Can't Help Falling In Love

by Cheryl Harper

  Consuela said, “Ah, good then. We will finish the rooms on this floor for you, Mr. Tony. You need your break.”

  Tony cursed once or twice as he nodded. “Great. Thanks!”

  Randa and Tony were both quiet as they waited to be discovered there, amidst the clean but rumpled bed covers of the hotel’s only sailboat. Finally Tony picked up her bra, held it up to study the lace for a minute, then handed it back to Randa with a pitiful look. “You better put this back on.”

  Randa sat up and slipped into the bra before she pulled her tank top over her head and smoothed it down over her hips. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. She wasn’t sure what to say here. But she was no coward.

  “Thank you, Tony.”

  He shook his head. “So polite.” He reached over and took a strand of her hair between his fingers. The back of his hand brushed her breast as it slid down to the end.

  Randa replied in her best snooty voice, “Please do me the honor of following me to my new room at your earliest convenience, wherein I shall endeavor to rock your world as thoroughly as you have rocked mine.”

  Their eyes locked and they both smiled.

  Tony bowed his head. “Verily, milady, it would please me greatly to respond affirmatively but…”

  Smiling Tony had been devastating. Happy, teasing Tony filled her with longing. She felt a pinch in the area of her heart as she imagined what it might be like to kiss him whenever she wanted, to spend as much time as she liked looking at his naked chest, to be the one who made him smile, and to know what it took to make him laugh. He was a mystery, but the right woman would have a treasure when she figured out all the clues.

  Randa licked her lips. “But what? Too busy?” For sex? She had, in her life, been too busy for sex. But she’d never really gotten the appeal before either. She knew the power she had, but until she’d rolled around with Tony in the hotel’s only sailboat, she hadn’t really understood the craving. Now she did. And she wanted him.

  Randa knew how to get him, how to appeal to his baser instincts. She’d done it before, walking that very fine line between too much and not quite enough. She didn’t usually try sex kitten in rolled-up jeans and a wrinkled tank top. Considering his wish for a normal girl, she had a feeling it would still work on Tony.

  Maybe he’d been able to turn her down before, but she’d only been playing for information then. But honestly, she didn’t want to play anymore. Thanks to scrubbing toilets, she had all the information she needed. She knew the number of rooms. And now she knew that no two were identical and that Willodean Jackson’s decorating sensibilities were about as far as could be from the Whitmore hotel aesthetic. From here, all she had to do was crunch numbers. The fact that she was this close to finishing up in Memphis didn’t fill her with satisfaction. She had a bad feeling Tony was the only man who could give her that. She wanted him, maybe more than she’d wanted anything. Except her own hotel.

  There was something about Tony that made her want to be real. Maybe it was the fact that he was so solid, so dependable, the kind of guy she’d want beside her in a crisis because he wasn’t going to be shaken. She had the feeling she could be herself with him and he wouldn’t judge her or make her feel less than. Something about him made her think he’d accept the real her but also make her better. Men like that were hard to find.

  She bent over him and kissed his lips before she stepped back with a sigh. She ran a hand over her stomach and then propped it on her hip. “We had fun. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t like to have more.” She waggled her eyebrows. “You’re practically bursting at the seams. I can do something about that.” She pursed her lips and winked slowly.

  He pushed her gently away and slid off the bed to strip the bed covers. “Now that there’s blood flowing back to my brain, I remember why this is a very bad idea. You’re a guest in the hotel. The staff does not sleep with guests. You’re not…”

  “A normal girl. You said that.” Annoyed, Randa tried to neaten her hair. “I don’t get it. Why does that matter? I want you. If this is just about money, forget about it. What I want to do with you is totally free.”

  Tony clamped his lips shut and Randa watched a muscle twitch in his jaw as he gathered himself. “I’m not sure I understand it either, but it matters. I want you. So damn bad. You could make me lose my mind right here with one touch, but I have the feeling that’s not all there is to us. Until I know what your secret is, why you were so desperate to get in the hotel when you barely know Elvis’s last name… are you using me? Because I promise better people than you have tried to get me to do things I didn’t want to do.” Tony’s face was grim.

  His question was a shock, a slap in the face, and for a second she had no idea what to say or do. He’d hinted he knew she was lying and it was easy enough to brush aside or gloss over. This was a black-and-white demand. Anything less than the absolute truth was a lie, and she couldn’t force an easy lie across her lips. Not now.

  She clenched her arms tightly over her chest and gasped for breath while she battled the urge to confess everything and beg him to forgive her for trying to manipulate him. Because she had been doing her best to do so, just like the old Randa would. She couldn’t be angry at him for being smart to see through her and stubbornly honorable enough to call her on it.

  Every other time they’d danced around his doubts, Tony had pulled back, left her room to wiggle. This time, Tony didn’t try to help her out of the awkward situation. This time the room was quiet and the tension between them stretched out.

  “God, I can’t believe this. I think I’m going to cry.” Randa sniffed and rubbed her forehead. She did not want to cry. She was a grown woman. She played games with big stakes a lot in business. She should be able to handle confrontation. But this was Tony. The idea that he would think badly of her hurt.

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Shit. Tears? I mean, that’s like—”

  “I know! Manipulation 101, right? When things get too difficult, burst into tears.” Randa took a few deep breaths and willed herself to stop. She was a Whitmore. This was business. Sort of. Tears were so massively inappropriate here that she was ashamed of herself all over again. But more than anything, she wanted Tony to wrap his arms around her and tell her it was all right.

  The look on his face said that was unlikely. She straightened her shoulders. “Maybe I have been trying to manipulate you, Tony.” She cleared her throat. “No, I have been. And I wish I could tell you everything now, but I can’t. My father, my family… it’s just… I can’t, not yet, but I do apologize. I was only doing what I do.” She shook her head. “Have always done before, but I don’t… with you especially, I don’t want to do that. I hope you can forgive me.”

  His lips were a tight line as he propped both hands on his hips and studied her face. Randa could hardly stand the silence but she forced herself to stand still and wait. This felt too important to run away from.

  When he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, she did too. He said, “Don’t do it, Randa. Those little games… you don’t need them. You’re smart. You’re beautiful. And when you’re the real Randa, the one who loves floppy dogs and bright colors, you’re irresistible.”

  She blinked back the annoying tears again and rubbed a hand over the ache in her chest. Tony wrapped his arms around her and she had to fight to hold in a sob. She lost track of how long they stood there.

  Finally she trailed a hand down his chest and stepped away from him. Maybe Tony was right. Maybe it was time to retire her sex-kitten gambit and every other play she had. She could go join a convent. Honestly, until she met Tony, she wouldn’t have minded so much the convent anyway. Plenty of quiet, comfortable clothes, and no men. It was sometimes her idea of heaven.

  But now she had a new idea of heaven. And Tony was in it. Naked.

  “Are we still friends, Tony?” Do you still want me? That was the question on the tip of her tongue.

  Tony snorted. “Like I said, the real Randa… she�
��s hard to resist. As soon as you think you can tell me the truth about why you’re really here, come and see me.” He kissed her hard on the lips. “Please make it soon.”

  Tony stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest. The look on his face said he was resolute. There was no hope of convincing him otherwise.

  And right now she was sort of out of the mood. Damn it.

  She rubbed her sweaty palms down her thighs and felt a little kick of satisfaction when his eyes followed her hands. “Fine. I guess… if you’ve got this, then I’ll go…” She looked at the door and wondered what she could say here. She could go finish her report and fire it off right this minute. There was no other reason to stay here.

  Except Tony. And the way he made her feel.

  She wasn’t quite ready to go home. She could send the report, but nobody would be looking for it before Monday anyway.

  Finish the report. Send it. Tell Tony the truth. He’d probably be angry that she’d come here to plot taking over the hotel. She could understand that. He took his job seriously. And the way he talked about Willodean Jackson told her he wouldn’t be happy about someone threatening her hotel. Telling the truth was a huge risk. She couldn’t see a way that he could mess up the deal… would warning Willodean Jackson change anything? At this point, she wasn’t sure. She only knew that she couldn’t leave without taking the risk with Tony. The longer she stayed in the hotel, the stronger she felt. She wanted to go after what she wanted instead of waiting for what her parents would give her. She wanted a hotel. If they wouldn’t give it to her, then she’d just have to find another way. She had to make a change. Meeting Tony, who’d started with nothing to build a life, showed her she had more options than she’d thought.

  And maybe it wasn’t just Tony. Willodean Jackson had ignored most of the rules of decorating and good taste to build a place she loved. It was a place that a lot of people loved, for that matter. And the more she thought about the Rock’n’Rolla and what made it special, the harder it was to ignore how much it would suck to tear that all down. At this point, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be the one responsible for that destruction.

  Misty needed her lobby floor.

  And Randa was pretty fond of the sailboat room at this point.

  Not that she’d be able to put that in a report.

  “I guess I’ll go down and pick up my bags from the front desk. I have to make the move to the staff apartments. I think we’re going to be neighbors tonight.” She raised her eyebrows at Tony and waited for his reaction.

  He shrugged. “Good plan.”

  He didn’t move as she walked to the door. She knew because she did her best to keep eye contact with him even as it caused a weird kink in her neck. Maybe she wanted him to stop her, but she took comfort in the way his lips tightened as his eyes locked in on her rear end. She felt the flutter of desire and nerves and something else as she watched him watch her. He made her feel beautiful, but more importantly, he made her feel confident, like she could take on the world because he was right behind her. That was seductive. And it made her consider just how easy it would be to fall in love with him.

  She paused in the doorway but he didn’t stop her so she pulled the door closed behind her. She waved at Consuela who was vacuuming in front of a steaming volcano in the distance. She got on the elevator and punched the button for the lobby. She’d get her bags. Finish her report and tomorrow she’d hop the first shuttle to Graceland. Once that report was on its way, she was on vacation. She was in Memphis. She was going to see what all the fuss was about and work on making a memory or two to take back to Chicago. She had a feeling when she was back at the family business meeting, she’d need the memory of this place and this man to remind her what confidence feels like. She didn’t want to forget.

  Chapter Eight

  * * *

  TONY HAD A hard time keeping his mind on the job Saturday afternoon. It was a good thing that the Rock’n’Rolla had settled back into the well-run machine it was most of the time. When he’d stepped off the elevator into the lobby after two on Friday afternoon, it looked like several busloads had hit Laura and the new front desk clerk at once. A nice cross-section of Elvis fans had cluttered the lobby. Some waited in line to check in. Others were having mini reunions hidden by the lush foliage. And every man, woman, and child waiting to check in was decked out for the occasion. It was like the scrum in front of the gates to Disneyland before opening, except instead of Mickey on T-shirts and Minnie ears and Goofy hats, there was Elvis, Elvis, and more Elvis. Willodean would be sorry she missed it. These were her people.

  Misty had retreated to her pink bed behind the front desk with a beleaguered sigh but she was quickly sawing logs again. Tony had smoothly stepped in and rallied the troops. Sam and the guys on duty at the door had jumped in and soon Tony was handing out hotel keys to rooms that he’d just cleaned with the most distracting toilet scrubber he’d ever met.

  He’d been happy to see the crowd. Work was always his favorite distraction. This time it took his restlessness and gave him something to think about other than Randa. Half-naked Randa.

  Tony had to take a quick break to interview two applicants for the housekeeping openings. Since he didn’t really want to spend more time making beds, he’d hired them both for probationary periods. For a short window, the hotel would be fully staffed. It would never last, but everyone needed a breather. Well, everyone except him. He fit best when everyone around him was stressed, overwhelmed. He could take charge, make quick decisions, and get things back on track. That’s what he was best at. So he vacuumed, he hired, he fired, he kept an eye on security, and he would work with construction crews and decorators and anybody else involved in the hotel’s upcoming expansion.

  Today was no different. He needed the confusion and the challenge of sorting it out to remind him how much he enjoyed his life here at the hotel, even if there was no long-legged blonde waiting for him in bed. Because he’d had to be honorable. Or noble. Or stupid.

  When Laura ran him off just before four the day before, he’d been dead on his feet. And looking at another long shift. Somehow he’d managed a quick nap under a Misty blanket before he went back on duty. That was a blessing. He’d had to force himself to look away from the door to the small apartment next to his. The one where Randa was staying and would be sleeping with her head right next to his, separated by only a wall and his nocturnal schedule.

  And so far today, he hadn’t had to force himself to look unaffected around her.

  Because he hadn’t seen her.

  At all.

  He didn’t like that any more than pretending he didn’t want to strip her naked. He’d been on edge since he’d been back at the desk. Early afternoon was usually busy with people checking in. Not today. This weekend the superfans were here for the duration, so now the front desk was more about answering questions, giving directions, and shooting the breeze with regulars who returned every year for Elvis Week. Laura and Michelle were taking a break while everything was quiet, and he was left to stare hard at the door. Or the hallway Randa would use to enter the lobby. Or the door. Or the hallway.

  So he was watching when a taxi stopped in front of the doors and Willodean Jackson and Arlene Masters hopped out in the brightest Hawaiian shirts he’d ever seen. When they entered the lobby he had to squint to look directly at them. Willodean’s was neon green, of course. Green was her signature color and he’d never seen her without it somewhere on her person. Arleen’s shirt was an orange hot enough to sizzle from across the room.

  When the commotion hit the lobby, Tony squinted against the glare and walked around to greet them just as Laura returned to the desk.

  Tony took Willodean’s bag and said, “Welcome home, ladies. We are very glad to see you.”

  Willodean put her hands on his cheeks and Tony dutifully bent so that she could kiss him and hug his neck. “Oh, Tony, I’ve missed you too! And the place looks great! I can see by the parking lot we’re at capacity.”
She clapped her hands and Misty came loping across the smooth floor sliding to a sloppy sprawl in front of Willodean. “And there’s my beautiful girl. Did Uncle Tony take good care of my Misty baby?”

  Misty nodded a bit, but she didn’t take her eyes off Willodean’s face. Willodean bent down to kiss her right between her fluttering green bows, but for once in her life Misty moved like lightning and slurped her tongue right up Willodean’s cheek.

  Willodean was pleased, Arlene was disgusted, Misty was in heaven, and Tony was happy he’d been around to see the homecoming. “Let me take your bags up to your room for you.”

  Willodean held up one finger. “Just a minute.” Then she scurried across the lobby to hug Laura and Michelle. Tony scratched Misty’s head while he watched them make small talk. Finally Willodean waved and said, “Let’s do dinner. My place tomorrow. Holly will want to see all the pictures.”

  Laura sighed. “Oh, yes, she will. My daughter and KT have been busy planning their own Hawaiian vacation.”

  Willodean clutched her hands in front of her. “Like, maybe for a honeymoon?” She said the last word with a barely suppressed squeal. “A teenage girl along for the trip might put a cramp in your style but she’d love Hawaii, I just know it.”

  Laura laughed. “I’m not sure I’m invited. Those two are thick as thieves and planning all kinds of adventures like parasailing and volcano climbing and who knows what else KT will assure me is perfectly safe.” Laura shook her head. “I think I’m supposed to stay here and work. And I’m not sure I don’t like that plan.”

  Willodean shook her finger. “I’m going to put you on my to-do list. I’ll have you married and sipping frozen drinks on the beach before the end of the year, see if I don’t.”

  Laura blushed a little. She cleared her throat and shrugged.

  Willodean’s laugh was wicked.