Page 9 of Pretty

Within minutes, the rain poured from the heavens. The wind raged, and I struggled against it to get to the door. A powerful surge of wind shoved against me, and I staggered back, only to feel a hard body against mine.

“We have to stop meeting like this.” It was him.

I spun around and faced him. “Come on. Let’s get you inside,” he shouted over the roaring storm. He wrapped a strong arm around me and fought against the wind to escort me through the doors.

As much as I hadn’t wanted to attend tonight’s event, I wanted to make a good impression on the network who hosted the fundraiser. I planned to leave after the auction, knowing that my duties were fulfilled, but I spotted her. I hadn’t known her name, but she was the most beautiful woman I had ever set eyes on. It was her chartreuse-green eyes against her rich brown skin, her elegant poise, and the way she moved around the room, as if she were a casual observer, that captivated me. I had to have her.

While I couldn’t see all the features of her face, I could see the full, pouty, heart-shaped lips and the delicate chin. Her lips were sensual and alluring, and I wanted to kiss them again. I wanted to touch that gorgeous caramel skin that covered every inch of her slim-thick body, which was toned like a dancer’s.

Once I escorted her back inside, she headed to the front desk to grab her luggage. She explained that she had checked in earlier but didn’t have time to go to her room because she was running late. Several planes into Southwest Florida International Airport had been grounded or delayed. She said hers had been delayed, and then there was the issue of traffic. With the approaching hurricane, there was an evacuation order in place around Naples that created a traffic nightmare.

After she got her luggage, a lady stopped her to speak with her. She thanked me and turned her attention to the lady. I was disappointed, but I knew a dismissal when I saw one. I returned to my room with a small wish that we would see each other again.

I had just stepped out of the shower, and I was having thoughts about the beautiful woman who had demanded that I kiss her, when I heard the snicking of my hotel door as if someone was coming inside.

I had only used a towel to dry my hair because I preferred to air dry. I stepped out of the bathroom to see what was going on.

“Ohh! What—what are you doing in my room?” a woman asked.

It was her. The woman who stepped inside of my room was the same one I kissed earlier. I would know those beautiful green eyes with flecks of gold anywhere, and her voice was emblazoned on my mind like that of a familiar lover.

“It’s my room, and do you mind closing the door?”

“You’re him—the guy who kissed . . . I mean saved me. I would know that voice and those eyes anywhere.” Her eyes dropped to my lips.

She stood gripping the handle of her luggage with one hand, her purse looped over that same shoulder, and her free hand gripped the door handle, keeping it open. Her gaze dropped to my dick. A slow smile slid across my lips. She caught me smiling and closed the door behind her.

“Sorry,” she apologized.

“Now—you were saying this is your room, but this is the room number they gave me, and my key card easily opened the door,” I explained.

“Same. Obviously, there’s some mix-up.”

“We can call the front desk. Let me get dressed first.”

She bobbed her head and chewed on her bottom lip but didn’t say a word. I grabbed a pair of basketball shorts and a hoodie and dressed while she had her back turned to me.

“I checked in online before I even arrived,” she explained when I sat on the side of the bed and lifted the hotel phone.

“No problem. We’ll get it all sorted out. I’m sure it was an honest mix-up, and I can get them to give me another room.”

“You don’t have to do t

hat. You were in here first. Clearly, you’ve showered and gotten comfortable. Meanwhile, there was me—downstairs mingling.”

I called the front desk and waited for someone to answer. “Hey, I’m Andrew Jennings, and I’m in room 402. There appears to be a mix-up as the room has been double booked.” I looked at her to see if she recognized my name, but there were no signs of recognition on her face. Relief washed over me.

I listened as the front desk clerk searched their records to determine where the mix-up was.

“Okay, that’s fine. We’re not blaming anyone. We just wanted to request a new room for one of us. I’d be happy to take another room.”

“Or me.” She raised her hand and smiled at me.

I bobbed my head. “Either me or Ms. . . .” I looked back at her.

“Mercier.”

“Ms. Mercier says that she’ll take another room too.”