Page 26 of Slayer Mom
“Thanks?” This guy was a total jerk. “For therecord, my husband is way better than good. He’s brilliant in bed. I have zero complaints in that regard.”
He laughed and raised his brows then gestured me towards the building. “That’s what you think. Still, I have slightly more respect for him, even if he can’t keep you where you belong.”
I rolled my eyes and staggered towards the hotel, realizing belatedly that I had a key in my hand, and my knife was once more safely strapped on my leg. The Grand Master was slick. Way too slick.
The room was not just a normal room with an exterior exit, it had a triple-barred entry from both the hotel and the drive. I locked myself in and then headed to the shower. I was starving. I should have stopped for chicken or something. Could I get something delivered? He’d take it out of my paycheck. I needed to fill out paperwork, seriously?
I glanced at the stack of papers on the desk, shook my head, then called room service.
“Yes, Madame, what can I get for you?” a slightly nervous woman answered.
“Chicken. Is there somewhere open this time of night that delivers?”
“The kitchen is always open to our special guests. We’ll deliver a four course meal in twenty-minutes, if that’s all right.”
“Sure.”
“It’ll be delivered into the first foyer, where you can retrieve it safely after they go. Thank you for calling. Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“Epson salts, are there any in the bathroom? I didn’t check.”
“There are, yes, but if you have a particular brand or scent, I can send for it immediately.”
I yawned. “No, I’m good.”
I hung up and climbed in the tub, too tired andworn out to worry about whether the nutso Grand Master had put cameras around or not. I fell asleep in the tub, only waking up when room service knocked on the door. I listened for the voice announcing that my meal was there then dragged myself out of the tub. I couldn’t remember being this tired in a long time. Not since I was a teenager and stayed up for days at a time.
I pulled on the incredibly lush robe that felt like silk velvet, and the soft comfy slippers, then unlocked the foyer and wheeled the tray filled with silver covered dishes over to the bed. I climbed on the bed and ate like a slob while I watched my favorite Jane Austen movie. Pride and Prejudice. Hazen had always been mystified by my whole fascination with long ago time periods. He talked about feminine hygiene, or the lack thereof, along with open sewage, while I tried to drown in period clothing and quaint manners. How was he doing? Was he at home?
I was sinking down into the blankets when I sat bolt upright. The roast! I’d turned it on and left it on. If he didn’t come home…
I climbed out of the incredibly soft and delicious bed and called the number labeled ‘car.’
“I need to go. Now. How long will it take you to get here?”
“Three minutes.”
It was closer to two and a half. I was waiting outside the room in the small drive, pacing back and forth. The driver pulled up in my own car.
“Allow me,” he said, opening the driver’s door for me with a very courteous smile.
“Thank you,” I said, slipping inside. He didn’t mention my fluffy robe or slippers, just closed the door on me and stepped back. An envelope was taped to the steering wheel. I ignored it, because I hadto get home before the house burned down. Maybe the oven was smart enough to turn itself off.
I peeled out, driving quickly until I ran into a house full of smoke, but still in one piece. Hazen wasn’t here? I ran to the kitchen and found the charred remains of what was supposed to be a consolation dinner. I glanced at the clock. Almost five. There was only one thing to do with a house full of smoke, and that was open up all the windows and doors, and walk around waving towels in the air.
Hazen came home, smelling of smoke, because I couldn’t smell anything else, but he had dark circles under his eyes. What had he been doing out so late? Golf courses didn’t stay open that long. I really needed to get a lawyer to look over that document the Grand Master had given me, make sure there was something in there about him helping me get rid of the marking that was so convenient at gathering all the zombies you wanted to kill. I needed to touch my husband, to hold him, to drown in his love and forget about all the madness in my world.
“What are you doing?” we asked at the same time.
He waved a hand in front of his face. “Am I on fire, or is it you?”
“Dinner. I made a very nice dinner for you.”
“But you burned it when I didn’t show up?”
“Actually, I got stuck dealing with the glass people and forgot about it. The timer didn’t go off, so I went to bed and didn’t wake up until now. I smelled the smoke and…” I shrugged.
He came over to me, close enough that I could smell him instead of smoke. He smelled so good, so fresh and clean, nothing like alcohol. “I went on a hike in the woods. In the dark. I did bring a flashlight, but it was still pretty idiotic.”
