AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I giggle. “No. My own dress shop. It would be really neat to have someone build it just like this. Ample counter space, customized for my needs.” I shrug, feeling silly to talk about my dreams that feel so far away.
“I know the feeling.”
I tease him right back. “Of wanting to open a dress shop?”
“No. When my dad passed away and gave the company to me and Jason, I knew how I wanted to change it and make it better. Being the boss of your own company and having that executive decision-making never gets old.” Before he steps forward to be cashed out, he smiles softly. “You’ll find out what I mean.”
Assuming I ever get there at all. It feels like I only grow further from making my shop happen but hearing him so freely support me like this makes me feel lighter. He’ll never know how much his words matter, and they only endear him to me that much more.
I sigh and nod. I hope so.
Chapter 15
Claire
Even though I grew up in the States and I have my driver’s license, I’ve spent so much time in Paris studying that I can’t really imagine driving here again. It’s a big part of the reason why I’m reluctant to deal with finding a rental. Why bother when so many others can drive me around, or I can have things delivered? I’m especially grateful for Sawyer’s offer to chauffeur me around this city. I doubt I’d keep up with the traffic, and I bet it’s worse than it usually is.
“Probably something going on at the convention center,” Sawyer points out, aiming his finger at the flashing sign that we pass in the heart of the downtown area. Quite a few people have been standing at the entrances to public parking lots, asking for upwards of twenty bucks to park for an event.
“A concert, maybe,” I guess after spotting more crowds of pedestrians wearing similarly styled merchandise and t-shirts with the image of the same band.
“Good thing we booked our rooms in advance,” he adds.
I’m not sure I’d call that advance. We only just decided—or Dalton decided for me—that we’d be coming to Denver together for both of our business needs. A week isn’t much of an advance notice, not if this concert was planned for months ahead of time.
I nod, though, not wanting to be pessimistic. Once we arrive at the hotel and head to the check-in counter, it’s clear that we’re out of luck.
“I don’t understand,” I protest again when we get the bad news. “How could you double book? We both made our reservations with plenty of time to spare.” I hold up my phone toward the stressed woman. Sawyer’s device is already on the counter with the screen showing his confirmation email.
“We’ve had a snafu with reservations from guests who’ve gone with a package offered by the concert host, and as such, communications were delayed. We did not have access to their systems, and once the information was processed on our end, it resulted, unfortunately, in double booking select rooms.”
I scoff. “Yeah. Unfortunately.” For us. Not the people who took our rooms! The clerk seems sympathetic, but it all sounds like mumbo-jumbo as far as excuses go.
“We do, however, have one suite available.”
I roll my eyes. One. As in singular. Never mind my attraction and curiosity, Sawyer and I should not be sharing a room.
“Oh, yeah?” he asks.
I shoot him a look, which he ignores.
“Hey, our options are limited,” he reminds me. “And I’m not crazy about driving through this downtown traffic again, not with the trailer.” It’s his turn to roll his eyes at the idea of it.
“It’s a deluxe suite—”
“With two beds?” I interrupt.
“Well, no. Yes.” The clerk nods. “It has a living area outside of the single bedroom, but the couch pulls out into a bed.”
I guess that would imply two places to sleep. Sharing a combined room with him would likely mean sharing a bathroom. Both times Sawyer had seen me in a robe resulted in an awful lot of fluttering in my stomach, sensations I’d be better off avoiding with how much he tempted me the more I spent time with him. He simply draws me to him somehow, but so long as we have our own respective places to sleep…
“We’ll take it,” I reply hastily, intimidated by the prospect of having no room and of the pressure to avoid making Sawyer drive back tonight. He’s done enough for today. While it’s not my fault the hotel has screwed up and double-booked our rooms, I feel like I should be the one to reserve this new suite. Which means I need to say goodbye to more money. Dalton mistook my situation, assuming I have access to oodles of money, but my wallet is slim. My allowance deposits aren’t much, and I fret that booking this bigger space will put a more significant dent in my spending. Still, there’s nothing to do about it but—
“I’ll get it.” Sawyer steps closer to the counter, edging me aside.
“What?” I frown at him, elbowing him just as he did to me.
“I will get it.” He repeats it with a firm tone but isn’t mean about it. His offer to get the room is nice to begin with, but I have never cared for a man thinking he can push me around. It’s bad enough my mother pushes me plenty.
