Page 93 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

“Tell me about your day,” she said.

I thought about the situation with Beatrice-Rose, and my good mood plummeted. But then I remembered my day had started really good—with Red. Really, really good.

“Ben showed me around the hotel, introduced me to the staff. After the tour, we went up to the office to start my training. He works like a maniac, and he expects everyone else to do the same. We went through accounts, brainstormed proposals on how to acquire more investors. Then we came up with new ideas for promotional offers and packages for the coming summer and fall, to attract more guests to our hotel. And now I have my girl on the phone. Pretty good deal, all in all.”

“Sounds like a productive day.” I heard the smile in her voice.

“I kept thinking about what happened in your bedroom,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Are you sore?”

There was a pause on the other end, and I imagined her face blushing.

“A little,” she whispered.

And then I remembered…shit. Condom. Or, more accurately, lack of condom.

“Red?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t use a condom.”

Another pause. Soft, fast breathing. “It’s okay.”

What did she mean, it’s okay?

“I’m taking birth control,” she explained. “I went to see my doctor weeks ago.”

“Oh. Good.”

I frowned. I didn’t know what to think when I felt a flicker of disappointment. I guessed I was hoping she might be pregnant.

“Did you finally get to catch up with your brother?” she asked.

She was still uncomfortable and shy discussing things like us making love. I wanted her to be comfortable enough to tell me what she yearned for when we were in bed. I wanted to satisfy and fulfill all her desires. I wanted her to—

“Caleb?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Did you spend time catching up with your brother?” she repeated.

Oh. Right.

“Yeah, I did. But he’s a workaholic. I have my work cut out for me.”

“You’re good at the things you love to do. I know you’ll do great.”

Oh, my girl. She was so sweet.

“I love that you think of me that way,” I said. “I felt like a kid again. Ben and I used to tag along with our grandfather when he went to work. I grew up visiting and learning about hotels from him. Even as a kid, the work, the adventure, even the drama inside the hotel fascinated me.”

I heard her moving around, then the rustle of pillows and blankets as she lay on top of them.

“Tell me a story about it.”

“Hmm, let’s see. I remember when I worked there as a bellman—”

“You did?”

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