Escape With Me (Love With Me 1)

She heard him start the spiel to offer the StarTree credit card membership.

Cassie sighed and shut her office door. This was not the day she'd been expecting. She went to her desk and saw four urgent emails in her inbox. All of them were from corporate, and none of them were happy.

She sighed again, leaning back in her chair and trying not to feel overwhelmed. She loved managing the hotel, but she hated the way corporate breathed down her neck on every little thing. This was just another example. If she had a little more leeway on hotel policies, she was sure she could have accommodated Wyatt and the reporters outside better.

But, that wasn't her problem for the day. Today, she needed to kick out her semi-boyfriend.

She stood up, checked her hair and makeup, smoothed her work jacket, and headed up the back elevator to Wyatt's room.

The guard standing at the elevator entrance was definitely against corporate policy twenty-three and thirty-six, but Cassie wasn't about to say anything about it. The guard let her pass with a stiff nod. She hit the elevator button and rode up to the top floor alone.

Cassie knocked with her manager knock. She wore her manager's face and had her manager mindset. This wasn't personal. This was business. Wyatt would have to understand.

“Cassie.” Wyatt grinned as he opened the door. “Please come in.”

She stepped inside the room. She could see a messy bed through an open door, and the TV was on low. Other than that, it barely looked like Wyatt had even set foot in the place. Wyatt stood beside her in comfortable looking slacks and a polo. It was similar to his bartender uniform, but this set looked much more expensive.

“I'm afraid I have some bad news, Mr. Landers.” Cassie felt it was best to keep this professional. She stood up straight and clasped her hands behind her back.

Wyatt frowned. “Mr. Landers? Cassie, what's wrong?”

“We're afraid that the hotel can no longer accommodate your needs,” she replied, quoting the handbook precisely. “We appreciate you choosing StarTree Hotels, but feel that it is not a good fit for you to stay with us at this time.”

Wyatt looked at her and then chuckled. “So you're kicking me out?”

“The StarTree requests that you find alternate lodging,” Cassie replied.

Wyatt took a step toward her, his smile cocky. “You're kicking me out.”

Cassie fidgeted, struggling to maintain the expected StarTree image. “We're not kicking you out, as we do not kick out guests, but we are diplomatically asking you to go somewhere else due to the disruption of other hotel guests. We are happy to help accommodate you in this process.”

He laughed this time. “I already have alternate lodgings,” he told her. “I've rented an apartment downtown that can, how did you say it, 'better accommodate my needs.'”

“Oh, thank heavens.” Cassie let out a sigh of relief before catching herself. “I mean, thank you. We appreciate your business.”

Wyatt chuckled and shook his head. “Does the hotel really have you say it like that?”

Cassie nodded.

Wyatt put his hand on her shoulders and gave her a warm smile. “Then I shall tell them you did an exemplary job kicking me out.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I didn't kick you out. I suggested you find alternate lodgings.”

“Right. You did an excellent job of kicking me out to find alternate lodgings.” He grinned, knowing that he was pushing her buttons.

At least it made her smile, even if it was because he was being a goofball.

“There's the smile,” he said softly. He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze before letting go. She could tell he wanted to do more but held back. "It suits you better than the frown."

“Well, just get out of my ho

tel, and I'll smile more,” she teased, throwing all the corporate policies out the window. Employees were not to make sarcastic remarks to guests. The goal was polite and sincere at all times. Rule Ten.

“I'll be out in an hour,” he told her. “We're still on for this weekend though, right? The ball?”

There was just a hint of concern in his voice that she might choose not to go, and it made her heart tighten. She didn't want to let him down.

“I'm looking forward to it,” she answered honestly.