skulked around depressed not getting work. This time, he would also stop looking for work.
His career would be over.
He’d need something else to do.
But L.A. was filled with too many bad memories. All the shining stars around him having their dream come true would be a daily dose of crushing jealousy he wouldn’t put himself through.
He got chills staring up at The Dynasty. Flashbacks, or flash-forwards to when he’d be walking up those lobby steps again at The Sterling. His home. And he might be doing it as a colossal failure.
Walking into The Sterling’s twin, however, brought on an invigorating rush of suspended hope. Realizing he felt good, he reached for Sabine’s hand, but a startling wave of fear shot through him when she didn’t take it.
Twenty-four hours ago, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other in Austin. She also didn’t let him take her bag.
Was she going to ditch him?
He stopped and rested his hand on her hip. “The front desk is in the back.” He assumed because The Sterling’s check-in desk was set farther in. The focal point of the lobby in each hotel was the glittery bar, the tiered seating areas, and those long sheer panels Laney designed hanging from the cathedral ceiling.
His breath caught seeing her inspiration.
“Are those...curtains?” Sabine asked when he stopped and stared.
He gave a soft laugh. “Laney calls them sheers. Sheer panels. She copied the idea and we now have them in our lobby, too.”
“Right. I think I saw that in the photo gallery.”
Laney would be appalled if the panels she’d designed and made in her own textile mill left an indifferent impression on someone visiting the website. But Sabine was doing intel research not looking to book a room.
“I’ll wait here while ye check in,” Sabine said coldly, leaning against the railing of one of the tiered seating levels.
His throat tightened. “Please come with me.”
“On second thought, I want my own room.”
“No.”
“No?”
He shook his head. “I mean...”
Jesus, the idea of not sleeping next to her sent his heart into a panic. He needed to get a grip. “Okay, I’ll get you a room. Wait here. Please.”
She stared at him.
He opened his mouth ready to ask her again, but a voice called over his shoulder.
“Grayson?”
He turned around and didn’t recognize the woman, although, from how Luke and Tristan had described her, it must have been the woman who owned the hotel. “Yeah?”
“Sara Singer,” the woman said with a wide smile and reached out to shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you. How do you know who I am?”
“Your mother.”
“My mother?”
“Your brother and Lexi are here all the time. They brought your mom with them once. Lexi is going to be my GC.”
His breath hitched. “So that’s official?”
She cocked her head. “They didn’t tell you?”
“I’ve been...busy. Working in L.A.”
“Oh right, your mother mentioned that, too.” She held her phone tight in her grasp. “Of course, your niece is all she talks about now.”
Gray broke out of the spell hearing about his freaking family from a stranger and turned around, fearing Sabine had slipped away. He relaxed seeing her. “Sara, this is Sabine.”
“Nice to meet you.” Sara smiled and then gave him a once-over. “This your mother didn’t mention.”
When did they become besties?
What the hell happened to everyone since he’d been gone? It was like everyone’s lives flew by at warp speed while he fell backward.
“I just met Sabine.” But he gripped her hand and appreciated how she didn’t snap it away. Didn’t embarrass him.
“And yet you whisked her to my little hotel. I’m honored. Come, let’s get you checked in.” Sara turned for the lobby and sashayed toward the front desk.
The feminine version of Luke, who sauntered around The Sterling like a king.
“Thank you,” Gray whispered to Sabine, who let him hold her hand.
“Do ye think we made a mistake coming here? Will she call Luke?” The nervousness in her voice raised his hackles.
“Shit, I didn’t think of that.” He scrubbed a hand down the back of his neck. When he took out his comp card, Sara waved him away.
“Your owner card and your money are no good here, love.” Sara checked them in herself. Standing behind a monitor, she said, “And don’t worry about the incidentals. Whatever you want. Put it on the room.”
“Thanks.” He put the card back in his wallet.
And he dodged a bullet with Sara not needing a credit card. He didn’t think Sabine would be handing hers over this time.
“One suite?” Sara glanced up at him and then Sabine.
His