“Your designer is smart.”
“That idea was all me.”
“Oh, well then, lucky guess.” She shrugged but pursed her lips to keep from laughing.
“You’re hilarious, Miss Witt.”
She bowed as we exited the elevator and went to another room. She entered and spun, taking in the browns, leather, and darker woods, but stopped when she spotted the four-post bed. She turned her head slowly to look over her shoulder, giving me the devious smirk, I was becoming to know so well.
“Did you plan each floor to look like a room at Voyeur?”
I barked a laugh. “Not that I know of.”
“Oh, come on. Is this the floor where I get tied up and tortured with pleasure?”
She flopped back on the bed and made an X with her body, her arms, and legs reaching for each post. I laughed again, amazed that this girl could both humor me and turn me on all at once.
She threw an arm over her eyes. “Help,” she said in a breathy voice. “I’ve been captured by a Viking and tied up for his pleasure. I’m too young to have death by orgasms.”
“What a way to go,” I managed to say through my laughter. I remained glued to the wall across from the bed, not trusting myself to not fall on top of her and take her up on her idea.
She flung her arm wide and lifted her head to give me a serious look. “Where’s the gang-bang floor? I want to visit that one.”
“Jesus.” I rolled my eyes, and my cheeks cramped from smiling so much. Shaking my head, I peeled myself off the wall and headed to the door. “Come on, Damsel in Distress. We have work to do.”
Once we made it back to the lobby, Vivian waved me over. “Your tux was delivered from the tailors for the charity event tonight.”
“Are you going to the gala for the survivors of human trafficking?” Olivia asked.
“Yes. We make a hefty donation. Part of business is to give back to the town you’re in.”
“Yeah, it’s a local tech company that started the foundation. Mom knows all the local charities.”
“Are you going?” My chest thumped at the possibility.
“I thought about it. I needed to see how caught up on homework I could get.”
“Well, if you’re not too busy with school, you should come as my companion.” I took a drink of coffee to hide my wince. Stupid, stupid mouth opening before thinking. I was supposed to be putting distance between us.
“Mr. Kent,” she gasped and put her hand to her chest. “Are you asking me on a date?”
I choked on the warm liquid and coughed, immediately turning to see Vivian’s reaction to Olivia’s open flirting.
She laughed alongside Olivia, patting her arm like it was a funny joke at my expense. “I think it’s a great idea for you to go,” Vivian encouraged.
“Maybe I can teach you a thing or two about galas and business, Mr. Kent. I’ve been attending events since I could walk. I’m a pro.”
“I have no doubt.”
She smiled wide and turned on her toe. “I’m off to study some spreadsheets with Kyle.” She was halfway across the lobby when she called over her shoulder. “Pick me up at five.”
Olivia: I’m running a little late. So, I left the key with the doorman. Come on up.
I’d already left the hotel when her message came through, and of course, I was running early. I’d gotten my work done at the hotel and felt antsy—eager to pick her up. I figured being thirty minutes early wouldn’t have been a big deal.
I thought about waiting in the car, but when the driver pulled up to the building, the urge to go in—to see her—overwhelmed me. Maybe we’d have a drink and talk as she finished getting ready. I wanted to repeat the lightness she’d created in the hotel earlier. She’d been funny and carefree, and maybe I wanted to be carefree with her.
I wasn’t a serious man by any means. Julia hadn’t been wrong when she’d called Daniel and I, big kids. We played and enjoyed life with only the obligations we set upon ourselves, which wasn’t much outside of work. But other than Daniel, I was carefree alone, and for that hour in the hotel with Olivia, I wasn’t so alone anymore. I hadn’t anticipated how much I’d like that. I’d had a serious relationship, but the woman had made demands of me to be someone I wasn’t and sucked the joy out of our love.
Olivia infused me with her extra kind of happiness, only spurring mine on more.
So, I told the driver to be back in forty-five minutes and headed on in.
“I’m here to see Olivia Witt. She said there’d be a key for me.”
The man at the desk looked me up and down with a raised brow and pinched lips like I was some sexual predator. But he gave me the key regardless.