Page 16 of Saving Sophia

He studied me for a moment before the valet came to the window.

“Good evening, Mr. Abbott.”

“Hey Zach, could you give us a moment, please?”

“Yes sir, Mr. Abbott,” Zach the valet said, fading into the background.

“Are you worried about the cost?” Ethan asked me.

“I just … I don’t usually stay at places with valet parking.”

“Don’t worry about this.” He got out and handed the keys to the valet then came over and opened my door, holding my hand as I climbed out. The valet set my small duffel bag on the curb and whisked the car away.

Ethan picked up my bag and turned to me. “You’ve had a rough night, and you need a break. I can cover your room, no problem, and it will give me peace of mind to know you’re safe.”

“Oh, I can’t, I?—”

He held up his hands. “No strings attached. Your own room. You owe me nothing but the knowledge that you’ll sleep safely tonight.”

I should argue. I should not let him pay for my room. I could only imagine what my parents would say about this. But I was at my limit, and I had no fight left. “Thanks.”

“Good girl.” His words made that flutter in my tummy happen again, but before I could say another word, he ushered me through the huge sliding door into the hotel lobby.

5

ETHAN

“Good evening, Mr. Abbott.” The man at reception snapped to attention as we entered the spacious lobby and approached the front desk.

“Hello, Tobias,” I said. “I’ll need the room next to mine for my friend, Ms. Butler.”

“Right away, sir.” Tobias tapped on his keyboard.

Sophia stepped away, her curious brown eyes flicking from the chandeliers to the quietly tinkling water feature separating one of the two bars from the front seating area. She reached a small, tentative hand out to touch a textured wall, her head tilted in thought. When she didn’t think anyone was looking at her, her features relaxed, her eyes brightened, and her mouth tilted into a curve like a rosebud. There was no reason the softness of that expression should affect me. She was a girl in a bad situation. I was helping her out, like I would anyone else. Still, I liked seeing her at ease.

“Here you are, sir.” Tobias slid the cards across the black marble counter.

I collected the keycards and walked over to where she was contemplating a large, abstract sculpture.

“This place is beautiful,” she murmured when I reached her.

“I like it,” I said and led her inside the rounded glass elevator.

At the top, the elevator doors slid open, and we walked out into the hall. I stopped at the first door, unlocked it, then handed her the keycard.

“I’m right there if you need anything.” I pointed to black double doors at the end of the hall, the double H’s of Hotel Hedon’s rebrand embossed in thick gold script in their center. “Or call down to the reception desk. They can help you too.”

“Thank you, Ethan.”

“My pleasure. I didn’t want Amber Jade to have to put on her dark and mysterious glasses to find a place for you to stay.”

She laughed, a cute, hiccuppy sound that filled me with warmth.

“Sweet dreams, then.” I handed over the small duffel bag. Her fingers brushed against mine when she took it, and I had to fight the urge to … to what? Kiss her forehead? Cuddle her and promise Daddy would take care of everything? I blinked hard and turned away. She was a stranger with a problem I could solve. That’s all. So why was walking away from her so hard?

I opened the door to my suite and walked inside. What a fucking day. My laptop waited quietly on the polished oak desk. I should check emails and confirm details for tomorrow’s travel. Instead, I headed over to the window and looked out over the glittering lights of the city below. I couldn’t get Sophia out of my mind. How coincidence had crossed our paths twice in one day. How much it had gutted me to find her crumpled on her bedroom floor. How much trouble she seemed to be in, and how alone. Even though I’d just met her, I felt compelled to protect her.

That’s your Daddy instincts reacting to a damsel in distress. You don’t need any more complications in your life right now.

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