“Welcome to the Ritz-Carlton, sir. Do you have a reservation?” A hoity-toity looking woman with a pinched expression stares over her glasses at me.
“Sure do. It’s under Rogers.” I slip my credit card from my wallet and slide it across the counter. She doesn’t look any more impressed with me, but at least she directs her judgmental eyes to her computer screen as she pulls up my details.
“Ahhh, yes. I see you made this a few hours ago.”
I wouldn’t think that’s a bad thing, but the way she says it makes me wonder.
“That’s the one.” I ignore her snobby attitude. I’m not going to let some customer service agent with a chip on her shoulder start this stay on the wrong foot.
The woman sniffs and types my information onto the screen. I look around the foyer while she makes up our key cards and soak in the luxurious space. With the high gilded ceilings and the Roman style columns, they certainly know how to make a first impression.
“Here you go, sir. Your room is on the fifth floor and our elevators are across the lobby to the right.” She vaguely nods in the direction.
“Sounds good.” I snatch up the keys and my credit card and start to walk Red over. “Oh, just one more thing,” I turn and yell across the space to the receptionist.
“Sir?”
“There’s an all-you-can eat breakfast buffet here, right? The website I booked through, Traveling on Parole, mentioned that.”
The woman pales and her lips turn down. “No, we don’t have anything like that available.” Her snark seems to have been replaced by some other emotion. I just can’t place it.
“No worries, we’ll get by. Won’t we?” I glance over at Red and she bites her smile, giving me a look that tells me to quit fucking around. “As long as you got a bathtub to mix moonshine in, I’m sure we’ll be fine,” I call out over my shoulder and head to the elevator.
I guess the front desk clerk figured out I was messing with her because I can hear her indignant sigh all the way across the lobby. That’s what she gets for being so stuck-up. I click the button to summon the elevator and look over down the hall at the open double doors leading into the hotel ballroom. Inside there’s a crew setting up tables and decorating the dance floor for some kind of function. I squint my eyes and read the sign outside the door. “Velvet and Eric’s Reception.”
“Do you see that?” I nudge Red and she looks where I jerk my chin. “Didn’t you win that bet at lunch?” I remind her about how she scarfed down the hungry man special. Even I had trouble finishing it all, but she ate every last bite on her plate and looked like she could’ve asked for seconds. I’m not sure where she packs that food away, but I was damned impressed.
“What are you suggesting?” Red tilts her head at me, but I can see the sparkle of recognition in her eyes. She’s sharing the same thought I am.
“Sounds like the perfect place to do some dancing, don’t you think?”
“There’s no way we’ll get in. We don’t have any clothes for it.”
I didn’t think of that.
We gather inside the elevator and get out at the fifth floor, quickly finding our room. I ditch my bags on the floor and whistle low as we take in the vast space. With a king-sized bed and an open concept living room, there’s more than enough room here to relax. Not to mention all the places to fuck Red. In the bed, the shower, the couch, the edge of the desk. My cock twitches to life at the thought.
“So, were you serious about taking me dancing?” Red drags me from my epic sex fantasy.
“You wanna crash the reception?”
“I was thinking we could hit up a bar or something. I mean, unless…”
“Unless what?”
“I mean, the sign said it starts at seven. It’s only five now. We could probably hit up a mall and get some clothes. It might be fun.” She giggles at the idea.
“I imagine if the reception is here, it’s gonna be fancy. I’ll have to find a suit.” I pluck my phone from my jacket and start searching for local stores.
Red plops down on the huge bed and lifts the bedside phone to her ear. “Yes, I’d like to know where I can go to buy a nice dress. Mmhmm. Okay, thank you.” She hangs up, grinning.
I found a store downtown and pull up the driving directions.
“She told me there’s a boutique uptown I can go to.” Her eyes sparkle and her cheeks flush with excitement. I haven’t seen this side of her before. It’s nice to see her unburdened by the asshole I left hogtied in her apartment.
“Okay, well, my place is downtown, so it’ll be faster to split up. How about we get you a cab so I can use my helmet? We’ll meet back here as soon as we can. Here.” I slide a few hundreds from my wallet and roll them up as Red walks over to me and I place them in her hand. “Get something nice. Let’s have some fun with this.”
“Oh, I couldn’t spend this! No, this whole thing is too crazy. Besides, we probably shouldn’t split up, right?”
That worry I’d only just seen leave her eyes is back. I hate it. I hate seeing her weighed down with constant fear. I won’t let it take her back. Not tonight.
Tonight she’s mine.
“Red, don’t do that. No one knows we’re here. There’s just no way. Here, gimme your phone.” I hold out my hand expectantly and she hands it over.
I quickly find an app from the store and download it on her iPhone, then download the same one to mine. Within a couple minutes I have them synced up with our locations being shared between them.
“There, now if you need to know where I am, or if I need to come get you, I can just find you on my phone. But we won’t need it. Just take the money, grab a cab, and get a nice dress. Let me have this night with you, please?” I finally ask nice. “It means a lot to me.”
“What if we go through all this trouble and can’t even get in?” She tries to feebly argue, but the fight just isn’t in her.
“Then we go somewhere fancy and have a night out.”
She pauses, biting her lip. Her eyes flicker down to my outstretched hand and she seems to come to terms with it. Grabbing the money, she pushes it down in her pocket and when she meets my eyes, I can see that excitement has returned.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
17
Red
My shopping bags crinkle loudly as I dangle them from my forearm and dig our hotel door key out of my pocket. It’s kind of crazy how much stuff I got for just a single night out. I’m guessing Ryan thought it would be as simple as buying a dress, but every girl knows it’s more than that.
The door opens to an empty room. I peer around, listening for the shower or some noise to tell me Ryan made it here before me. Nothing. I’ve got the place to myself. I hope he’s okay. It seems weird he’d take longer than me to get some clothes. Dropping my bags on the end of the bed, I pull my phone out and check the app he loaded onto my phone. The blinking circle tells me he’s heading back this way. He’ll be here soon.
Well, I can use this time to get ready. It’ll take me longer than him anyway. I pluck my purchases up and bring them into the bathroom, spreading everything out on the counter in front of the massive mirror as I start the shower. It doesn’t take me long to shed my weathered clothes and step inside. Closing my eyes, I let the heat of the shower envelop me.
All my worries are carried away on little lazy clouds of steam as I grab one of the complimentary soaps and pull it out of the little box, sliding it over my body. Any tension that was left in my muscles washes away with the suds down the drain. Squeezing out a tiny shampoo bottle into my hand, I try to imagine what Ryan will look like when he’s all cleaned up. Will he shave the scruff on his jaw? I try to picture his dark hair neatly combed, but it just makes me laugh. Someone like him wasn’t meant to be contained by the thread shackles of a suit. He was born to live and die in his leather jacket and perfect fitting jeans that are snug in all the right places.
Grabbing the conditioner, I finish up with my hair before rinsing it out and turning off the
water. I want to make sure I leave some for Ryan. Although, I’m guessing in a fancy hotel like this, you can expect hot water for hours. Not like in my cheap, rundown apartment over the bar.
Wolfe snarling up at me from the floor of that place strikes me like lightning. A jolt of fear travels through me and I freeze to the spot as my breathing becomes quick little puffs. Suddenly, through the film hazed mirror, I see myself. I see the panic that man can send me into covering my face like the ugly scar that covers his. My body is hunched over, cowering at only the thought of a guy. I look weak and pathetic. For the first time, I can truly see what being with Wolfe reduced me to. I can see myself as he saw me. Defeated. Scared. Broken.
I pull a deep breath into my lungs and watch myself grow in the mirror as I force my shoulders back and stand tall. I won’t let him do this to me. I’m not that person I just saw reflected back at me. I’m strong, smart, and brave. I refuse to let some violent degenerate change who I am.
“I fucking refuse,” I murmur to myself in the mirror.
“What’s that?” I hear Ryan’s voice muffled by the bathroom door and notice how my eyes sparkle and my body opens up. Wolfe can destroy who I am and bring me down to the worst version of myself, but Ryan is the exact opposite. Just a couple words from him build me up and fiery strength burns in my veins.
“Nothing, just getting ready. I won’t be too long,” I answer, smiling like a silly teen with her first crush.
“Take your time. There’s no rush.”
I hear him flick on the television and I begin getting dressed. It’s funny. I spent just as much on what I’m going to wear under my outfit as I did on the actual dress. I pull the tags off a see-through lace bra and matching, naughty panties. The soft green looks flattering against my hair. I sit on the edge of the tub and slide some thigh-high stockings on before securing them with the long garter strips that hang down my upper thighs.
Standing up, I’m happy with my appearance. And I’m pretty sure Ryan’s gonna love this little surprise later. I softly run my fingers down over the crotchless underwear and imagine his face when he realizes my sexy secret.
I slip on my lavender dress and use the hairdryer mounted to the wall. It takes a bit to dry it enough that it doesn’t look like I did when we got caught in that rain storm yesterday. I brush it out and clip it up with a sweet pin of a dragonfly I found in a cheap costume jewelry shop. Then it’s just a coat of mascara and some lip gloss and I’m all set.
I take a deep breath and open the bathroom door, finally ready to reveal myself to Ryan. He turns toward me and his mouth drops open as his eyes lick every inch of me.
“Wow.”
“Good wow? Or?”
“Holy shit, you look amazing. I have half a mind to throw you down on that bed and fuck you right now.” He starts walking toward me, but I hold up my hand.
“Let’s save that for after the party.” I laugh as an almost pained look flashes over his face. I’ve never met a man who’s made me feel as beautiful and irresistible as Ryan. The way he wants me, it’s as undeniable as his blue eyes or his boyish smile. It’s like his desire for me is a part of him and nothing I can do or say would ever change it because it’s just in his DNA.
“Fair enough,” he finally answers. “I’ll only be a minute. I’m gonna get cleaned up. I still won’t look good enough to be escorting you around tonight, but at least I won’t look like some kind of hobo on your arm.
“You’re a hell of a handsome hobo,” I tease.
“Thanks.”
He grabs his bag and disappears inside the bathroom and I plop down on the edge of the bed as I hear the familiar sound of the shower starting back up. Being in a hotel suite like this, getting ready for a date, it makes me think of what it would be like if Ryan and I had a real future together. One where he wasn’t just going to drop me off at my nana’s and take off for the open road.
Would he ever stay? Would he ever think of settling down and giving this, giving us, a shot? Would it even be fair to ask him to? When I asked Ryan to take me on this trip, I told him I wouldn’t put him out. And he seems pretty set on his freedom. It hurts to think a man I already feel so much for, a man who makes my reflection shine and my skin glow with excitement will soon be a memory.
I hear the water shut off with a squeak and I wipe my fingertips under my eyelashes, flicking away the mist building up inside. Well, if Ryan is destined to be a memory, I better make it the best one I can. And that means no crying and feeling sorry for myself. Tonight will be about cutting loose and giving the future me, the me without Ryan, something worth remembering.
18
Red
“I still can’t believe this worked,” I whisper in Ryan’s ear as he sways me to the slow song the band is playing.
“I think it was smart to wait until the dinner was over and the drinking started. We would’ve stuck out like sore thumbs if we tried to belly up to one of the tables.”
“Yeah, they make seating maps and everything for the dinner party. There’s no way we would’ve pulled that off,” I agree.
The band brings their song to an end and Ryan dips me dramatically over his arm. Maybe it’s the champagne I’ve been drinking all night, or maybe it’s just the atmosphere of love that only a wedding can bring out in people, but my head is swimming in a warm glow.
“Want a refill?” Ryan nods toward the surprisingly short line at the open bar.
I giggle in agreement.
I can’t help it. I feel like when I was a kid and managed to pull off a day of hooky. I tried it a couple times and always got caught. But one time, I managed to erase the robo-call reporting me absent from my nana’s answering machine. Just that one time, I was also smart enough to spend part of my day of freedom practicing her handwriting and carefully scrawling myself an excuse to present to my teacher the next day. I remember the exhilaration that shot through me when I realized I’d pulled it off. That same feeling making me as giddy as the bubbles of champagne bursting on the surface of my drink that Ryan just handed me.
“To the happy couple.” Ryan holds up his glass and we clink the crystal together. “And, you know, whoever got married today too.” He takes a sip and I swallow a mouthful of the golden drink.
Couple.
We do make a happy couple. It’s just a word I’d never give us, since our time together is so short. Suddenly the question that’s been swirling inside me all night can’t be contained any longer. It’s probably the drinks, but I don’t care. I need to know.
“Ryan, do you think you’d ever get married?” I try to ask it so casually, but the way he lifts his eyebrow at me and glances toward me from the corner of his eyes tells me I failed.
“Married?” He repeats the word like I’ve just started speaking to him in a foreign tongue. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
“Well, think about it now.” I push him. Why am I doing this? So much for subtle.
“I guess if it was the right circumstances and the right woman, then, yes, I probably would. Why? You feeling inspired? Should we go run down to city hall tomorrow and make this official?” His dry chuckle tells me he thinks the way the suggestion makes my heart race is ridiculous.
I deflate as the realization hits me that he doesn’t see any future with us. I’m not the right girl or the right circumstances to make him consider settling down.
“Me? Get married? I don’t think so,” I scoff theatrically, hoping I’m doing a convincing job. I don’t want him to think I’m trying to cling onto him or make this something he doesn’t want. “I think it’ll be a long, long time before I try my hand at a real relationship again.”
“Oh.” For a second, he almost seems disappointed. Wait, is there a chance? Could I have been wrong?
“Excuse me, sorry to interrupt you two.” Ryan and I turn to face a tall man who’s been sitting at the head table all night. I’m guessing this broad-shouldered beast is the best man. It’s incredible how much larger he looks now that he’
s towering over us.
“Yes,” Ryan answers flippantly, but my gut twists up in knots as I realize the jig is up. I can see some other guys standing off to the side watching us, murmuring to each other as they eye us up.
“I’m Eric’s brother.” Yep, that’d be the best man all right. “And I don’t believe I’ve met either of you before. Do you mind telling me who invited you to the wedding?”
“Wedding?” Ryan’s voice is almost mocking as he plays dumb.
I grab his hand and let my palm sweat against his weirdly cool dry one.
“Uh, yeah. You know, this big party here. The one where you’re helping yourself to all the alcohol?” The man’s olive face begins to turn pink as a wave of crimson climbs his neck. “That would be a wedding reception, and as far as I can see, you’re not on the guest list.”
“Oh shit, is this a wedding reception?” Ryan looks over at me like he just realized this fact. “So, this isn’t the class of ninety-eight reunion? Damn, how’d I mess that up?”
“Seriously, bud, get the fuck outta here before I lose my temper.” The best man grits his teeth, clearly not impressed with Ryan’s little song and dance.
“How about you ask nice, man? Stop being such a dick.” Ryan narrows his eyes and squares off his jaw.
Wait. What the fuck?
“Let’s just go.” I try to pull Ryan away, but the two men are in some kind of staring match showdown. Like those games we played as kids where the first person who blinks loses.
“Sure, bro, how about this? Please get the fuck outta here before I knock you out and drag your ass out.”
“See, was that so hard?” Ryan claps the man’s shoulder and the red officially travels the rest of the way up his face.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” he snarls and swings, but Ryan ducks and pulls me toward the door.
“Time to go, I guess.” Ryan smirks. “Thanks for having us,” he calls out loudly as we race out of the ballroom. “Mazel Tov and all that shit. Have a great life.” He guides me out the door, but angry best man isn’t too far behind us. He’s not interested in us leaving now. He’s got another goal and that’s to pound the stupid smile off Ryan’s face.
Riding Lil' Red Hard: A Modern Day Fairy Tale (Fairy Tale Series Book 3) Page 8
