Page 9 of Until Kendal

Holding the door until I passed, he said, “Until now.”

“Right.” I rocked on my feet. I wasn’t sure if he was playing along or meant what he’d said.

My heart thundered like he was telling the truth. But I swallowed, and we walked my mom to our room.

Once we walked inside, she stopped by the phone with a book for room service. “I haven't stayed anywhere where anyone served me in years.”

Joel put her bags in the closet. “Order as much room service and spa treatments as you want.”

“Spa treatments?” I rubbed the back of my head. We'd never discussed my mom or what she would do. I'd assumed she’d packed her reader to continue her habit of devouring books. I tilted my head, unsure how to tell him that the hotel guests usually hired staff to come and help the brides get ready for their big day.

My mind raced. The closest salon was my job. If she wanted a new haircut, I was sure Ellie and Kimberly would let me use my chair.

Joel came out and put his hands in his pockets. “Doesn’t the hotel offer those?”

“No.” I smiled. If she didn’t want it, I wouldn't pursue it.

He came over and took my mom’s hand like they were friends. “Well, we’ll find something for Valerie then. She gets treated like a queen.”

She patted his cheek like he was a child. Then Mom said, “I like this one. Don’t screw it up.”

A few nights was all Joel and I would ever be, but I hugged her and walked out.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was staying with my mom or Joel tonight. He’d made no demands, which would make the question easier to answer.

I hadn't unpacked anything, but I hoped I would be with him. I glanced up and quickly realized that I wanted nothing more than to be pulled into his arm and taken. However, I stayed still. “How did you know we were in the parking lot? I didn’t text you or let you know.”

He shrugged. “I was asking for directions at the desk when I saw the car on the security camera behind the clerk.”

He opened his bedroom door. Although the room wasn't large, the food and the grounds outside were worth five stars. The last wedding I’d worked here had been during a full moon, and the guests brightened the grounds, making it look like a fairy land.

Once we were alone, my heart beat faster as I wondered what it would be like to share the bed with Joel. Heat rose through my cheeks. “Well, thank you for how you’re talking to my mom.”

He closed the door then said, “I spoke to guest services, and they know she’s to be treated as a VIP to anything.”

I laughed. My mom and I had never been important at anything. Honestly, I’d never had a vacation with her, even as a girl.

He walked to the couch and motioned for me to join him.

Goose bumps rushed through me when I took the first step. But sitting beside Joel had bubbles of desire exploding in my chest. If he wanted me, I was his. I sighed. “You really don’t have to go through all that trouble.”

He took my hand. “I want to help you. If we were in Manhattan or LA, staff would be on hand to take care of everything.”

Maybe he'd read me wrong. His touch made me believe we belonged in the same universe, which was crazy. I squeezed his palm and refused to blink—it might ruin the moment. However, I lifted my chin to set him straight. “Staff. Right. Joel, I need to tell you I do hair for a living. I would be the staff, not the guest, if I was in New York.”

He winked. “No you wouldn’t.”

Only to him, maybe. Every day of my life was about working to help others. I enjoyed cutting hair and making people beautiful. Honestly, I'd lived vicariously through my clients' lives for years. Love was dangerous, and I had no hope of ever having a life of my own. “I’ve seen my bank account.”

For years now, I’d spent every dime I could fixing up our old home so my mom could be comfortable. My last splurge had been her granite countertops.

“You’d be with me,” Joel said, startling me,

I blinked then lowered my head. We were alone, in his room, and I knew nothing about him. We would only be temporary.

“I shouldn’t have come here with you,” I said, taking my hand back.

“I’m glad you did.” He didn't seem bothered that we were alone in his room, though he didn’t make any overt move toward me. “I wanted to help and keep talking to you since the second we met.”

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