Page 2 of Nothing to Tell

More questions.Why was her story the scoop of the day?Nosey guests should entertain themselves in the pool or with pay-per-view.

Time to change the subject before the flames of shame engulfed her.Yes, that was a real thing.

“Isn’t this a strange place to be at this time of night?”That was it, good, stem the tidal wave of his curiosity.“It’s almost eleven p.m.”

“Guests can access the fitness suite at any time, day or night.They only have to call the concierge,” he said.“During the day there is a range of personal training facilities—”

Her cough of laughter stalled him.“Sorry,” she said, overjoyed for the distraction from her own shit.“Do you loiter in dark, abandoned areas of the hotel ready to spout the marketing script to anyone you happen upon?Is that your job?”

“No.”The rumble of his deep voice anchored her in the mortifying moment.“Habit.”

“You’re in sales?”

That’s right, Deep Voice, answer the question.Forget her embarrassing outburst.Move along.Move along.

“You could say that,” he replied.“Are you married?”

Or don’t move along… Damnit, apparently his idea of progress was to get super personal, super fast.

Uh… rude.“Excuse me?”

Was she reading this right?They couldn’t see each other’s faces, yet he was hitting on her?

Maybe not.Matter of fact, he’d stated what was apparently obvious within seconds of meeting her.Yes, she was unmarriable.Just what needed to be reinforced.Thanks for that.Don’t worry, she was under no illusions.

“If you’re running from your sister’s engagement party the typical assumption would be that you’re not married and perhaps envious…”

Okay, she’d missed the mark, he wasn’t hitting on her.“I’m not envious of anything.”

Was his casual curiosity a reprieve or should she be offended he was prying without tact again?

“Why did you run from the party?”

Ordinarily, putting words to her shame was difficult.Hence why it was her default to avoid the issue.This entitled stranger wasn’t being subtle, she got the feeling he’d wait all night for an answer.

This could be an opportunity.Yeah, that’s how she should look at it.If she didn’t talk about what brought her there, she’d stay down in the dark forever wallowing in shame.

The gloom, the anonymity, gave her a platform.One use only.Speak now, then forever hold her peace.

“I ran into my ex,” she admitted.

“Ah.”

“I didn’t expect to see him tonight.”Maybe she should have.“Damon had an affair with my sister’s best friend, Charissa.They left the country together a year ago, he works for my dad, and they had this opportunity in Australia…” The stranger didn’t care.“Anyway, they’re back and I think I’d just…”

Articulating it was tough.

After Damon and Charissa emigrated—for a year as it turned out—the pitying looks did eventually dry up.Eventually.For months, she’d been living free and easy and hadn’t thought about Damon at all.She sure didn’t miss him.Then, bam!Him and Charissa show up, right there, celebrating without shame.One helluva gut punch.

“You’re just getting over the betrayal and you didn’t expect them to return?”

The stranger got it.He understood.

Thank God someone did.

Maybe she wasn’t totally insane.“No, I didn’t.My sister, Adara, said nothing about them coming tonight.She and Charissa were best friends.Are best friends.Maybe it’s just a shock response.Adara can’t have known they’d be here or she would’ve told me.”She would’ve.“He looks great.”

“You’re not as over him as you thought?”