Gilded Cage
Page 12
“Why?”
He didn’t answer. Brandon fished a key card from his pocket and waved it at a main scanner on the bottom of the display screen. Room number eight blanked dark—taken. “Let’s go.”
Lillian followed him tentatively. She didn’t know what his problem was, but she thought hiding in a love hotel was a neat idea. She’d read somewhere people loved staying in a rabu hoteru because it was discreet. And for somebody who was on the run like them, she couldn’t think of any better place than this.
Their room was called “Sakura,” cherry blossom, and it carried its theme rather enthusiastically. The moment Brandon opened the door, the sight of everything cherry blossom bombarded them in epic proportions. From the wallpaper, carpet and linens, to a large bed in the middle of the room that was shaped like a Sakura flower.
“Gah,” Brandon spat. “What the fuck is that?”
“Kawaii. Cuteness.” She loved the Sakura flower.
“Eye bleach.” He locked the door and motioned her to stay still.
She watched him check all the corners of the room, the bathroom, the closet and all the desks and drawers.
“We’re good,” Brandon announced when he obviously hadn’t found anything suspicious. “You’ll take the bed and I’ll sleep on the couch.”
Her eyes drifted to the couch. It was a puny couch, upholstered in a pink Sakura pattern and intended just as a showpiece. It wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping there. Brandon was a tall guy. His legs would hang out from the armrest.
“What’s wrong with the bed? It’s big enough for both of us.” Actually, the bed was big enough for three or four people because of the shape.
Brandon’s lips thinned into a grim line. “You take the bed and I’ll take the couch.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“Are you mad at me?”
He brushed past her and stowed the duffel bag in the closet.
“Was it because I kissed you?”
Brandon flinched.
“I really like you.”
“Ms. Blackwell…”
“Call me Lillian.”
“Look, ki—”
“And don’t call me kid, either!”
He sighed, throwing his hands up. “Lillian…”
She beamed. “Much better.”
“Look. I helped you because I’m worried about you. I didn’t expect a reward or anything else.”
“And what has that got to do with me liking you?”
“You’re too young…”
“Today is my wedding day. If I’m old enough to get married, I’m old enough to play.”
Brandon ran his hands through his hair, looking frustrated.