Page 34 of Phoenix

Chapter 9

Nora

After agreeing to meet for a late lunch in a few hours, we all head upstairs to our neighboring rooms.

Case, of course, carries my bag and his from the lobby all the way up to our room on the tenth floor.

I follow behind him, saying goodbye to Grayson and Amelia as we pass their room, then walk down to ours.

He drops the bags in the hall and slides the keycard into the door, it clicks, and the green light illuminates.

“Ladies first,” he says, as he pushes the door open with one hand then leaves room for me to step inside.

The room is stunning.

There’s a bathroom to the right with a full steamer shower, which I will happily be using, and it’s covered with chic, white tiles.

I step farther along the lush, blue carpet with its intricate pattern and find a large king-size bed with white linens and pillows.

The walls are gray and the far wall is a floor-to-ceiling window with a very impressive view of downtown Atlanta.

“Holy shit.” It’s all I can muster.

“You can say that again.” Case comes in behind me and places our bags on the bed. “This is really fucking nice.”

“It is. Did you see that shower?”

He shakes his head and walks back over to the bathroom and steps inside. “Holy goddamn. You could fit fifteen people in there.”

“Leave it to you to think of an orgy when you see it.” I sit on the edge of the bed and lie back with my arms over my head.

The bed is luscious and so comfortable.

“I am but a simple mortal.” He is standing by the dresser now, leaning against it, typing something on his cell phone.

Whatever it is, it’s making him smile.

Is it a girl? The instant jealousy I feel isn’t welcome.

“My dog-sitter, Justin, he sent a video of Arya.” It’s like he can read my mind and wants to ease the green demon in my gut. “She’s playing outside with his dog.”

He flips his phone around so I can see. She’s chasing after water coming from a garden hose.

“Oh my God,” I laugh. “She’s so funny.”

“Yeah, she’s the best. The best partner.” He shoves his phone back in his pocket.

“Justin dog-sits often?” I ask, pushing to sit back up.

“Yeah, he and his husband, Cory, they are great. They are good with her and she gets along with their dog pretty well.”

“Do you ever worry about her? On the job, I mean.”

I watch him as he walks over to a small sofa, angled next to the window, and sits.

“All the time, every day, but I can’t imagine doing the job with her.”

“You light up when you talk about her, you know?”

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