Page 38 of Silent Cravings

“I’m Evan Anderson,” I explained. “I have a room in the Goldsmith-Black wedding block.”

“Yes, we know who you are, sir.” The first girl smiled then typed on her keyboard while the other noticed me eyeing the baskets and turned to them, clasping hands over her chest. “Aren’t they cute? They’re full of so many neat little things. Whoever assembled them put so much work into it.”

I had no doubt Valentina had stayed up late putting together personalized gift baskets for everyone in the wedding party besides herself. That was her way. “There are only a few left,” I noted. “Does that mean the guests are arriving?”

“Yes, sir.” The first girl tapped again on the keyboard, leaning in and squinting at her screen. “Only a few haven’t checked in yet.”

“And who might that be?”

“Mr. Young, Miss Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Diamond.”

Miss Miller. The skin on the back of my neck tingled. “Would that be Aria Miller or Valentina Miller?”

“Valentina dropped off the gift baskets,” the second clerk pointed out with a grin. “She and her assistant, that is.”

Right. She had mentioned during one of our email exchanges that Bianca would be staying at the hotel over the weekend, too, to give her a chance to spend time with the wedding party instead of running around like a headless chicken. “Which room is she in?” I asked as casually as I could. “I have a few last-minute things to talk over with her. The wedding’s being held at my country club.”

“I probably shouldn’t tell you that…” she whispered.

Why was I explaining myself to them? I had every right to ask what room a friend was staying in.

My mouth curved up into a seductive smile. “But you will.”

Her eyes dart toward her co-worker then back up at me, her teeth raking across her bottom lip as her cheeks tinged pink.

Both girls giggled. “She’s in room 321.” I accepted my room key, tucked in a tiny envelope marked 302, and thanked them before turning toward the bank of elevators near the hotel entrance.

“Wait a second!” One of the girls held up a basket, and I chuckled before accepting it. Of course, there was one for me. A cursory glance at the contents revealed a weekend itinerary, a monogrammed flask, a pair of cufflinks, and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. My favorite brand.She thought of everything.

I smiled to myself on my way across the lobby, determined to visit her room after settling in.

The past week felt like a month. It was like being a kid with a crush all over again. When I wasn’t with her, she was all I could think about. When I was with her, I couldn’t keep my hands off her. Every chance I had to be with her, I had to take. I wasn’t sure how to process it.

Which was why I didn’t bother settling into my room, merely leaving my things on the bed before heading down the hall. If I ran into anyone from the group, I could easily explain away my visit as being wedding-related. Last-minute confirmations, touching base, nothing out of the ordinary. I had waited endless days to set eyes on her again and wouldn’t let our secret keep us apart.

I couldn’t remember another woman who ever held my attention this long, much less to the point where I could barely function, with thoughts of her invading my awarenessno matter the time of day or what was going on. She was always there. I always wanted her.

My heart pounded with every step I took down the long, quiet hallway. Days of waiting and yearning were about to pay off.

I rapped on the door at the other end of the hall, palms sweating, heart racing painfully. “Give me a second!” Valentina called out from inside. I didn’t hear any other voices, giving me hope she was alone.

She wasn’t sharing her room with Bianca, was she? That would put a serious crimp in my plans, not that I had any beyond taking her up against the door until she wept with pleasure.

What was I going to do when we didn’t have the excuse to sneak off together? She opened the door a couple of inches, the chain in place. Nothing could have pleased me more than the smile that spread across her face when she found me waiting in the hall. “I was wondering if you would show up.” She closed the door to remove the chain, then opened it again so I could enter.

“Nice room,” I observed, noting the queen-sized bed. Things were looking up. “You have it all to yourself?”

“No, the entire wedding party is sharing the bed with me. You’ll have to sleep at the foot. Hope you don’t mind.” She was rolling her eyes when she turned away from the door, the chain in place again.

“I think the guy with the lowest seniority should sleep at the foot of the bed,” I countered, eyeing a stack of notecards piled on the dresser. “That would mean Miles.”

“That works too. But you’ll have to explain it to my sister.” Her smile was brief, and now I noticed the fatigue in her eyes, in the worried little frown she wore.

“Hey.” I placed my hands on her shoulders, waiting forher to lift her head and look me in the eye. Even worked to the point of exhaustion, she was gorgeous in a soft, lilac sundress, her hair wound in a braid hanging over her shoulder. “We’re almost there. Only a few more days. Then, you ought to take a little time for yourself. Decompress. You’ve earned it.”

“Right. We both know how likely that is.” She rolled her eyes, but I could tell her heart wasn’t in it. She was too wiped out. “I have another three upcoming events to promote and a restaurant opening to put together. Though that’s not happening until late July…”

“Take care ofyou,” I urged, massaging her shoulders. It was gratifying to see her eyes close, to hear the sigh she released. I could do something, any little thing, to help her, and my heart swelled at the knowledge.

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