Page 56 of Fragile Kiss (Fragile 2)
“I swear it’s all right,” Cayden had reassured her for the umpteenth time.
“I know, I know. I trust you, Cayden, but I still want to make sure. Come at three, before our workout. I’ll make smoothies.”
That sealed the deal. Janine’s smoothies—with extra vegan protein powder in his, of course—were to die for, and honestly they were one of the only things about Los Angeles (and Janine) he would miss.
So, at three that afternoon, he peeled himself from the couch in his little studio attached to Janine’s massive house and knocked on her side door. As soon as she opened the door, she began drilling him with questions—so many useless questions they had already discussed a hundred times. Cayden knew full well she just wanted to spend time with him. He was flattered, but also a little bit annoyed that an entire hour before their usual workout was spent like this. For most of the time while Janine was rambling as she washed vegetables and bustled around the kitchen, Cayden lost himself in thoughts about taking Lillian to the café that night.
I should buy some flowers for her. The idea brought up a good mental image, but he quickly decided it might be too much. They weren’t together, after all, or they weren’t as far as he knew. Maybe just one flower.
At last they made their way to Janine’s personal gym room, and the sight of all her state-of-the-art equipment woke him up. Typically, he focused more on her during the workouts, but today he decided to switch things up and join her for some of the time. He had to look good for later, of course. Nothing like freshly worked- out muscles to woo the woman he so badly wanted.
Janine was obviously thrilled to be doing some reps with Cayden, and he found it funny when her competitive side rose to the surface. He played along, even though he was literally three times as strong as she was. The workout passed in no time, and he was left wishing he had sweated a little more.
Exhausted, Janine started to get in a complaining mood again about Cayden leaving, so he quickly let her know that he had an engagement. Before she could get too inquisitive, he told her goodbye and ran up the steps two at a time to his studio for a shower.
Before hopping in, he checked his phone. There was still no text from Lillian.
They should be done by now, he thought, tossing his phone onto the bed and stepping into the shower’s cool stream. Oh, well. I’ll just head over to the hotel and surprise her. Janine won’t mind if I pick one of her flowers. Her peace lilies could practically be braided, they’re so wild. I’ll cut one of those.
And he did, all the while thinking humorously that if he ever needed a career change he could always contact Janine about being her personal gardener.
As obsessively as he had checked the cameras on his house before, he checked his phone now, waiting on tenterhooks for any message from her. She did have a habit of running late so he wasn’t too worried, but not even getting a simple text did feel weird. He booked a car to her hotel anyway, devising a plan to make her feel like royalty before she flew back home.
I’m going to make this one of the best freaking nights of her life. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Lillian being so enamored by the great night they were going to have, that she wouldn’t be able to keep him away any longer. She would beg him to move back home, or to move here to Los Angeles with him. Yeah, he thought, sauntering into the fancy marble-floored lobby of her hotel. It’s going to happen. Tonight’s the night.
He looked around quickly, scanning the huge space for her just in case she was waiting, but there was no sign of her. Good. I can continue with the plan. He walked up to the front desk.
“Hi there,” he greeted one of the clerks with a white-toothed beam.
“Hello,” replied the woman, a little awkwardly. “Do you have a reservation?”
I probably should have started with that, he realized. “My, uh—I’m here to pick someone up.”
Still slightly confused, but with a steady smile, she asked, “Would you like me to call them for you?”
“Sure. I’d love that. She’s in room 302.” His smile broadened again. She’s going to love this!
The woman pressed a few keys on the keyboard, her eyes scanning the screen. “All right, just a minute...here we go.” She stopped, looking intently at something.
“What is it?” Cayden asked.
“Sir, what’s your name?”
“Manos. Cayden Manos.”
“Excellent. Mr. Manos, it looks like Mis
s Stewart hasn’t arrived yet. Her check-in date is tomorrow.”
Cayden paused, trying to put all this together like a puzzle. “Miss Stewart?”
“Yes, in room 302?”
“Um...” His face fell and he put an arm on the counter, thinking hard. That’s not Katharina’s name or Lillian’s. “The woman I’m looking for is named Lillian Warren. Maybe the room was reserved under a different name, I’m not sure.”
“Let me look,” the clerk said cheerfully, typing some more. “Ah, I have here a Lillian Warren in room 302.”
“Yes, that’s her.” Phew!
