Page 15 of Elling & Jackie

"How long will you be staying?" She refused to look up at him.

"Two days."

Shit. What was she going to do?

"A single room cost one hundred and eighty-five dollars a night. If you want full use of the restaurant during your stay, it'll be two hundred and twenty-five dollars, and that includes three meals and a late snack." Hoping to discourage him with the price of accommodations, she said, "If you'd like laundry services during your stay, it'll be thirty dollars more a day."

His brows lowered before he shook his head. She would bet he'd never stayed in a hotel before.

"One room for two nights. I'll need food." He lowered his voice. "I'll also need a room close to Vance Campbell."

She accidentally clicked the mouse, taking her away from the schedule. It wasn't uncommon for guests who traveled together to want to stay on the same floor or have adjoining rooms.

Getting back to where she needed to be on the computer program, she glanced up at him. The information in front of her was private, and he was leaning over the counter. The man he'd mentioned already had a guest visiting. Neither one of them appeared like they'd hang with a biker and she wondered what kind of business a Slag member would have with two men who wore suits.

"There's, um, a room..." She trailed her finger against the screen as her stomach fluttered. The only one available was the room across from hers, which happened to be four doors down and across the hallway from Mr. Campbell. "The room next to Mr. Campbell is in use, I'm sorry."

"Is there a room on the same floor?"

Her heart pounded. It would be easy to lie and tell him no. The higher-ups in management would never know she turned down a possible guest. She could live with her conscious. Everything inside of her centered around her family's club and their safety.

Prepared to tell him there were no rooms available, she straightened her back, aware of him watching her. Warmth flooded her cheeks. He'd been looking at her the whole time.

Maybe she could send him up to the room, and when her shift was over, she could quietly slip inside her suite, and he'd never find out she stayed across the hallway.

"There's only one vacancy on that floor. Unfortunately, it isn't next door to Mr. Campbell," she said before she could change her mind.

His gaze intensified. "I'll take it."

She asked for his driver's license. As she put his information into the computer system and assigned him the room, she memorized every detail about him.

His name was Elling Halvorson. His birthday was October seventh. He was thirty-eight years old. At six feet three inches tall, he weighed two hundred and thirty pounds. Blond hair. Blue eyes. She had no idea where his address was located, except that he lived in Portland and that was odd since he could go home and save money, instead of staying at the hotel.

She handed back his driver's license. "Along with your room, you also get a parking spot in the garage at the back of the hotel." You'll need to drive, um, ride up to the next cross street, turn right, and you'll see the entrance before the next stop sign." She gave him the total amount due, and he handed her cash.

Almost all the guests paid with a credit card. While she understood his reasons for making his stay untraceable—her family was the same way—she fumbled with counting the bills and putting them in a drawer not set up to hold cash.

"You can show this to the attendee in the garage." She handed him the parking badge. "Here's your keycard for Room 45. There's only one elevator." She pointed behind her. "Right now, you're in the lobby, which is the Second Floor. To get to the garage, you'll want to go down one floor where the restaurant is located. There's a door that is between the cafeteria dining and the restaurant. Although you checked in late today, check out time is eleven o'clock in the morning at the end of your stay. Getting room service is as simple as picking up the phone in your room. The appropriate extensions are on the list, taped to the end table by the couch."

She inhaled desperately, feeling like she'd run a mile. The whole time she talked, Elling watched her. She couldn't shake the feeling he was putting her in the middle of his business.

At first, she thought he was following her. Now, she understood he had something going on with Mr. Campbell and his guest.

She should be relieved. It was the best-case scenario.

He needed to stay far away from her. For his own safety and the well-being of Brikken Motorcycle Club.

Elling picked up his duffle and walked away from the counter to the front door. On the back of his vest, the Slag Motorcycle Club patch laughed at her. She was foolish thinking he had been attracted to her, and she'd let her imagination get the best of her.

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