Room Service

“I’m safe. I’m sorry I worried you.”

“Worried me? You were mugged, and then you don’t get a hold of your family.” His voice rings on the phone.

“How did you know I was mugged?” she asks, catching his slip up.

“The police officer told me when I arrived.”

“Oh yeah?” What a fucking lying sack of shit. My body tenses under her as I think of all the ways I could destroy that man.

“Yes. Now, where are you so I can take you home where you belong?”

“I’m not going home yet.” Her voice is weak, like a mouse instead of the tiger that just unleashed on me.

“What? Don’t play this game. Is that what you wanted? Me to chase you here?”

“No. I wanted to be left alone. I didn’t have a charger for my phone until last night, and then I fell asleep. I’m sorry you’re upset, but I’m supposed to be on vacation and not at your beck and call.”

“What did you say? I’ve been helping you out, and this is how you act? If you don’t come back with me, you’ll be out of a job. Understood?” I reach for the phone, but she shakes her head.

“Understood,” Cassandra states and then ends the call.

“I’m about to break his fucking jaw for speaking to you like that.”

She pats my chest, attempting to quash the rage building up in me. “Don’t worry about him. He’ll calm down soon and see how irrational he’s being.”

“Sweetheart, he didn’t come all the way here because he’s worried about you. He’s been here since you arrived.”

“What do you mean?” She turns in my arms, pushing her upper body away to look at me better.

“I mean he’s the one who set up the damn mugging.”

“What? No. He couldn’t do that.” Cassandra stops herself to ponder my words as if the idea isn’t so absurd anymore. “Do you really think he did that?”

“I know he did. That’s what we’re supposed to meet with Chief Locke for today. The guy on the bike had been seen ditching the bike and hopping into a private limo. The thing about small towns is that people talk. The plates were noted and given to the chief, who gave them to my security team. The limo was rented by Charles Ellis.”

“Oh no.” She’s out of my arms and on her feet, glaring at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I planned to tell you before the call. Honestly, I didn’t want you to be upset any more than you were already. After having you in my arms, the thought of making you upset tore at me. Besides, I didn’t have all the details until I spoke with Marco. That’s when he gave me that last bit.”

“I don’t know what to do.” Her dainty, bare fingers run through her long hair. All I can think about is my ring should be on her finger. She begins to pace around the living room, and as much as I want to comfort her, I’m at a loss of what to say that won’t piss her off.

“What do you want to do?”

She freezes, slowly raising her gaze to mine as she clasps her hands together. “This is all new. Maybe we rushed last night.”

“Whatever you want, but do not regret last night.”

“I don’t, but I’m not sure it’s smart to give up my career in Chicago and then things don’t work out—” she doesn’t finish the ‘between us’ part because she knows that her leaving isn’t something I want to hear.

“Are you serious right now? You’re going to go back to him, work for him?”

“No, but I can do something else.”

“You can easily do something else here if you really wanted.” I feel like an asshole when tears flood her eyes. “I’m sorry, Cassandra, but I told you I wasn’t in this for just the night.”

“I know. I know. I just need a moment,” she pauses and then asks, “Is that why you were on the phone last night?”

“Yes, but most of the information came this morning. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“I just need some time to process this.”

“Fine. I’ll go down to the hotel and meet with that asshole and the chief. You can stay here until you make up your mind. Check on your luggage. If you want to leave, I’ll drive you to the airport myself.” I storm out of the villa, feeling angry, jealous, irrational. As I walk to the hotel, I only get angrier. The thought of her leaving with this prick sends me into a jealous rage. I want to stomp on Charles’s head. When I get to the front desk, I have an audience. It seems the local town gossips are lurking.

“Where’s Ms. Tate?” Locke asks as I walk up to him.

“She’s deciding if she’s staying or going.”

“She’s coming home with me.”

“No, you’re not leaving yet. Chief Locke, my security has the information you need. He’s the one who hired the biker to rob Cassandra.”