Page 330 of Rock Me All Night
3
Islumpon the concrete bench outside the hotel. Cold, evening air sinks through my thin sweater. Goosebumps spread over my arms.
It's not okay. There's a convention in town—apparently, a valid excuse for the front-desk guy to be an ass—and every room is booked.
My phone is still dead. There are half a dozen hotels in walking distance. But first, I need to clear my head. I take out my camera and adjust the shutter speed to one more appropriate for the dark sky. My hands are shaky. This is going to come out blurry. I snap a few shots anyway. The aqua hotel pool hiding behind a black fence. The yellow glow of the streetlight falling over the sidewalk. The couple walking towards me—too far away for any details besides the way the woman is holding onto the man like he's a balloon string and she's afraid he'll fly away.
Wait a second.
That's Tom. And a woman who looks a lot like me. Must be Alice. She's a little shorter and a lot curvier. Lighter hair. More makeup. Much sexier outfit—tight dress and stilettos.
There's something about Tom's posture. Almost like he's not interested.
I zoom in to his face and snap a few shots. The evidence is clear. He has his arm around her but there's no enthusiasm in his expression.
The insight disappears when I set my camera down. The world makes more sense captured in a photograph. I see all the things I normally miss.
Tom's eyes connect with mine. He nods hello. I nod back and attempt to avert my gaze to anything else. My camera. Maybe there are some decent sexy pictures that will get me out of this desperate situation.
Nothing.
It took me a month to work up the courage to arrange a shoot with an exceptionally friendly model. How am I going to ask a stranger?
A high-pitched squeal interrupts my train of though.
"What the fuck, Tom? You're going to make me share with some girl who looks just like me?" The girl on Tom's arm glares at me with irritation.
"No. I'm over threesomes." Tom keeps his eyes on me as he addresses the woman. "Wait inside. Now."
She scoffs but obliges, pushing through the glass doors and throwing herself on the lobby couch. Her legs spread in a pose more desperate than enticing.
He looks at her with a hint of regret. "This is why I don't do repeats anymore. Too many feelings."
"Repeats?"
He laughs. "Don't think you're as innocent as your outfit suggests."
Is a sweater and jeans really innocent? This is how most people dress.
I stare back at still effortlessly cool Tom. It sinks in. Repeats. "You mean sleeping with the same woman more than once?"
He nods. "Not worth the trouble."
Wow. That's... slutty. I clear my throat and force myself to look Tom in the eyes.
Dammit, that same buzz of electricity passes through me. From one fingertip to another then right between my legs. It's not the gorgeous green color that gets me. It's the spark of mischief in them.
The lines of his tattoo peeking out from his v-neck.
God, he would look yummy in a photograph, pulling that v-neck halfway down his chest thatI know you want meexpression on his face.
"Eyes up here." He smirks. "Where you going with all your shit?"
"The hotel's booked."
"You can take my room. I'll sleep in the bus."
"No. You're..." I motion to the woman sitting in the lobby. "Busy."
