Page 21 of Keeping Kaitlyn

“What are you going to do?” I ask while I watch him walk away, on his way back to the living room.

“I’m going to bribe a bunch of people at the county courthouse,” he says, flashing me a quick, over the shoulder smile on his way out the door. “While you’re down there, make sure you buy something nice enough to get married in.”

Findingmy way to the front desk was easy enough. Stepping off the elevator, into a large, open-air lobby, I almost instantly spot the long, marble-topped counter with a trio of smartly dressed clerks helping guests check into their rooms—a man in his early thirties, a young blonde who I peg as a college student, and a woman who looks like a female version of Damien. Hair so black, it shines blue in the overhead lights. Almond-shaped eyes that are almost as dark as Went’s. A sharp, angular face that’s more striking than beautiful.

As soon as the customer she’s helping picks up his bags and walks away, the woman who must be Dakota points directly at me and smiles. “Miss, I’ll help you over here,” she says, even though I’m nowhere near the front of the line. Frozen for a moment, I look at the several people, frowning in front of me, before I start to move. Mutteringexcuse meandI’m so sorry, I push my way to the front of the line, toward the woman waiting for me behind the counter.

“Name?” she asks, her mouth set in a vague, professional smile while she waits.

“Sierra…” I look around, waiting for someone to call me a liar. When no one does, I look back at the woman behind the counter. “Raintree. Sierra Raintree.”

“Welcome to the Hawthorne, Ms. Raintree.” Another vague, professional smile while she taps on her computer keyboard. “I have a Mountain King suite reserved under your name, is that correct?”

“Yes.” I nod for good measure even though I have no idea what she’s talking about.

“Excellent.” More tapping before she plugs something flat and rectangular into the side of her computer and sets it on the counter between us. “Press your left thumb against the screen, please.”

Still having no idea what’s going on, I do what she says. Pressing my left thumb against the flat square on the counter in front of me, I watch while it scans my print. Looking up at her to make sure I’m following her directions correctly, I’m rewarded with another polite smile.

“Your print grants you elevator access to the upper floors of the hotel, as well as access to the all-inclusive spa.” More tapping before she pulls a plastic key card from a drawer and slides it into the back of the flat, black square that just scanned my thumb print. “And this will grant you access to your suite. If you choose to shop in any of our boutiques or dine in any of our restaurants, your key card can also be used as a form of payment.” Pulling the card from the machine, she offers it to me. “Just swipe it as you would a credit card and your purchases will automatically be charged to your room.”

“Okay.” I swallow hard on a nod while I take the card that’s being offered. “Thank you,” I tell her, forcing a smile onto my face because even though I know what I’m supposed to do next, I have no idea on how to actually do it.

Like she can read my mind, Dakota smile softens slightly. “Would you like me to give you a tour of the hotel and its amenities, Ms. Raintree?”

“Yes.” Relieved, I give her another nod. “That would be lovely.”

“You can wait for me over there.” Reaching under the counter, she pulls out a wooden plaque that readsclosed.Setting it on the marble top between us, she points at the lobby behind me. “I’ll grab my jacket and meet you in a few minutes.”

TWELVE

WENTWORTH

2019

This is a good thing.

Seeing Kait again before Conner and Henley’s wedding is actually a good thing. It’ll give us both a chance to settle into being around each other so neither of us ends up freaking out in the middle of the ceremony. That way, when the big day comes, we can be pleasant and social enough to pretend that we barely know each other.

This is a good thing.

I’ve been working on gaslighting myself into believing it for the past several hours now.

It isn’t working.

Giving up, I settle on telling myself that it was bound to happen. That the fact that we’ve been able to avoid each other this long is nothing short of a miracle. Sooner or later, given that—by some cruel twist of fate—we’re attached to the same people, Kait and I were going to find ourselves in a situation that would require us to see each other. One we couldn’t get out of.

Like a wedding.

Just thinking the word stiffens the back of my neck and leeches my mouth dry. My phone buzzes in my pocket. Pulling it out on a sigh, I open my text messages.

Tess: we’re pulling up now. You better still be there.

I look at the clock hanging above the doorway that leads to my private tattoo rooms. It’s 8:15, which means that technically, they’re late. I could’ve been halfway home by now if I’d been paying attention but I was too busy gaslighting myself to watch the clock.

You sure that’s it? You sure you’re not still here because youwantto see her?

Shooting my answer to Tess in the form of a middle finger emoji, I jam my phone back into my pocket, just in time to hear a mid-size commotion on the sidewalk in front of my shop. Before I can give into my inner coward and run or dive behind the counter, I turn away from the door just as it’s opened and the commotion outside tumbles through it.

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