“I’ll take you to your accommodations, then.”
“My accommodations.” I blink twice. “Right. Yes. Thank you.”
I step back as he drops his hand and releases my wrist. My blood feels like rushing rapids in my veins. Jackson’s smile wavers the tiniest bit, but he motions down the hall, back the way we came. I follow him, making sure I keep a little distance between us so I’m not at risk of touching him. Again.
We leave the penthouse, and he pulls out a keycard for Apartment B. “This will be your room for the night. I hope it suits your tastes.”
“I’m sure it will,” I murmur and brush by him, my heart thundering in my chest as I cross the threshold and the lights come on, dim at first, and slowly brightening.
It resembles an upscale hotel room, complete with a small kitchenette and a bathroom.
The walls are white, the floors dark wood, the bedframe is feminine, and the comforter is a pale, icy blue. Gray and black accent pillows dot the comforter, and several vases of flowers are placed strategically around the room. The chandelier in the middle of the ceiling reminds me of diamonds and teardrops. “This is beautiful.”
“I’m glad you approve.” He crosses the room and touches a sensor by the windows. “I entertain business associates often, and I realize it could be awkward to have people stay with me.”
The blinds retract, providing a stunning view of the city. The sun reflects off the windows of the skyscrapers, lighting up the backdrop. I can understand from this vantage point why people love New York City so much. The lines and the architecture are incredible from this high up. “Wow, this view is amazing.”
He nods. “My bedroom faces the other side of the city, so I get the sunrise, but both views are equally appealing.” He rocks back on his heels and glances toward the foot of the bed, where my small suitcase sits. “Everything you need should be there, or in the closet or the bathroom. If you’re missing anything at all, or there’s something you require, Aylin has left her card for you, so you can contact her directly.” He rubs the back of his neck, the first thing he’s done to signal anything but poise.
“Thank you, that was very thoughtful.”
He smiles faintly and nods, gaze moving around the room before it settles on me again. “I’ll leave you to freshen up, and if you want to review anything prior to the meeting, I’m available.”
“That would be great.”
He leaves the keycard to the apartment on the table and opens the door. “I’m just a text message away if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Jackson.”
He smiles, and it looks impish. “Thank you for always being up for adventure, even when I keep you in the dark about it.” He closes the door behind him, leaving me with a racing heart and more questions than answers.
11
WHAT IS THIS LIFE?
LONDON
I blow out a breath and drop down on the edge of the bed, flopping back. “Holy hell, this man is too much to handle,” I mutter. I notice a small note card sitting on the nightstand and pick it up.
It has Jackson’s company logo on the front. On the back is the phrase: “Made from 100% recycled paper.” I smile and flip it open. The writing is unfamiliar.
Dear Ms. Spark,
If you require any additional items during your stay in New York, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m at your service for any and all of your personal needs.
Best,
Aylin
Faint buzzing comes from my purse so I rummage around to find my phone. I should not be surprised that it’s my sisters, video calling me. I adopt an unimpressed expression and answer. “You two have a lot of explaining to do.”
Harley and Avery are sitting at the common table in the office. If I had to guess, Harley is sitting crisscross applesauce. “You can totally thank us later. How was the flight? Where are you staying? Tell us everything.”
“The flight was fine. We took his Gulfstream, which was an experience.” Small planes are a slightly louder, bumpier ride, but it was still nice. Particularly considering the company.
“But a good experience, right?” Harley wrings her hands before dropping them to her lap under the table.
“Yes, it was a good experience. I can’t believe you kept this a secret.” Harley usually has a terrible poker face, and she’s bad at lying. It’s not that she would willingly share a secret, it’s just that she can’t hold back her excitement.
“It wasn’t easy,” Harley admits. “Where are you staying? Do you know where you’re going for dinner?”
“I have my own apartment beside his penthouse. It’s in one of those Mills buildings. And I’m not sure where we’re going for dinner. Mostly I’m just trying to stay focused and be prepared for this meeting.” Which I still know very little about, so the last part is a challenge.