Just a Fling: A Heartthrob Hotel Novella Page 5

  I force myself to look away and focus on the clipboard instead. “Okay, so… I would like to paint this something… lavender? I always wanted a purple bedroom.”

  Ira nods. “Lavender might be too much for this lighting,” he says. “I could see heather or lilac, though.”

  I blink at him and he grins again.

  “Okay, then,” I say, raising my pen. “I’ll look for heather or lilac.”

  I step toward the bathroom and Ira clears his throat behind me. “So, I can’t help but notice...” he says, “that Michelle isn’t with you.”

  I nod as I run a hand along the bathroom sink, admiring the perfect, smooth… whatever this material is. “Yeah, she’s with her nanny at the hotel while I do this and go find paint swatches.”

  “Her nanny?”

  I open the closet and smile at the size. I’ve always wanted one I can walk into. “Yeah. His name is Derrick.”

  “Derrick’s her nanny?”

  I turn back around to find Ira standing about an inch taller than usual in the bathroom doorway. “You know Derrick?” I ask.

  “No, I don’t know Derrick,” he answers, hesitating. “Who’s Derrick? That’s a very... masculine name... for a nanny.”

  I glare at him. “I met Derrick at the hospital I worked at in Iowa City,” I say. “He liked to volunteer in the maternity ward while he worked his way through grad school. I knew I was going to need some help with Michelle, so I started searching for a full-time nanny. He offered me his services and he’s been there for us since before the epidural even wore off.”

  Ira nods slowly. “So, that guy you arrived with last night is just... Michelle’s nanny?”

  “Yes,” I answer, squinting. “How’d you know we arrived together?”

  “I’m head of security,” he says, clearing this throat. “It’s my job to know who’s coming in and out of my hotel.”

  I smile. “Sounds almost creepy.”

  “When a young male arrives with the mother of my child, I take notice.”

  “Did you also take notice that we got separate rooms?” I ask.

  He pauses. “Yes, I did.”

  “And how did you feel about that?”

  “Neutral.”

  “Really?”

  “Semi-neutral,” he adds with a shrug.

  I laugh at the obvious undertone. “Nothing’s going on with me and Derrick, Ira. We’re friends.”

  “Cool. So are we.”

  “I trust him completely with my daughter. You should, too.”

  He winces. “Yeah, I’m not quite there yet. I’ll check him out first.”

  I snort. “Yeah, like you checked out this house?”

  “You got a fun, new security system, didn’t you?” He playfully tilts. “I look into this guy, you might just end up with that dog, too.”

  I step into the bathroom and laugh. “Make it a puppy and you’re on.”

  “Duly noted.”

  I lean over the bathtub and turn the faucet, happy to feel the water shift from ice cold to piping hot in only a few seconds. I turn it off and wipe my wet hand on my jeans as I turn around.

  Ira stands behind me and I gasp as I nearly run right into him.

  “Sorry.” He smiles. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “You, uh...” I hold my breath as my ankles sway. “You didn’t. I’m just... jumpy by nature.”

  “Yeah, I remember.” His face softens and the usual shadows beneath his eyes reveal a little brightness in his brown eyes. “Veronica…” His voice stalls.

  I wait a moment before speaking. “What?” I ask.

  Ira swallows, his throat bouncing hard. “This morning, I felt strange,” he says.

  “Strange how?” I ask. “Because of her?”

  “No,” he answers. “Because of you.”

  “Me?”

  He nods. “For the first time in four years, you came to my room and I didn’t wake up next to you the next morning.”

  My pulse quickens. “That’s strange?”

  “I missed you,” he says. “Never felt that for a woman before, so yes. I’d consider that strange.”

  An uncontrollable smile twists my cheeks. “Well, when you think of it that way, I suppose it might… be strange-ish.”

  Ira takes a step forward, bridging the small gap between us. “And I’m sorry for what I said last night,” he says. “I really didn’t mean to besmirch her existence, as you phrased it.”

  “It’s okay,” I say. “I know you didn’t mean it.”

  “I’m happy she’s here. Surprised, but happy.”

  I nod. “So am I.”

  “And I’m happy you’re here.” His eyes catch mine again and I tremble. “I wish I said that last night. I should have.”

  “Me, too. Or, I wish I’d said it. To you. It was nice to see you again. It’s always… nice to see you again.”

  His eyes scan my face. “I wish I had kissed you last night,” he says, his voice low.

  I laugh, swallowing hard. “We’ve kissed a hundred times before, Ira,” I say.

  He shakes his head. “I’ve kissed Veronica,” he says. “A girl who knew me before I started getting up and throwing on a suit every day.”

  “Then, who am I now?” I ask.

  Ira glances from my eyes down to my lips. “You’re the mother of my daughter,” he says. “I’ve never kissed her before.”

  I shudder as I feel his touch on my arm. Shivers dance up to my shoulder blades as he gently crawls his hand up to rest just beneath my cheek. I tilt my head up, obeying the heat of his fingertips as he leans in closer with his eyes on my lips.

  “She is mine,” he whispers. “Right?”

  I nod, barely breathing. “Yes.”

  Ira crushes his mouth on mine and my entire body melts against him. I drop the clipboard to the floor as he wraps an arm around me and guides me backward, easily raising me up to sit on the bathroom counter. I shudder from head-to-toe, tingling as his trim beard rubs along my chin with each deep kiss.

  “I missed you, V,” he tells me again as he takes a breath.

  My tongue moves without thought, speaking truth. “Me, too,” I say. “Or, you. I missed you, too.”

  He kisses me again and I feel his hand travel down my chest. I instinctively shift closer to the counter’s edge, raising my legs as his hand slips around my thigh.

  “Hey, Ira! Where you at?”

  We break an inch apart as Bill’s voice echoes throughout the empty house. Ira takes a breath and turns his head, composing himself for a second before answering him.

  “Be right out!” Ira shouts back as his chest heaves.

  I shift off the bathroom sink to stand but Ira keeps his soft touch on me.

  “Have dinner with me tonight,” he says to me.

  “Dinner?” I ask. “You mean, like a date?”

  “I mean exactly like a date. I want to get to know you better.”

  “Okay.” My chest flutters in excitement. “Dinner sounds good. I can have Derrick watch Michelle for a while and we can—”

  “Or not,” he says quickly. “I can swing by your room, we can order room service, hang out with the kid, and Derrick can just... not be there at all.”

  I tilt my head. “Actually, a sit-down dinner in a nice restaurant with adult conversation, a bottle of wine, and some cheesecake sounds a little bit like heaven right about now.”

  He bites down in hesitation. “Fine. I’ll reserve a table in the dining room for just the two of us.”

  “And cheesecake.”

  “And cheesecake,” he says with a nod.

  “Thank you.”

  “Yo, Ira!” Bill shouts again.

  Ira sighs and takes a step back. “I’ll go deal with Bill.”

  “I’ll get back to…” I grab the clipboard off the floor, “heather and lilac.”

  He pauses with a smile, letting his eyes take their time as they travel down my curves. “Back soon,” he says.

  I manage to keep it
together until he steps out into the hallway. As soon as his shape disappears, I fold forward, taking a deep breath with one hand on the counter.

  Oh, boy.

  Steady, knees. Steady…

  I lick my lips, feeling a smile form on my face.

  You know, I thought he was just being silly before, but…

  Kissing Ira, a man I knew back when life was simpler?

  Kissing the father of my daughter?

  Oh, yeah. It’s different.

  It’s better.

  Six

  Ira

  I toss the tie around my neck, running on nothing but auto-pilot as my mind runs wild with thoughts of Veronica.

  Today was, in a word, extraordinary. Well, maybe not extraordinary, per se, but definitely more than ordinary.

  After that kiss, I thought things would get awkward. I thought a heavy tension would weigh in on every moment until it happened again but once I had Bill’s work in order and I went back to Veronica, we settled into a rhythm that I haven’t felt with a woman since... well, ever.

  My phone vibrates in my back pocket. I reach for it, nearly tempted to shut the thing off for the night before I see Hayden’s goofy mug on my screen.

  I swipe to answer it. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Hello, Ira,” he greets, his voice stiff and amused. “How are you on this lovely evening?”

  “I’m fine,” I say. “How are you?”

  “Good, good. So, I called your office phone today and you didn’t pick up. What gives?”

  I shift toward the closet to find my suit jacket. “Oh, I wasn’t in the office today.”

  “Why not?”

  “I took the day off.”

  “... Why?”

  I hesitate, sensing something sinister in his voice. “Just... did. Hey, when are you gonna be in town?” I ask, quickly changing subjects.

  “Jonah, Penny, and I are carpooling in early Friday morning,” he answers. “I’m really looking forward to Mom’s birthday this year. Should be... fun.”

  I roll my eyes. “Oh, think you’ve won, do you?”

  “I think the odds are in my favor this year, yes,” he says, his voice smug.

  “Well, we’ll see about that.”

  “Penny’s amazing, Graham’s in hot water, and all Jonah’s got is his little guitar. You, on the other hand... are a wild card.”

  I smirk. “Is that right?”

  “Yes. What are you getting her?”

  I bite down hard. Ever since Veronica showed up, I haven’t had a chance to even think about Mom’s birthday gift.

  “I’m not telling you,” I say quickly.

  “Oh, come on! Since when are you so tight-lipped?”

  “I gotta run, Hayden. I’ll see you guys on Friday.”

  “Coward!” he shouts.

  I laugh and hang up, though my smile instantly dwindles.

  What the hell am I supposed to do about this birthday gift?

  I glance at the clock. I’m supposed to meet Veronica downstairs now. No time to think about it just yet.

  Tonight, I have a date.

  Mom would understand that. Right?

  Ugh.

  I throw on my jacket and straighten my tie one last time before heading out into the hallway. The elevator is empty on my way down to the 12th floor, giving me a few silent moments to reflect on my... situation a little bit more.

  I picture Veronica and me, walking down the aisles of the department store today, flipping through paint swatches and cringing at various color options. Ivory or creme? Cyan or periwinkle?

  It felt... extraordinary.

  There’s that word again. Maybe I should just embrace it.

  Being around Veronica Robb feels extraordinary.

  Just, you know...

  Don’t tell my lawyer.

  I step off the elevator and head toward room 1209. I pause in front of the door, casting a curious glare toward 1210 across the hall before rolling my fist and knocking softly twice.

  A few moments later, the door opens on Veronica freakin’ Robb.

  My chest lurches as my eyes plummet to the floor. There are a million little, black dresses in the world but, my god, this one’s definitely my favorite.

  “Hey, Ira,” she says with a smile. “Come on in. I just need another minute.”

  She turns away, giving me a quick view of her rear before disappearing behind the door and beelining toward the bathroom.

  “Take your time,” I say as I step into the room.

  It’s been a while since I’ve been on the 12th floor. The rooms are smaller but no less luxurious. That’s the appeal of a Botsford Plaza, of course. It doesn’t matter what floor you stay on. You’re treated the same...

  My eyes land on the stranger standing next to the bed ahead of me with a tiny baby in his arms. My baby.

  Well, you’re mostly treated the same.

  Mostly.

  The man smiles at me. “Hi,” he says.

  I smile back through gritted teeth. “You must be Derrick.”

  He nods. “Yup.”

  “I’m Ira.”

  “I know.”

  Michelle looks up from his chest, her eyes big and open as she takes in the world. They land on me and I can’t help the sudden flurry of warmth in my gut.

  “Cute, ain’t she?” he asks.

  I try not to glare.

  Of course, my daughter is cute, you fucking—

  “Yes,” I say instead. “She’s gorgeous.”

  His wicked smile never budges off his smug face. I glance over my shoulder toward the bathroom, hoping to see Veronica walking out to break up this tension.

  “No.”

  I look back at Derrick. “I’m sorry?” I ask.

  His eyes jut toward the bathroom like mine did. “No, I don’t want to sleep with Veronica,” he answers my silent question. “No, I’m not some creepy weirdo. And no, I’d never do anything to harm this child.”

  “Sounds like you’ve rehearsed that,” I say.

  “Not really. I just get it a lot.”

  I nod. “Well, thanks for clearing that up.”

  “Anytime.”

  I nod silently. I’ll wait for Stella’s report before making up my mind about this guy. Until then, I’ll just smile right on back.

  “Okay,” Veronica says over the sound of her heels clacking in from the bathroom. “I’m ready now.” She looks between the two of us, her face twinging from the obvious macho man tension. “What’d I miss?” she asks.

  “Nothing,” I answer. “Just getting to know Mr. Clark here.”

  Derrick nods. “That’s right,” he says and softly bounces Michelle a little higher up his shoulder. “I think it’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

  Veronica tilts her head. “Well, I’m not getting involved in this one,” she says.

  She walks toward them and Derrick extends his arm, allowing for Michelle to sway in her direction.

  “I love you, baby,” she says, her full attentiveness on Michelle. Her tone shifts as she talks to Derrick, dropping the cutesy vibrato. “We’ll be right downstairs if something comes up.”

  “Eh, we’ll be fine,” he says. “The Friday the 13th marathon starts in ten.”

  I furrow my brow as Veronica quickly glances at me.

  “He’s kidding,” she says, playfully flicking his forehead before escaping to me. “Come on, Ira. I’m starving.”

  “Lead the way,” I say, gesturing at the door.

  “Have fun, guys,” Derrick says. He pinches Michelle’s arm and wags it in an adorable wave. “Byeee!” he says, higher-pitched.

  Veronica passes around me to open the door but I don’t move, locked in place by the sheer force of gravity. I step toward Derrick instead and he performs the same action, extending his arm and positioning Michelle a little closer to me.

  The girl looks up at me the same way she looked at her mother. A little bit of wonder. Some curiosity. Not an ounce of fear.

  Brown. He
r eyes are brown.

  Just like mine.

  I reach out and draw a delicate line from her cheek to her chin. “Goodnight, Michelle,” I say.

  Derrick pulls her in and makes her wave again. “Goodnight!” he says, his voice still pitched high.

  Veronica groans behind me and he winces.

  “Sorry,” he says, clearing his throat.

  * * *

  Veronica sits across from me at the table, her big eyes blinking in surprise. “A bakery?” she repeats.

  I nod as I set down my fork and reach for my wineglass. “A bakery,” I say again.

  She leans back. “You’re fucking with me. No, he didn’t.”

  I chuckle. “No, I’m not. And yes, he did.”

  Her jaw drops. “Vincent opened a bakery?!”

  “In Boston.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I could not have made that up even if I tried.”

  She playfully swirls a noodle around her fork. “Well, I never — ever — could have pictured that.”

  “Neither did I but I’ve seen it myself.” I shrug. “Last I heard, he got married and had a kid.”

  “Good for him.” She sets her fork down and raises her wineglass to her lips for a quick sip. “Have you heard from anyone else in your unit?” she asks as her eyes drift to my right shoulder where the shared tattoo lies hidden beneath my shirt.

  “Not really,” I answer. “You catch a rumor now and again but nothing concrete. I figured I don’t like to be bothered, so maybe they don’t either. You know what I mean?”

  “More than you know.”

  I look at her, noting the sudden shadow in her eyes. “Hey, V, why didn’t we ever talk like this before?” I ask.

  She smiles and the shadow disappears. “What? Hello, take off your clothes, and goodbye wasn’t titillating enough conversation for you?”

  “Just a bit strange,” I say. “Not to me, of course, but try explaining our relationship or lack thereof to others and they don’t seem to get it.”

  “Still the town gossip, eh?” she asks.

  I bite down. “Well…”

  She waves a hand. “Nah, you’re right, Ira. I mean, I had friends back home who knew about us. No dirty details but the in-and-out, so to speak.” She chuckles. “Some were convinced you were some serial killer but, ultimately, it didn’t matter what they thought. I was happy with our arrangement.”