Page 35 of Tame Me

“Nope. It’s brilliant. I can do your job while you do him. What’s your job involve, anyway? Just sit there and look pretty?”

I rumbled a breath through my lips. “I have a very important job, actually.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know that . . . but really, what do you do?”

“I run the hotel, take calls, check in guests.”

She flicked her hand, waving away my tasks like they were minor inconveniences. “I can handle all of that. Let’s see, this finishes at nine o’clock, right?”

I blinked at her. Somehow, the crazy bitch had declared our discussion closed. Dumbstruck, I just shook my head.

“And you start at nine-thirty. So, here’s what we’re going to do.”

Chapter Eleven

It was five past nine when I returned to my room for a quick refresh before my shift. I devoured a protein bar, washed it down with a glass of water, and then brushed my teeth. I hopped back in the elevator and walked across the lobby to my post at reception with just two minutes to spare.

“Hi, Marj, how are you?”

“Hey. I’m great now that you’re here. These hunks have kept me busy all day.” We laughed together, and we hugged before she grabbed her bag and said goodbye.

I scanned the lobby for Lolita but couldn’t find her. A steady stream of people poured out of the exit door in the conference hall, and even though the crowd was noisy, and the abundant voices echoed off the marble expanse, it wasn’t long before I heard Lolita. She was still in the hall somewhere. She’d be on her way out soon.

It was nearly ten o’clock before she emerged, and I just about died when I saw who she’d hooked her arm into. Frankie’s face showed how happy he was to have one of the most gorgeous women on the Gold Coast hanging off him.

My breath caught as I feared she would walk him over to me. They shared a joke that had both of them laughing, and I was able to breathe again when they veered away from me and headed toward the elevator.

As they waited for the elevator, my mind flipped over and over with questions about what Lolita was doing. When the doors pinged open, Lolly gave Frankie a smack on his bottom, and he stepped into the elevator. She blew him a kiss as the doors closed, then she turned to me and bounded across the foyer.

“Okay, you’re all set.” She flicked her high ponytail over her shoulder and grinned at me.

“Set for what?”

“Frankie knows you’re coming up to him. He wants to give you your own private tasting.”

I picked my jaw up off the counter and blinked. “Have you lost your mind?”

“What?”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I had a sexy girlfriend who loves beer, but she missed the expo because she was working. He’s expecting you in room thirty-five. Off you go.”

I shook my head. “This’s crazy.”

“No, it’s not. It’s called Girlfriend Code. I’m covering for you while you saddle up with Beer Boy.”

“I don’t?—”

“I do. What’s your problem? You were dribbling all over him an hour ago.”

“Pfft. Was not!”

“Were too, and besides, if you don’t do this, you’ll fail your challenge.” She aimed her long fingernail toward me.

She did have a point there.

Her eyes twinkled, and I wanted to slap the dazzle out of them. “What if someone wants to check in?”

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