said with an apologetic shrug. “The best I can do is get you a room for tomorrow, but tonight there’s nothing available.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. If I stepped outside and was immediately mugged, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.
“What’s going on?” Parker stepped up next to me.
“They messed up the reservation,” I said with a heavy sigh. “They have your room tonight, but don’t have anything available for me until tomorrow. Even though I called to confirm the reservation yesterday.” I gave the desk clerk a withering glare.
“There are two hotels on this block,” the clerk said. “I’ve contacted them both, but neither has any available rooms.”
“Apparently there’s a convention going on,” I said. “Comic books and dentists.”
Parker’s brows knit in question.
“Not, like, together. Separate.” Though I guessed maybe dentists could like comic books, too? Whatever. It didn’t matter. My wet skirt was clinging to me and I shifted uncomfortably, mentally using all the words my mother frowned upon to curse the hotel, the dentists, and the comic book folks.
“Just make sure my room is a double,” he told the clerk. “We’ll make it work until tomorrow.”
“I don’t mind staying nearby,” I protested.
Parker looked down at me. “You’d have to go farther than that to find a room. It’s just for one night, Sage. We’re adults. We’ll manage.” His tone clearly said the subject was closed, so I shut up.
“Here you go, sir,” the clerk said, sliding a packet onto the counter. Parker picked it up. “You’re in room 1427. Here are two keys and the Wi-Fi password. We’ll notify you tomorrow when the second room becomes available.”
“Thank you,” Parker said. Taking my elbow, he led me to the elevator while the bellman followed with the luggage.
I didn’t say anything in the elevator, my nerves jangling at the idea of sharing a room with Parker. Why in the world had he done that? I’d be just a phone call and hasty jog away, should he need me. Though it did cement in my mind that he had no interest in me other than a professional one. No boss would put themselves in this situation—not in our lawsuit-crazy society—if there was even a hint that things could get unprofessional, and Parker was the consummate professional.
The room wasn’t as big as I’d hoped, but was really nice. The bellman set the luggage down and Parker tipped him before he left. I stood awkwardly by one of the beds as the door swung shut, then hurried to shed Parker’s jacket.
“Here you go,” I said, handing it to him. “I’ll just change.”
I bent over to where my suitcase lay on the floor, digging through it for another skirt and blouse. My nerves were shot after the plane ride from hell, and now the prospect of sharing a hotel room with my boss made me long for another vodka tonic.
Parker cleared his throat and I glanced over my shoulder at him, but he seemed to have his gaze carefully averted. “I know it may be a bit uncomfortable, Sage,” he said, “but it’s only for one night. After what happened Friday, I’d rather you be here than alone in another hotel.”
Ah. That made sense, though my disappointment in his explanation certainly didn’t.
“Sure, yeah, thanks,” I blurted, yanking out the new outfit. “I’ll just be a few minutes.” Clutching my clothes, I disappeared into the bathroom.
The full-length mirror showed the extent of Jeffrey-the-Terror’s damage and I groaned in dismay at the stain. This was a hundred-and-fifty-dollar Michael Kors skirt! Wait a second…
I squinted, then pulled the fabric tighter across my hips.
“Oh no…”
Spinning around, I pulled it tight across my rear. Sure enough, even with the satin lining, the fabric was see-through where it was wet. No wonder Parker had loaned me his jacket. So when I’d been bending over getting clothes out of my suitcase, my underwear stashed in a trashcan at the airport…
“Oh God,” I moaned, covering my burning face with my hands. No wonder he’d been so clearly looking away from my prominently displayed backside. Didn’t they call that “presenting” in the animal kingdom?
“Oh God oh God oh God…”
I had to stay in the bathroom forever. No way could I go back out there and face him again after that little display.
“Everything okay in there?” I heard Parker say right outside the door.
“Yeah! Yes! Everything is fine!” My voice sounded strangled.
I couldn’t stay in here, as much as I wanted to.
Stripping out of my clothes, I dressed in