With a gentle smile, he said, “It’s more than I’ve got, so don’t worry about it”
His kindness eased her embarrassment.
Susan had never stayed in a hotel room before. She didn’t want to confess such inexperience. Things were scary enough without having to deal with Zach’s scorn. So she followed him into the brightly lit, elegantly decorated lobby.
He waved aside the bellboy’s offer to take her suitcase and approached the check-in counter. To her surprise, the lady behind the counter greeted him by name.
“Good evening, Mr. Lowery. We have your new key all ready, and we’ve transferred your belongings to your new room.”
“Oh, thank you. I was going to ask about that,” he said with a smile, but Susan was beginning to know him and saw a tenseness in his posture.
“I won’t need your key back. We’ve already changed the code on the door.”
“Right. Well, we’ll just go on up.”
“Of course. And call if you need anything.” Then the woman shifted her gaze to Susan. “Congratulations, Mrs. Lowery.”
“Thank you,” Susan murmured, trying to present a proper bridal air.
Zach took her hand and started toward the elevator.
“Is everything all right?” she asked softly.
“Later.”
They rode in silence to the top floor. When they got off, Susan noted there were only two doors. Zach moved to the door on his right, pulling her along behind him.
He slid the key in the door just as the second elevator door slid open. A waiter got off, pushing a cart. “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lowery. Mr. Peter Lowery ordered a surprise for you.”
“Great,” Zach muttered. He pushed open the door. “Go ahead.”
“Certainly, sir. That way I can hold open the door for you to carry your bride over the threshold.”
Susan tried to cover her gasp with her hand. When she looked at Zach, she read the answer to her unspoken question. Yes, he would be carrying her over the threshold.
He set down her small bag and reached for her. He swung her up into the air with an ease she admired. The man was strong, as Paul had said.
The waiter beamed at them, seeming to wait for something else. When Zach’s lips covered hers, she knew what it was. And discovered that the kiss at their wedding wasn’t a fluke. When this man touched her, she seemed to lose control. Her head was spinning when he slid her down his body.
That didn’t reduce the excitement racing through her body.
Immediately, the waiter removed several domed lids to reveal Gramp’s present, an array of cheeses, crackers and a beautiful pile of chocolate-dipped strawberries, along with another bottle of champagne.
Then he bowed and waited for Zach’s tip.
Susan turned away, hoping to hide her excitement... and her fear.
That’s when she saw the room she had entered. Or rather, the suite. The beautiful living room had a wall of windows looking over Kansas City. It opened into an elegant dining room. She assumed the door on the nearest wall was the bedroom. She thought her entire apartment was smaller than just the living room and dining room.
The snap of the door closing behind the waiter had her spinning around. “It’s so big.”
“Not big enough.”
She stared at him, wondering how spoiled he must be to need more space. “How can you say that?”
“Because it’s only got one bed, Susan. Unless you’ve decided you want to share, that’s going to be a problem.”
Her cheeks flamed. “Oh.”
“That’s why I was upset. I hadn’t thought about the fact they would automatically move my clothes and cancel my room. I guess I had too much on my mind.”
“Oh,” she repeated, unable to think of anything to say. Then, she said, “The couch is a big one. I’ll sleep there.”
“No,” he said with a sigh, “I’ll take the couch.”
“But I’m shorter than you. It will be more—
“Susan!” he snapped. “I’ll take the couch!” He stomped away from her without waiting for an answer. At the dining table, where the waiter had placed the food, he began filling a plate.
“You’re hungry?”
“No. But Gramp will get a report on whether or not we enjoyed his gift. Come eat something.”
As she reluctantly filled a plate, he opened the bottle of champagne and poured two glasses.
“I-I don’t usually drink,” she said shakily.
He smiled at her, which increased his attractiveness.
She sighed.
“And you already had a glass at the wedding?” he asked.
“Well, a couple of sips only.”
“You’re a high roller, aren’t you, Susan?” His smile sharpened.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Nothing. I was teasing. Want to sit down?”
“I’d rather just go to bed,” she whispered. When his eyes lit up, she realized her mistake. “Alone! I meant alone.”
“I was afraid that was what you meant. Can’t you eat a little more?”
She removed more domed lids and looked at stuffed mushrooms, chicken wings, deviled eggs, and she sighed. “I—I suppose.”
He put his plate and glass on the table and crossed to her. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell Gramp I kept you too busy to eat.” He took the plate from her hand.
“Oh.” The meaning of his words brought the blood to her cheeks again. “Thank you.” And she rushed into the bedroom, only to stop and stare at the huge bed, the covers turned back and chocolate mints on the pillows.
“Oh,” she said. staring.
“Is that the only word you know?” he demanded, arriving behind her with her suitcase in his hand.
“I’ve never...it’s beautiful.”
“You’ve never stayed in a suite before?”
“I’ve never stayed in a hotel before,” she whispered.
He set the bag down beside the bed. “I’m sorry. Well, you’re starting at the top. This is a great hotel.”
“You’ve stayed in this suite before?”
He rolled his eyes. “Not exactly. This is the bridal suite, honey.”
“But you’ve been married before,” she reminded him. Somehow the thought of him occupying this suite with his ex-wife was painful, though she couldn’t explain why.
“We went to Paris for our honeymoon,” he said, his voice rough, as if the memory was unpleasant. He crossed over to the closet and pulled a blanket from the shelf. “Mind if I take a pillow?”
“Of course not. Do you need more covers?”
“No. And there’s a bathroom on the other side of the kitchen, so I won’t need to bother you again tonight.” He strode past her, but just as she released her pent-up breath, he stopped and dipped his head, brushing his lips across hers.
It wasn’t the knockout kiss from the wedding, or the kiss they’d shared when he’d carried her across the threshold. But it was sweet. Tender and sweet.
The growl in his voice told her he didn’t think so.
“Good night!”
Damn! He’d barely escaped the bedroom without breaking his word. He’d promised Susan their marriage would be on her terms. He hadn’t realized how difficult that promise would be to keep.
Susan was a beautiful woman. But when she’d confessed she’d never been in a hotel room before, he’d wanted to cuddle her against him and tell her he’d make her first experience one to remember.
He wanted to share a first with her.
What had started out as a simple scheme to please Gramp had become quite complicated.
“Zach?”
Her soft voice had him spinning around. She was hiding behind the bedroom door, but he could see enough of her attire to realize she was dressed in a plain white T-shirt.
“Yeah?”
“Um, I need to be at work at eight-thirty in the morning.”
“Call in sick.”
She reacted as if he’d suggested she rob a bank. “I can’t d
o that!”
“Susan, it’s your honeymoon!”
“We both know it’s not. Besides, you’re the one who decided to get married on a Tuesday night. I have to go to work. Will you wake me up?”
“Dial 0 on the phone and ask for a wake-up call. They’ll give you one whatever time you want it.”
“Thank you.”
The door closed and he was alone in the room again. With a mental picture of Susan in a white T-shirt. He immediately wondered how long the shirt was. It shouldn’t have been sexy. Most brides wore elegant peignoirs—lace, satin...nothing.
Susan in a white T-shirt.
He groaned and picked up his glass of champagne. After downing its contents, he filled the glass again, picked up his plate of food, turned on the television and sat down on the couch.
It was going to be a long night.
Susan woke when the phone rang. She answered at once, hoping it hadn’t disturbed Zach. After hanging up, she sank back against the pillows, reluctant to leave the most comfortable bed she’d ever experienced.
With a sigh, she shoved back the covers. In the luxurious bath, she showered and dressed, then gathered up her belongings. After carefully making the big bed, she picked up her bag and paused at the door.
Her reason for being there wasn’t what she wished it was, but it had still been an enjoyable experience. Once Zach left the room.
She eased open the door and tiptoed past the sofa, staring at him as he lay sprawled on the long sofa. The blanket was pulled up to his chest but not over it. And his chest was bare.
She drew a deep breath, staring at his hard muscles, the dark hair that covered the broad expanse of skin. He could pose for those male calendars if he ever needed money.
Oh. yeah, that was going to happen.
Backing away from the sofa before she could be tempted to touch him, she bumped into the door. She stared at him, scarcely breathing. When he didn’t move, she hurriedly undid the lock and turned the knob, easing the door open.
Once she was in the hall, with her bag in her hand and the door closed, she breathed a sigh of relief. When the elevator pinged after she’d pushed the button, she wanted to shush it, but then she realized how silly her reaction was.
She was feeling good about her escape until she was crossing the lobby.
“Mrs. Lowery?”
The waiter from last night had been talking to one of the bellboys when he’d spotted her.
“Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yes! Yes, but I have to go to work and—oh. no!”
“What is it?”
“I don’t have my car here. I forgot.” What was she going to do now? She wasn’t sure she had enough money to pay for a taxi.
“The hotel van will take you wherever you want to go,” the waiter said, as if her request was normal.
“Really? That would be wonderful.”
“Wait right here.”
In no time, the waiter escorted her to the door and introduced her to a young man in a similar uniform. He opened the passenger door to a shuttle van for her, then circled the van and slid behind the wheel.
“Where do you need to go? The airport?”
“No. The Lucky Charm Diner on Wornall.”
“Hey, I know that place. Good food.”
She smiled. It was a short drive, and the driver chatted about the weather and the sports teams, relieving Susan of any need to talk.
When she walked into the diner, her tension eased. Slipping through the kitchen, she greeted the chefs and hurried into her office, hiding her suitcase under the desk.
The door opened and Kate stuck her head in. “Hi. How’s everything going?”
“Great. I’m a little late—”
“Don’t be silly. I’m going to be here all morning, so if you have any questions for the brochure, let me know.” She almost pulled the door closed, then opened it again. “By the way, Nathan can count to ten now.” Nathan was Kate’s little boy.
Susan smiled. “He’s a genius!”
“I know. You and Paul want to come to dinner tonight? We haven’t seen you much lately.”
“That would be nice,” she agreed at once. Paul always enjoyed their visits to Kate or Maggie’s homes.
She settled down to work after Kate returned to the kitchen. It felt good to ignore the bizarre events of the past two nights and concentrate on her work.
No one bothered her until almost eleven. Then Kate opened the door again.
“Hi, Kate. Are you leaving?” Usually her half sister only put in half a day at the diner.
“No, not yet. Uh, Susan, there’s a man on the telephone. He says he’s your husband. Is there something you haven’t told me?”
Chapter Five
Zach drummed his fingers on the bedside table as he waited for Susan to come to the phone. Not only had she left without awakening him, she’d made the damn bed!
Room service had delivered breakfast a few minutes ago, ordered by his grandfather. Zach had had the forethought to throw the pillow into the bedroom, wrap the blanket around his waist as a makedo robe and fluff up the pillows on the couch. The waiter had offered to serve their breakfast to them in bed, but he’d firmly refused.
It wasn’t any thanks to Susan that disaster had been averted. Then he’d called the diner and was given the third degree by some woman before she’d call Susan to the phone.
He wasn’t a happy camper.
“Zach?”
Her hesitancy bothered him even more. He barked into the receiver, “Do you have some other husband I don’t know about?”
Silence.
He tried again. “Why didn’t you wake me before you left? I felt like a fool waking up with you gone and room service knocking on the door.”
“I thought you’d want to sleep.”
Her response was thoughtful, especially since he’d been up half the night thinking about her and her virginal T-shirt, wondering if she’d worn her bra under... He forced his thoughts to a screeching halt. “We need to make plans.”
“About what?”
“Seeing Gramp, for one thing. He’ll expect us to come visit him together.”
“No, we can’t,” she replied with a muffled voice, sending his temper through the roof.
“Look, I paid good money—”
“No, not you!”
“What’s going on, Susan? You’re driving me crazy.”
“That was my sister you talked to,” she told him. “She wants us to come for dinner tonight” Her voice grew more distant, as if she’d turned her head away from the receiver. “I’d forgotten, Kate. We have to go to the hospital.”
“You just said...” Zach protested.
“Oh. Zach, my sister wants us to come to their house at six for—for dinner.”
Zach knit his brow. “I’m confused. What am I supposed to say?”
“His grandfather will be expecting us.” Pause. “Yes, he’s in intensive care.” Pause. “You’re right, of course. I guess there would be time to eat, but we don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
Zach held the phone, listening, but he didn’t bother to answer. She was having a conversation with her sister. Suddenly it occurred to him that the only sister she’d mentioned was Megan, an eighteen-year-old, away at school.
“How is Megan going to fix dinner for us? I thought she was in Nebraska.”
“Not Megan. Kate,” she told him. Then her voice was muffled again. “Yes, I guess we can. Is six o’clock okay with you?”
He listened.
“Zach? Are you there?”
“Hell, yes, I’m here, but it’s hard to tell when you’re talking to me and when you aren’t.”
“I’m talking to you. Can we have dinner at my sister’s at six o’clock? Then they’ll baby-sit Paul for us.”
“Am I supposed to say yes?”
“Of course. Zach says thank you, Kate. We’ll be there at six.”
“Are you ready to talk to me now?” he asked impatiently
. “I think I should take you out to lunch so we can get things straightened out. I’ll pick you up in fifteen minutes.”
“I have lunch between eleven-thirty and twelve.”
Who did she work for, a slave driver? “That’s criminal. Everyone gets an hour for lunch.”
“Um, okay, today I’ll take an hour.”
“Right. Be ready.”
Susan reluctantly hung up the phone. She knew what awaited her. Kate would grill her until she knew every last detail of her “marriage.” She faced her sister, drawing a deep breath.
To her surprise, Kate ignored her, reaching for the phone. After dialing, she spoke into the phone. “Maggie? Can you come to the diner right now? Susan got married, and she’s about to tell me why we weren’t invited. I didn’t think you’d want to miss the explanation,”
After waiting for Maggie’s response, Kate hung up the phone and turned to stare at Susan. “Any complaints? This way you’ll only have to explain once.”
Susan reluctantly grinned. She should’ve known. Kate and Maggie were very close. Since she’d met them eighteen months ago, the three of them had been building a friendship that meant so much to her. But Kate would always include Maggie.
And she was right. This way Susan would only have to explain the humiliating situation she was in one time. “I hope she hurries. Zach said he’d be here in fifteen minutes, and he didn’t sound in an accommodating mood.”
Kate raised her chin, her red hair framing her determined fact. “He can wait.”
Somehow, Kate’s reaction raised Susan’s spirits. Since she’d gotten involved in Zach’s problems, it seemed he’d run roughshod over her, through no fault of his own. But it felt good to have someone on her side.
“I’ll get us all a cup of coffee,” she said, knowing to take it to the back booth, where she’d first served Zach. That booth was the traditional family booth. Only used for customers when the diner was full.
Maggie arrived in five minutes. She was a quiet brunette, steady and calm to Kate’s flash and dash. Susan worried about explaining to Maggie, because she wasn’t impulsive like Kate. Except once.
Maybe she would understand, after all.
“You’re married?” Maggie asked as she slid into the booth across from Susan.
A Ring for Cinderella Page 5
