Why not?
I cant risk missing my girlfriend. Shell be through here anytime.
He gave me a look that said I was borderline delusional. Im no expert. But it seems like she doesnt want to be found.
Brooklyn might not want to be found, but for everyones sake, I needed to find her.
Maybe you should leave it until tomorrow, Max said.
No. That would be bad. It would be very bad to leave Brooklyn and her faux soul mate alone for the night. I had to find her as soon as possible.
Im assuming shes over twenty-one.
Shes twenty-six.
There you go. Shes perfectly capable of making her own decisions.
Technically that was true. But I knew Brooklyn wasnt thinking straight. Something was wrong, and I had to get to the bottom of it before she made a life-altering mistake.
We can eat in the Grill Room, he said. See that curved booth right there, the one facing the lobby? Ill get the hostess to seat us in it.
I gauged the view from the table. It was probably better than the view I had from here. And I was truly starving at this point.
Its probably reserved. It looked like a prime spot.
Im sure theyll fit us in. He sounded confident in his ability to get preferential treatment.
Do you come here often? I asked. Then I laughed at myself. I didnt mean that the way it sounded.
You werent going for a cheesy pickup line?
No.
Too bad.
I ignored the flirtatious lilt to his words, refusing to let myself meet his gaze. It would be all too easy to let my imagination run away with me. And the last thing I needed was a further distraction right now.
Im a fairly frequent guest, he said.
My lucky day.
I was going to say it was mine.
This time I did look at him. Im not made of stone. His smile was warm, and his eyes had an inner glow, and my heart fluttered again.
Before I could sigh or swoon or do anything else ridiculously humiliating, he started across the lobby to the restaurant entrance.
Mr. Kendrick. The hostesss greeting was friendly as we approached.
Hi, Samantha. Can you put us at the front booth?
Of course, sir.
She extracted two leather-bound, gold-embossed menus from below the counter. Bernard will seat you.
Hello, Mr. Kendrick, Bernard said. Its great to have you with us tonight.
Max waited while I slid in one side of the booth, going partway around. I set my purse and shopping bag beside me.
I felt outclassed by the surroundings, and I was grateful to have ditched the jeans.
Max slid in the other side of the booth and matched my position. It was cozy with the high-backed plush seats, a flickering candle, the two of us sitting only a couple of feet apart.
I had an expansive view of the lobby, but the table still felt intimate.
Can I have the waiter bring you your usual? Bernard asked Max.
Please, Max said to Bernard.
To me, he said, Its a classic martini with a lemon twist.
Sounds good. It did.
I hoped the drink would take the edge off my worry. Fretting over Brooklyn wasnt going to help me find her any faster. When she showed up, she showed up.
The drinks will be out right away, Bernard said. Please let me know if theres anything else you need.
They really do know you, I said to Max as I took yet another scan of the lobby.
They do. But they treat all their customers well.
That had certainly been my experience so far.
This isnt the kind of place where I usually eat, I said.
He moved the glass-encased candle so we had an unobstructed view of each other. Whats the kind of a place where you usually eat?
The Rock a Beach, I said. Its a funky little seafood place on Moiler Bay. They have picnic tables on a covered deck. Theres great local beer on tap. You can get fish and chips served on newspaper or a wooden hammer to crack your crab. In the winter, they close it in with plastic sheeting and light a central fireplace. My family loves it.
It sounds great.
You wouldnt need a suit.
It sounds like Id need a bib.
Recommended.
We both smiled.
Id like to take you there sometime, he said.
I could see it. I could picture that. And it was great. The image was so compelling that it took me a second to realize what he was doing.
He was good. And I was a fool for following along like a little puppy dog.
I wasnt usually swayed by emotion like this. Im usually nothing but rational. I pride myself on it. I drew back, forcibly pulling myself from his spell. Wow.
Wow what?
That was fast, and not particularly believable.
I
Youre a smooth talker, Max Kendrick. But heres a heads-up for youwhat youre after is not whats going to happen.
Thats not where I was going.
Sure it wasnt. Logic and reason told me that much.
Youre a skeptic, Layla Gillen. Im simply enjoying our conversation.
I wasnt about to believe that. Guys often took a shot and backed off when you called them out on it.
Then again, hed vaguely mentioned a second date. He hadnt suggested skinny-dipping in his hot tub or checking out his hotel suite. Maybe I was too quick to judge.
Okay, I said. My mistake.
No. It was my mistake for letting it come out wrong. Can I back up a couple of minutes and take a do-over?
He could. I wasnt about to say no when he put it so reasonably. But just in case I really did have his number, I was keeping up my guard.
Three
Just as the chocolate soufflé arrived with Devonshire cream and a whole lot of pomp and circumstance, I spotted Brooklyn. She was crossing the lobby, her long blond hair swinging in a high ponytail. I couldnt see her face, but I recognized her walk, the slant of her shoulders and the oversize green-and-gold earrings shed bought from a funky little stand at Pier 54.
The soufflé looked magnificenta molten center, topped with the Devonshire cream, powdered sugar and plump raspberries. Id gone with a seafood salad for dinner, saving space for an indulgent dessert. But I couldnt let Brooklyn get away.
Im sorry, I said to Max, grabbing my purse and shopping bag as I slid from the booth.
The pastry chef and the waitress looked baffled.
Is something wrong? Max asked.
I kept my gaze on Brooklyn. She disappeared behind a pillar.
Ill settle up later, I called back to him, tossing the words over my shoulder as I hurried away.
I felt terrible sticking Max with the bill. I told myself I could drop off some cash at the front desk. They might be sticky about confirming someone was a guest, but surely theyd take an envelope for them.
I also hated to waste the chefs hard work. Hed clearly taken pride in the chocolate soufflé. I also selfishly hated to miss eating it.
That was twice today.
Indulgence karma was not on my side.
I could see now that Brooklyn was alone. Perfect.
That was twice today.
Indulgence karma was not on my side.
I could see now that Brooklyn was alone. Perfect.
The lobby was octagonal with four passageways leading off the four corners. She headed down one of them. I thought it led to the pool, an outdoor restaurant and an atrium garden.
I wanted to call out, but I didnt think shed hear me. And I was half-afraid she might try to escape. Shed gone to a lot of trouble to stay away from me.
I knew why shed done that.
I knew that she knew that I knew she didnt really want to do this. And she knew Id talk her out of it without half trying.
I saw the paradox in my thinking. If she knew all that, she wouldnt be hiding from me. Shed simply admit she was wrong, and I was right, and shed made a big mistake. But I was always the rational one between us. Brooklyn was emotional, and she could talk herself into peculiar things.
She was still a hundred feet ahead of me when she turned again, disappearing from my sight.
I broke into a trot, then discovered shed taken a doorway that led to the garden.
I followed on polished brick pathway that wound through lighted shrubbery and towering palm trees. I hurried, but I couldnt see her in front of me. Then the pathway forked.
I stopped to consider my next move.
I could hear voices in one direction, and music and laughter. I could see the lights of a restaurant or a patio lounge.
The other way was quiet, no sound but a burbling brook beneath an arched footbridge.
Brooklyn liked to be where the action was, so I followed the music.
I came to a café called the Triple Palm. It was fresh and lively, with a breeze blowing through. Beech-wood tables and chairs were surrounded by greenery and decorated with lights and candles. A trio of musicians played in one corner, and a few couples danced on the raised floor. This was Brooklyns kind of place.
I did a methodical search of the tables. Then I checked the bar area. Then I repositioned to see the entire dance floor.
No Brooklyn.
I couldnt believe Id guessed wrong.
I didnt have any time to waste.
I trotted again. It was hard to trot in the heeled boots, but they were better than pumps or spiked heels. That was for sure.
I made it to the fork and over the footbridge. Things got quieter around me. The music faded into the distance. The lights were fewer and farther between.
I listened hard, but I didnt hear anything. My best guess was that Brooklyn was meeting her new soul mate in a secluded corner to talk or cuddle or kiss.
I couldnt see her having sex in a hotel garden, not when just anybody could happen by and catch her. That wasnt like Brooklyn.
Then again, this wasnt like Brooklyn. I realized there was a chance that shed been having risky outdoor sex with James all this time without telling me.
I groaned out loud and quickly scrubbed that image from my mind.
Layla? It was Max.
I heard his footsteps before he appeared around a corner.
I was more than surprised to see him. How did you find me?
I looked.
I gave him an eye roll.
I saw you turn toward the atrium. There are only so many places you can go at this end of the hotel.
My guilt over cutting out on him came back. I was going to drop some cash off at the front desk.
What for?
To pay for dinner, of course.
He waved a dismissive hand. Dont be ridiculous. I invited you.
That doesnt mean you should get stuck with the bill. I didnt mean to cut out on you.
You saw her, didnt you?
I nodded. But then I lost her.
Did you check the Triple Palm?
Shes not there. And she doesnt seem to be here. I glanced around. Unless shes found a secret corner to hide.
You did say she was with a guy.
I shook my head. I know what youre thinking. I refused to let myself think that. Shes not like that.
You dont know what Im thinking. And not like what?
Shes not having sex in a public garden, thats what.
He grinned in a way that said I was amusing him.
There are other things for men and women to do in a quiet corner of the garden than have sex.
I know that.
He shifted a little bit closer to me. This is a very romantic garden.
Lighted mesquite trees towered above us. Small cactuses lined the path, with pink and yellow flowers adding color. The air was sultry sweet along the smooth, winding red-toned path, heavy with moisture and soft on my skin.
Thats not really what I want to hear, I said.
Why not?
His gaze captured mine. It was as sultry as the air, dark and deep.
I forgot what I was saying. What?
He shifted closer still. You know, you are incredibly beautiful.
I couldnt help itmy heart warmed at the compliment. It beat more deeply, slowly, thudding inside my chest and echoing in my ears.
I told myself to hang on to reality. But myself didnt want to do that right now.
Max touched my arm. The touch was simple. It was light. His thumb brushed slowly across my skin, and I lit up like one of the mesquite trees. Logic and reason flew into the night.
Max, I whispered.
Layla, he whispered back.
The breezed cocooned us as he stepped in. One hand slid to my bare shoulder. His other touched the small of my back.
I put my palms on his chest, thinking to stop him, thinking theyd be a barrier between us that would pull me out of this spell.
But it didnt work out that way.
I touched the crisp fabric of his shirt. I could feel his heat beneath it. His chest was firm, his pecs defined.
Im not shallow. I know theres more to a man than the shape of his body. But the particular shape of this particular mans body was doing very strange things to my brain waves.
I lowered my hands, feeling the ridges of his abs. A sudden vision of him naked bloomed in my mind, my fingertips trailing across his glorious frame.
I wanted that. I wanted it more than Id wanted anything in a very long time.
He enfolded me in an embrace, the solid, strong, definitive hug of a man whod decided exactly what he wanted. And what he wanted was me. I was torn between amazement and arousal.
I tipped my chin, and his lips touched mine, and my amazement fled. There was no room for anything inside of me except arousal.
His lips were hot, firm, moist, with the perfect amount of pressure.
He tasted like fine wine and smoky dreams.
My lips softened, they parted. I invited him in and his tongue swept mine in an encompassing kiss that sent waves of pleasure all the way to my toes.
My hands started to move. They unbuttoned his shirt. They touched his skin, and he gave a guttural groan.
This way, he said.
I didnt know what he meant. I didnt care what he meant, just so long as his kisses didnt stop and he let me keep feeling my way to his shoulders.
I figured out what he meant, and it was a good thing.
I couldnt believe his room was this close. But there we were, down a narrow pathway, across a patio and through some French doors.