Page 76 of The Princess and the Paparazzi
“Absolutely not. Set up her bed in the room with me!” Naomi insists.
“Are you sure, Ima? She’s likely to wake you up early,” Rafe says.
“I’d love the company. I keep waking at 5 a.m.” Naomi yawns again and turns to the bellman. “Just set it up in here.”
“I’ll wait while he sets it up. Hand her here.” Rainey peels the slumbering child off her father.
“Thanks, Rainey. Be sure to tip the bellman before you go?” Rafe says quietly, slipping her a bill.
“Umm … what about me? Where should I put my stuff?” I ask, as we walk back out to the spacious living room with Naomi. There’s a large dining room table and a generous seating area, but unless this suite has a secret door to a third bedroom somewhere, I’m not exactly sure where I’m supposed to sleep.
“Well, there is a secret room in this suite.” Rafe’s eyes twinkle, as if he’s read my mind. He presses on a bookcase, and it opens to reveal a small closet. Super cool, but no bed.
I blink, confused.
“I’m just messing with you. You’re bunking in the master suite with me,” says Rafe, his face impassive.
“Bunk as in bunk beds?”
“The master suite is pretty amazing, but I’m pretty sure it does not include bunk beds.” Rafe chuckles. “Come, let’s go check it out. I watched a video online, but I don’t think it did this place justice.”
I can feel my face growing hot. “Is that really appropriate? I mean … maybe I can park myself on this couch?” I pat the tufted leather couch in front of the fireplace.I’ve slept in worse places.And then I notice that there’s a daybed in an alcove, tucked off to one side.
“Oh, I’ll just put my stuff here,” I say.
“Are you nuts, Lorelei? You don’t want to have to sleep in the middle of the living room. There’s no privacy. And what if I want to come out here and play with Orly in the morning?” Naomi looks at me with raised eyebrows.
“Well, I mean, I don’t want to—”
Naomi rolls her eyes and sits down on the couch. “Come on, Lorelei. You and Rafe are adults, and you’ve been friends since you were children. I’m not some Amish prude. I’m not doing bed checks.”
“We can request a rollaway if you’re afraid of getting cooties from me.” Rafe’s eyes are sparkling. “But if we do that, I’m not sure where I’d put the porta-crib if Orly decides she doesn’t want to stay in the room with my mom. Just come see.”
Rafe pulls me into the master suite, which is even more over the top than the other two rooms, if that’s possible. There’s a giant, four-poster bed with flowy, white curtains and luxurious, exotic, vintage details everywhere. Oriental carpets, zebra-print pillows, pith helmets, and faux antlers on the wall. It’s like we’ve been transported to the veld.
“It’s just two nights. And it’s a really big bed. Bouncy.” Rafe bounces on the edge of the bed to demonstrate.
“There’s a tub in here!” I exclaim. “A proper slipper tub. My friend Georgia has one of these, and I have always been so jealous of her.”
“The shower is so big, they call it a grotto!” Rafe comes over to examine the tub. He stands close behind me and leans forward, reaching for the tap and turning it on. “Can I run you a bath?”
“Jesus, Rafe.” I turn to face him, and he doesn’t budge. If anything, he leans closer. I notice the way his chest rises and falls with each breath. I feel the heat of his body in the charged space between us. It’s electric. Like … a bug zapper. And like a bug, I feel compelled to fling myself closer. Into his bright, bright light.
“What’s happening here?” I whisper.
“Nothing, unless …” he says, trailing a finger along my jawbone.
“Unless?” I breathe the question. His hand comes to rest on my chin, cupping it with the lightest pressure possible, like he’s holding a soap bubble on the tip of his finger. I close my eyes, savoring his nearness with all my other senses.
“Unless you want it to.” His answer sizzles and pops like static between us, waking all the butterflies in my stomach.
I raise my hand to his face, mirroring his actions. “Do you want it to?”
The spell is broken when the sound of a hundred tiki drums bursts from hidden speakers. We both jump at least six inches in the air. “That’s the doorbell,” Rafe lets me know. He closes his eyes and takes a breath before reaching for my hand and planting a kiss in my palm.
“Don’t worry, it’s just the luggage. I got it!” Naomi calls out. A moment later, she pokes her head in the door. She pauses when she notices the water in the tub still running.
“It’s okay, you can come in,” Rafe says. “We were just testing the water.” He closes the tap.
