Page 24 of Elling & Jackie

Chapter 10

Mr. Campbell strodetoward the front desk. Jackie smiled and looked back at the computer, letting him have the privacy of entering the hotel without any fanfare. He'd been a long-time guest, paying weekly for the last three months and she was no closer to figuring out who he looks like.

She'd even asked him if he was a returning guest when he'd checked in because he looked familiar to her. He assured her it was his first time in Portland.

The red light flashed on the corner of the screen, alerting her to the front door opening again. She raised her gaze. Her smile melted off her face.

Elling strode straight in behind Mr. Campbell. He'd paid through tonight, but after noticing he was gone when she woke up, she had a feeling the kiss they shared was the last she'd seen of him.

Her mouth dried. She moistened her lips with her tongue, remembering his lips on hers, and the feel of his whiskers tickling her face. She'd left him last night confused, angry, and highly aroused.

And, feeling foolish and irresponsible.

Mr. Campbell stopped and answered his cell phone. Elling walked around the other guest and approached the desk.

"I need my room for another week," he said louder than she'd normally heard him talk.

"I'll see if we can accommodate you." She looked away from him, trying to stop her heart from racing.

"Elling. Elling Halvorsen," he said.

She glanced up at him. Had he thought she'd forget his name?

All his information was logged into the computer. He was still a current guest.

Out of her peripheral vision, Mr. Campbell put his phone in his suit pocket and walked toward the desk. Mixing Elling with work was a bad idea. She couldn't think around him.

Campbell turned his back to Jackie and said, "What are you doing?"

She blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of why the hotel's guest was talking to Elling. They were polar opposites. One in a business suit and the other wearing a Slag Motorcycle Club vest and worn jeans.

Elling stroked the three braids containing his beard. "Time for a vacation."

"Don't give me your bullshit," said Campbell in a low voice, shocking Jackie.

She put her hand on the panic button under the desk. She knew from experience how fast a tense situation could turn bad.

Elling caught her gaze. "I'm going up to my room. Let me know how much I owe for the extended stay, and I'll come back down and pay."

He walked away without waiting for her to answer. Mr. Campbell followed Elling to the elevator. She strained to hear the conversation—well, Mr. Campbell spoke while Elling ignored him.

She recognized his stance. Chief and her brothers had the same habit of looking all relaxed while leaving their hands loose at their sides prepared for action.

The elevator opened. Both men stepped inside. She leaned in her chair, needing to see what they were doing. And, again. Elling caught her gaze, holding it until the doors closed.

He was trying to communicate with her with that look on his face. She could feel it clear down to her bones something was going on.

"Oh, my God," she whispered, reaching for the mouse.

She quickly changed the screen, bringing up the security surveillance on the Fourth Floor. Time ticked by slow enough she felt the impact of each second in her chest as she waited to see him on the camera. Her pulse beat crazily throughout her body. There was something obscure going on in front of her, and she failed to recognize what it could mean.

Not knowing bothered her. She was the manager of the hotel. If there was going to be trouble, she wanted to stop it before headquarters heard about it.

The two men came into view, each walking down the hallway, side by side. She leaned closer to the screen, hoping no one came in and took her attention away from the men.

Elling stopped at the door to his room and went out of view. Mr. Campbell took out his phone and put the cell to his ear the moment Elling was gone, walking to his room and going inside.

Jackie leaned back and stared at the empty hallway on the screen. Lifting her arms, she fiddled with the hair gathered at the back of her neck. She wanted to go upstairs and ask Elling how he knew Mr. Campbell.

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