Always With You

by Layla Hagen

  Reid’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Still here.”

  “How’s your old man?”

  “Enjoying retirement.”

  “Bet he’s proud of you. Thrown to the wolves so young, and you showed everyone. Have to say, I was one of those who thought you wouldn’t last. Gave you a year before you sold.”

  What the fuck?

  “Still have no intention of selling. Can I introduce you to Hailey?”

  I shook hands with the man. I disliked him intensely.

  “Who was that?” I asked once he’d moved on to someone else.

  “Competitor. Owns one of the other vintage hotels in town.”

  “What did he mean about your dad?”

  Reid frowned. “It’s not public knowledge, but Dad had a stroke ten years ago.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. How is he doing now?”

  “His recovery was very slow, and he’s not one hundred percent his old self, so work is out of the question.”

  “That’s why you took over the business.”

  “Yes.”

  “You were twenty-two, right? Wow. That’s a lot of responsibility.”

  We each took a glass of champagne, moving to a less crowded area of the room.

  “I’d never actually intended to work at the hotel.”

  “Why not?”

  He hesitated.

  “You don’t have to tell me.”

  “I want to. What is it about you, hmmm?”

  He dragged his fingers down my cheek, stopping at my ear. His touch was dangerous in more ways than one, but I just didn’t have it in me to pull away.

  “I have dyslexia. Reports, numbers... they’ve always been a struggle. I somehow winged it through college, but when you’re in charge of hundreds of millions, struggling won’t cut it. I wanted to work as a carpenter. Something where I used my hands. Dad had made a risky investment the year he had the stroke and expanded the hotel. The banks were breathing down his neck, ready to sell the hotel to the highest bidder if the numbers didn’t pan out. He wanted someone he could trust at the helm.”

  “You,” I whispered.

  “The hotel was his life’s work, and that of his parents. I wanted to keep their legacy safe.”

  “But you didn’t just make it work. You are fantastic at it.”

  His loyalty to his family touched me deeper than I thought possible. I saw him in a new light.

  “How did you work your way through it? I want to know more.”

  He looked at me over the rim of his glass, as if calculating something. Then he set the glass down on the bar table between us, running his fingers over the back of my hand slowly, seductively.

  “I’ll tell you under one condition.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “Join me in the private box to watch.”

  My cheeks flushed. This wasn’t exactly how I’d imagined I’d get into one of those boxes. The temptation was eating away at me. But how was I supposed to pull myself together with him next to me the entire time?

  “I promise I don’t bite,” he whispered.

  “I’m beginning to think you’d promise anything to get me where you want me.” He kept touching my hand, and I felt those fingers as if they were trailing up my inner thighs.

  He smiled. “True. But I did brave this just to spend some more time with you, so....”

  I brought my other hand over my chest, letting my jaw drop theatrically. “And now you’re blackmailing me. Tsk, tsk.”

  We fell into silence, but he held my gaze until I couldn’t do anything else but nod. He led me to the box, which was every bit as elegant as I’d assumed. Plush chairs with red velvet, white and gold wood, and even a small table with refreshments and snacks.

  “You have your own snack buffet. Where are the rest?” I asked, sitting in the middle of the row.

  “No one else.”

  I swallowed. Well, that could be problematic. Luckily, the box was open enough that this didn’t feel intimate. When he sat next to me, I had to reconsider that.

  “So, tell me more. Before the movie begins. I’m genuinely curious. I mean, those reports and stuff couldn’t magically become easier for you.”

  “They didn’t. Which was why I needed to spend more time on everything. I had to plan my day very meticulously to get stuff done. You have no idea how much easier voice recognition technology has made everything. Dictating emails or having software read out certain reports. I even dictate most text messages.”

  “This is... wow. I don’t even have words.”

  “Fuck, you’re lovely.”

  “Reid....”

  “You are.” His eyes were pure fire. I wanted to ask more, but I had the uncanny feeling that he was about to kiss me. I couldn’t let things go there, no matter how much I wanted to. Instead, I decided to change course.

  “Want to go through the interview questions now?”

  He shook his head. “That’s what tonight is for.”

  “But we can make a head start. Actually, we could probably breeze through all of them while we watch. You wouldn’t even notice.”

  “But then you’d have no reason to stop by tonight, and I wouldn’t have an excuse to have you all to myself.”

  Oh, God. The tone of his voice. The heat in his eyes. I couldn’t even breathe.

  Luckily, the movie started then. For the first time at a private screening, I was only half-paying attention. I needed to get out of our commitment tonight but didn’t know how. Besides, I did need to get that interview. Better to get it over with already.

  The movie was over all too soon, and I hoped he didn’t want us to dissect it, because I hadn’t caught all the details.

  “Should we grab a cab together?” he asked as we slowly exited the theatre.

  “I’m going home to change first.”

  “Okay. Meet you there in two hours?”

  “Sure.” I schooled my expression to appear neutral, not like I was still on edge from being so close to him. I’d use the time apart to cool down.

  We waited together while a valet called cabs in groups of five to pull in front of the theater.

  “Bring a bikini tonight,” he whispered.

  I shook my head.

  “I thought you wanted to swim in the panoramic pool.”

  “Yes, but....” What could I say? That was before I realized that I couldn’t trust myself to spend more time than necessary with him? Especially after everything I’d learned about him this afternoon. He’d made my body simmer by doing nothing more than just sit next to me.

  “You still want to.” I felt his hot breath on the top of my ear. “You know what, you don’t have to bring one. I’ll have one ready for you at the hotel.”

  “What? How?”

  “We have shops on the ground floor. I’m going to have fun picking up something for you.”

  I cocked my head sideways, nearly smacking into him. “You’re just as good as I am at finding loopholes.”

  “Can’t argue with that.”

  “You don’t have to buy me anything.”

  “Why, are you afraid of what I’d choose for you?” His voice was lower now, sexier. I barely resisted the urge to fan myself.

  Shaking my head, I took a step forward, toward the cab the valet just pointed at.

  “I’ll see you in two hours, Reid.”

  I’d gotten through the afternoon unscathed. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to say the same after tonight.

  Chapter Ten

  Hailey

  I didn’t have any time to procrastinate at home because traffic had eaten up much of my buffer. That was for the best really, otherwise I might have talked myself into bailing on Reid tonight, coming up with an excuse and rescheduling the meeting on a weekday, preferably lunch in a public place.

  I did, however, spend a little too long in front of the mirror, checking if the bottom of the bikini covered the cellulite dimple on my ass cheek. I’d barely turned thirty, but there was no getting rid
of it, no matter how often I ran. Yep, all covered from inquisitive eyes. I had butterflies in my belly. My palms were sweaty. I had a bout of energy that was going to burst out of me at any time.

  Here goes nothing.

  The door to the penthouse was open, so I let myself in. The room was dimly lit. I perched on the barstool, assuming he’d join me in no time. The receptionist had called to tell him I was here as I’d entered the elevator.

  “Hailey.”

  He sounded surprised. I turned around and nearly swallowed my tongue. He was only wearing a towel. How could his muscles be so defined and sculpted, and yet so lean? I didn’t know where to look first. At those arms, or at the water drops trickling on his chest. Watching his happy trail disappear into the towel made me clench my thighs. I only realized how obvious I was when his chest rumbled with laughter.

  “Should I just drop my towel so you can look your fill?”

  “Sorry... I... what? No. Did I take you by surprise? The receptionist called.” I kept my voice cool and calm, maintaining eye contact.

  “I was in the shower, didn’t hear it. Want us to start right away?”

  I cocked a brow. “How about putting on some clothes first?”

  “If you insist.”

  “I do.”

  “You sure? You seemed to enjoy the view.”

  I pointed toward where I assumed his bedroom was. “Clothes. Now.”

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  I took out pen and paper, as well as the list of questions. When Reid returned, the atmosphere between us was no longer light and playful. He cast one look at my list of questions, and I could almost feel him reinforcing his defenses. But that was quite all right... I was as good at getting under his skin as he was at getting under mine.

  “Want me to prepare you a drink?”

  He slipped behind the bar. I suspected he wanted to keep himself occupied while I fired off questions.

  “What do you want?”

  “Surprise me. I’ll start with the questions right away, okay?”

  He nodded tightly, confirming my suspicions.

  As I arranged the blank paper in front of me, he said, “You can record this if you want.”

  I blinked up in surprise. Warmth coursed through me. We’d made progress in the weeks we’d known each other. I opened the recording app on my phone and started it.

  Not having to take notes left me with nothing to do but look at him as I fired off questions.

  Whenever he was uncomfortable, his body language immediately gave him away: either he crushed ice with excessive force, or he gripped his own glass so tightly that I feared it might break. I hated Marion, I realized. I’d never even met the woman, but I hated her for the pain she’d caused Reid.

  Why, I wondered, were some people always in search of something else? And why weren’t they brave enough to first break up? Honest enough? That angered me the most.

  After Reid finished our drinks, he paced through the living room as he answered my questions. I was firing them off as fast as possible, because the only way I could think of making this less unpleasant was to make it as quick as possible.

  “Okay, we’re done,” I exclaimed at last, pressing Stop on my phone.

  Reid tilted his head back, drawing in a deep breath. I watched his chest expand, my eyes tracing the contours of his six-pack. They were visible through his thin dress shirt.

  When he opened his eyes, he zeroed in on me. The atmosphere changed instantly. He stalked in my direction, and my breath caught. He slid his empty glass on the counter, brushing my arm with his hand in the process.

  “Time to blow off steam, I’d say,” he murmured. He searched my face, and I was burning under his scrutiny. I’d never met anyone who affected me this way.

  “Oh? I thought we were swimming.”

  “That’s what I had in mind, but if you have other ideas, I’m happy to oblige.”

  I blushed.

  “Did you bring a bikini?”

  “Yes. You didn’t buy one for me, did you?”

  “Why do you think I was late?”

  I swallowed. Curiosity ate at me. I wanted to know what he’d chosen for me, but I stuck to my guns.

  “Well, you shouldn’t have. I’m going to wear mine.”

  I slid off the chair at the same time he moved in closer to me, resting his palm on my waist, bringing his mouth to my ear.

  “There will be plenty of occasions for you to wear what I bought for you, Hailey. I’ll make sure of that.”

  My thighs felt like spaghetti as I stepped away from him, grabbing my purse.

  On a shaky breath, I asked, “Where can I change?”

  “There’s a bathroom at the end of the corridor. Or you can have my bedroom if you prefer.”

  “Bathroom will do, thank you.”

  “There’s a robe for you on the sink.”

  I darted toward the bathroom, clutching my bag as if it was a lifeline. Once I was alone inside, I locked the door, then leaned against it, drawing deep breaths. Why had I not kept the bikini on after trying it on at home? Would have saved me the hassle of changing.

  I could leave. I could just walk back out and tell him I’d changed my mind. I should do it. Reid Davenport was everything I didn’t want in a man. Too broody, too withdrawn... too everything. But under that tough exterior was a man I was dying to get to know better. This was precisely why I should leave. Getting closer wasn’t a good idea, no matter how much I wanted to.

  Still, I slipped on my bikini and the robe Reid had said was mine. When it came to him, I couldn’t heed my own advice.

  I was fretting over nothing. We were just going to swim in the panoramic pool along with other hotel guests. I was dying to see the view. And besides, it was only seven o’clock. The pool closed at ten. We’d have plenty of buffer. I wouldn’t even know he was there.

  ***

  When I returned to the bar, I saw that Reid was also wearing a robe. Thank heavens it was fastened, because I did not want a prime view of his six-pack again while we were still alone. His gaze perused me shamelessly, and I felt utterly naked.

  “Ready?” he asked. I nodded. How could I be so on edge already?

  Unsurprisingly, his elevator had direct access to the pool floor. What was surprising was that the pool area was deserted.

  “Where’s everyone else?” I inquired. Reid smiled slowly.

  “Asked the staff to close access earlier tonight.”

  I swallowed, unable to meet his eyes, but I felt his gaze on me. When he came closer, my entire body was on high alert.

  “Thought you could enjoy the view better this way.”

  The view. I would focus on the view. I glanced outside the glass window, at the sprawling hills of LA. The sky was that orange-blue hue just before sunset. It was my favorite time of the day.

  “You didn’t have to do this. I doubt even a million people could keep me from enjoying everything.”

  I felt him step right behind me, then his hot breath on the shell of my ear as he spoke.

  “I did tell you I want you all to myself.”

  “Reid....”

  Oh, God. I shuddered but went ahead and undid the cord of my robe. Reid helped me take it off, and his fingers touched my shoulders. I felt the contact deep in my belly. Oh, my. I’d been right. There was no surviving tonight intact. When I walked out of the hotel, I wouldn’t be the same.

  I set my tote on one of the many sunbeds before entering the pool. The water was pleasantly cool, and I began swimming the breaststroke the second I heard Reid enter the pool too. Yeah, maybe this was just what I needed. Maybe a swim would help me relieve the tension in my muscles, clear my head.

  Ten minutes later, I gave up on the idea.

  I wasn’t a quitter, but I knew when to admit defeat. I felt Reid’s presence as if he was next to me the entire time. In between strokes, I’d glanced at him a few times. He was watching me intently. I swam toward him, into the small alcove just in front
of the window where you could enjoy water jets massaging your back.

  “Done running away?” he asked in an amused tone.

  “Wasn’t running away,” I muttered.

  “No?”

  I pressed the buttons for the jets, sitting on the bench, doing my best to look outside and not at the ridiculously sexy man next to me. I was failing, often, but just when I thought the growing tension between us was getting to be too much, footsteps echoed against the tiled floor.

  “I took the liberty of ordering us some snacks and drinks,” Reid explained.

  “Some snacks” turned out to be a five-course meal. The staff served it at the in-pool bar. The seats were in the water, the counter just above the surface.

  “This is delicious. I didn’t know your hotel served gourmet food.”

  “Happy you like it. Glad you stayed?”

  “Oh, yeah. Perfect way to spend Saturday evening.”

  Oh my God. We were on a date. Somehow, I’d ended up on a date with Reid Davenport. His lazy smile told me that he was enjoying watching me reach that conclusion.

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “Why? I like being near you.”

  “You have strange taste, Reid. Pretty sure you could spend time with someone who doesn’t give you shit at every turn.”

  “But I want to spend it with you. I like that you don’t put up with anything, that you don’t shy away from telling it to me straight.”

  I swallowed, twirling my glass, hyperaware that we were alone again. I wasn’t sure how to act or what to say. This tension between us was just too thick. I slid away from my chair, intending to go for another swim since we were done with dinner. Reid was just behind me.

  I stilled when he brought one hand to my waist, then moved around to face me. When he gently stroked my cheek with his thumb, I didn’t protest or move away. In fact, about the only thing I could do was look at his lips. Those strong, full lips.

  He brought his mouth to mine, just a gentle touch at first, then a small lick on my lower lip before kissing me hard. His hand went into my hair at the back of my head, tilting it just so. The other hand ran down my back, kneading my ass and pressing me against him. Every cell in my body was alive, like I was about to burst from too much energy. I was turned on, but so was he. Feeling him turn rock-hard within minutes almost made me lose my mind. He was always so in control of himself, yet he seemed to let completely loose when he was with me.