I want to blame it on the wine, but I can’t.
He hands me my keycard, and I take it. My hand is shaking. I hope he doesn’t notice. If he does, he doesn’t say anything.
I dash out of the elevator as soon as it opens.
“Good night, Miss Shaw,” I hear him say, but the doors are closing.
I grab my chest. I’m not usually this dramatic, but… Fudge buckets! I think I’m allowed to be after that happened. I’m well within my rights. I open my suite door and lean against it as soon as I am inside. My head slumps. My chin is against my chest.
I’m the asshole.
Not Bolt.
I threw myself at my boss on my first day of work. I cover my face with my hand and groan. Ironically sounding very much the way I did when I was groping Bolt. Groping my boss!
I spy a bottle of water next to my bed, which has been turned down at some point during the evening. There is an orchid and a chocolate on my pillow. I head straight for the water and down most of it. Then I get into my pajamas and hunt down my toiletry bag. All the while, I think of him…of that kiss. I might have mauled Bolt, but for me, that was hands down the best kiss I have ever had. Ever! I loved every aspect of it. I’m sure he must feel violated. I groan again. This is terrible!
There is a knock at the door. My heart pounds against my ribs. Maybe it’s him. He knows my room number. Does he want…sex?
No!
Can’t be.
He probably wants to discuss it. We should discuss it. Trying to sweep something like this under the rug would be wrong. Maybe he wants to fire me. I would understand if he did. I will accept my fate with grace. “I’m so sorr—” I say as I open the door, stopping as soon as I see who is there. It’s a lady wearing a hotel uniform. “Good evening, Miss Shaw. I have something for you. Mr. Bolt said that you would still be awake and that you would want this.” She hands me a big brown paper bag.
My food.
I take it, on autopilot. “Thank you.” My voice is still too soft.
She smiles. “I trust you will have a good stay with us. Please don’t hesitate to call the front desk, should you require anything.”
“I will.” I force a smile. I’m sure it looks like more of a grimace.
I close the door and open the bag. It’s my food. All of it. The gnocchi, garlic bread, and tiramisu. There’s a smiley face with the word ‘Enjoy!’ written on the pasta box. I wonder if it was Bolt or Giovanni who wrote that there. I’m hoping it was Bolt. Crazy, I know.
One thing sticks with me. Bolt is sweet. He’s kind and thoughtful. I have a feeling he’s going to pretend this never happened. I feel terrible. Worse than terrible. I groped him. Poor man. He can’t go anywhere without being accosted. He asked me to help him keep crazy women away from him, and I end up being one of the offenders. I sit at the desk in the corner and open the box of gnocchi. I start eating. It’s delicious. Unfortunately, the food feels like lead in my stomach. I know what I have to do, and I hate it. I’m the asshole in this, and I need to fix it.
15
The next morning…
Bolt
I fucked up.
I fucked up big time.
I’ve been flirting with Miss Shaw. I’ve been enjoying her company far too much. All the laughing, the smiling, the ‘looking deep into her eyes’ bullshit. I love how much she enjoys her food. I almost came in my pants when she groaned around that rice ball.
I love how she’s not afraid to say what she’s feeling, even though she quickly tries to cover it up afterward. She paid for the food at the Italian place.
She paid!
She!
Paid!
Fuck!
I can’t even remember the last time anyone bought me anything. It touched me deeply. Made me warm and fucking fuzzy. I know it’s the poison talking. Making me feel these things. Making me want her to the point where I can’t think straight. I know it’s not real. It felt real though. All of it.
That kiss.
That fucking kiss.
I was on the verge of pulling up her dress, sliding her panties to the side and fucking her right there. In the elevator. I’m not sure how I