Page 20 of Just Desserts

"17th floor. The room was booked under Alyssa Conner." I saw the hurt and anger wash over Wes and Isla's faces with my reply.

Wisely, Sully stayed quiet and got to work pulling up cameras for the 17th floor on the date in question. We watched as the elevator doors opened, the two culprits stepping out and weaving down the hallway. When they turned the corner away out of the camera range, I watched anxiously as Sully switchedto another camera feed.

This one was in the hallway where their room was. Rage burned hot in my stomach as we watched Jonathan push Alyssa up against the wall outside their hotel room, her leg was wrapped around his back and they were clearly in a compromising embrace.

"That's the money shot." Sully said with quiet conviction.

He took a screenshot and then played the recording further to show them dragging themselves into the hotel room, the door closing behind them. I looked up at Isla, ready to drag her out of this room at the first sign of a breakdown but instead my girl was furious.

"That's not going to be enough, he'll find a way to get out of it. Can we check the other dates? I'm sorry, I know you have a real job to do. I can come back after hours if you want? You said you used to be a PI, I could pay you."

We all yelled NO simultaneously. Sully gave me a look and I nodded my head, we had worked together for years, he was ex military and a close friend of mine. I trusted him to do the right thing.

"Don't you worry bout a thing missy. I have the rest of my team working on the day to day stuff for the hotel so you have me all to yourself. Let me just start a folder and we'll make sure we check all these dates so you have everything you need."

There was a collective sigh of relief as we all went about pulling some chairs over to hover behind Sully's station. With each new date, each new clip of Jonathan and Alyssa my anger grew. I was angry at Jonathan for doing this to his wife, and horrified that Alyssa could do this to her family. I watched Wes grow more tense as each photo was added to the file.

We don't have cameras in our hotel rooms, so we weren't going to find footage of them in bed but they had done just about everything but sex throughout my hotel. In the hallways, in the jacuzzi, at the restaurant. I felt the need to request a deep clean even though all our rooms and public areas were rigorously cleaned and maintained on a regular schedule.

Regardless, their presence sullied everything around them. I couldn't understand it. It took over four hours but by the time we reached the end of Isla's list of dates we had plenty to prove those dinners were anything but business meetings. There was strained silence after the last of the footage played.

I didn't know what to say."I'm sorry your husband is a worthless bastard, if you were mine I'd worship you like a queen"seemed inappropriate at that moment. I took a look around the room and felt my stomach grumble.

"Why don't we call it a day? Would you let me treat you all to lunch at our hotel? You too Sully, especially since we made you work through lunch. Beers on me too."

I didn't want Isla to leave the hotel with only the memories of her husband in her mind. I couldn't bear the idea of her leaving this room and never seeing her again, so this lunch invite was as much for me as it was for her.

"Hell yeah man! You did promise me some beers. Cuz you're DD!"

Wes shot up before Isla could reach him and I laughed at their dramatics. Sully gave me a nod then looked up at Isla.

"Why don't you write your lawyer's information down for me and I'll send over everything I found. I'll meet you guys at the restaurant. Boss, you said you were paying?" He eyed me, I rolled my eyes as I nodded.

"Great, order me the T-bone rare with all the fixings and a Guinness. I'll meet you guys there once I get all of this over to the attorney."

I watched as Isla went over and gave Sully a side hug. Sully's eyes widened in shock and he patted her back as if unsure of what to do. It was comical, seeing this giant ex-marine brought down by a simple hug.

"I can't thank you enough for your help! Seriously, I know you probably had a ton of other things you could be doing today but this has lifted a huge burden off of me. So thank you. Here's my lawyer's information. I'll let her know to expect something from you. Make sure you get to the restaurant fast though, I can't promise your Guinness will still be there if you take too long."

She added jokingly before getting up and stretching. I valiantly tried not to eye the curve of her body as she reached her arms up and stretched.

"Wow, I had no idea so much time had passed. I'm starving. I've been dying to eat here anyway. I heard your chef is incredible." She looked at me with a big smile.

"Well then let's go get you fed." I said with a smile. "Catch you in a bit Sully, thanks again!"

I yelled at the back of his head. He nodded his agreement but his hands were already working fast as he dragged and dropped files into emails. I walked a few paces behind Wes and Isla letting their easy banter calm down this storm inside of me.

At that moment, I vowed I would be there for Isla. Not romantically, at least not yet. I knew she wasn't ready for that. Even though I was attracted to her on a profound level, I justwanted to be a friend, a part of her life. She was like a light breaking through all the chaos in my head. I felt excitement like I hadn't in years.

I wanted to know everything she liked and disliked. I wanted to help her anyway I could. I would take whatever I could get from her. All I knew for sure was that I absolutely needed to spend more time with her. Not seeing her again wasn't an option for me.

Chapter 18

Isla

Morning came faster than I expected and my alarm was going off after what felt like mere minutes. I hit the snooze on my phone and snuggled myself back under the covers for an extra eight minutes. I slept like the dead last night, no nightmares about Jonathan and Alyssa, just darkness.

It was refreshing, and a part of me was wondering if that had to do with my day at The Bennett yesterday. I was completely flustered and made an ass of myself in front of Myles. It was so typical of Wes to neglect to mention that his friend who works there is actually the owner.

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