,” I snapped, slamming the key card against his chest. He takes it, looks at it, and then looks at me. “One room? It’s a bit presumptuous, isn’t it? What, we sleep together once so you think you have a right to assume we will do it again?”

“No, it’s not like that,” Liam says. “I didn’t make the booking, my Aunt Dorothy did. She’s obviously assumed we would want to share a room, that's all.”

“Oh,” I say, the anger leaving me in a rush. I feel kind of deflated and not just a little bit stupid for my outburst now.

“Let me go and book another room,” Liam says.

“No,” I say before he can walk away. “It’s ok. It will seem suspicious if we have two rooms. I just overreacted. I’m sorry.”

“Are you sure?” Liam asks and I nod. “Ok. Well obviously, I will take the couch so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.”

I nod and turn away as Liam picks the bags back up. I led him toward the elevator. We get in and I press the button for the second floor, trying not to think about the last time Liam and I were in an elevator together. I think he might be thinking about the same thing because the air between us seems to thicken andfizz and when I look at him, he is looking at me, but he looks away quickly before I can catch his eye. I smile to myself and then the elevator pings loudly to announce its arrival and the doors open and we spill out. We turn right as directed and then we walk along the corridor.

“Twice,” Liam says to me.

“Huh?” I ask.

“When you were giving me your little speech back there you said we slept together once. It was twice we slept together. I just thought I’d remind you,” Liam says.

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