The Project

“I can understand that,” Andi said with a sad shake of her head as she auto-filled her credit card information to hold the room.

“Don’t do it, Andi,” Devyn bit out.

“You mean, don’t do this?” Andi asked, blinking innocently as she clicked her way to a mold-free room for the night.

“I never took you as high maintenance.”

“Neither did I. Yet, here we are,” Andi said with a helpless shrug and a sad sigh as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

Devyn narrowed his eyes on her as she opened the door and bit out, “I’m not going.”

“Which is why I’m going to miss you,” Andi said with a heartfelt sigh as she left the room that would haunt her for years to come.

“Andi…”

“Well, this was fun,” Andi said brightly with a satisfied sigh as she made her way back to the elevator. She wasn’t exactly surprised when Devyn, who was still glaring, joined her a minute later.

“Did you see the family of roaches hanging out behind the toilet?” Andi asked, blinking up at him.

When that muscle in his jaw clenched double-time, she took that as a yes. When they reached the lobby, she plucked his keys out of his pocket and headed back to his car. When she moved to load her bags in the trunk, he was there, somehow looking more pissed off than he had a moment ago, loading their bags in the trunk before slamming it shut and opening her door for her.

With a quietly murmured, “Thank you,” Andi climbed into the passenger side and sighed with relief when they began making their way to the hotel that promised twenty-four-hour room service a few minutes later. He didn’t say anything as he drove the short distance to the lovely hotel by the ocean, but then again, she really didn’t expect him to, not when he was this mad.

Not that she could blame him, but still, it was a relief to finally get a break, Andi thought as the sounds of waves crashing along the shore reached them as he pulled into the parking lot. After handing the keys to the valet, Devyn, who kept sending her accusing glares, led her inside the incredibly beautiful hotel lobby.

“At least they don’t know who you are,” Andi said, going for a hopeful smile that was met with a glare.

“Welcome to the Emerald Cove. How can I help you?” the friendly-looking hotel clerk asked with a warm smile as they made their way to the front desk.

“I have a reservation for Andi Dawson,” Andi said with a satisfied sigh as she reached for her credit card only to end up grumbling when Devyn narrowed his eyes on her until she put it away.

“Thank you,” the very friendly desk clerk said with a smile as she took his card and-

Frowned.

Oh, that couldn’t be good, Andi thought only to struggle to bite back a wince when the friendly clerk asked, “Devyn MacGregor of Carta Hotels?”

“Oh, that’s…that’s awkward,” Andi murmured, rubbing the bridge of her nose to hide her wince as Devyn sent her an, “I told you so” look.

“Welcome to the Emerald Cove, Mr. MacGregor,” the clerk said with that warm smile that didn’t seem to help the situation as Devyn continued to glare in a way that told her that she was never going to hear the end of this.