was natural.
They reached the registration desk. Hagan checked them in as she scoped the security and registration system, peppering the conversation with unobtrusive, fact-finding questions. The man behind the registration desk told them about their room and collected payment. Casino de Gemmayzeh’s system and procedures left little room for error and raised questions about their gaming systems. If they were anything like the simple check-in process, Amanda knew they’d have to dig deep.
The hotel registrar returned Hagan’s falsified identification and credit card along with key cards to the honeymoon suite, adding, “One second, please. I believe there’s one more thing.”
Curious, Amanda leaned against Hagan and watched the man disappear into an alcove behind the front desk. Her job was harder than she expected with Hagan rubbing his fingers along her hip. She ignored the way he made her feel like she had been walking on air and twisted in his arms, surreptitiously stealing a glance at the computer screen.
The registrar returned with an enormous bouquet of lilies and struggled to place them on the counter. “You had a delivery.”
Her stomach dropped. “Aren’t those beautiful.”
Hagan eyed her as if he knew lilies were associated with funerals and death, then read the card and handed it to her.
Best wishes on your speedy escape.
Oh, man. Jared was pissed.
“It’s from the office,” Hagan volunteered to the man, then added to Amanda, “Isn’t that sweet.”
“So thoughtful, too, but …” Her eyebrows arched. “It’s too bad I’m allergic.”
“Forgot about that.” He crushed the card in his hand and turned the man behind the counter. “Do you know anyone who might enjoy these?”
His brow furrowed. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely,” Hagan confirmed.
Amanda didn’t know if the man was genuinely surprised to have the flowers turned away or didn’t want to deal with the hot-air-balloon-sized arrangement. “Please,” she urged. “As much as we’d love to take them, I’d be bed-bound with an allergy headache.”
The man hefted the vase off the counter. “We can’t have that.” He signaled to the bellhop captain that they were ready for their room, and with a final congratulations, Hagan and Amanda were directed to meet the bellhop who’d initially retrieved their luggage.
“Death flowers, huh?” Hagan’s lips lingered near her ear. “Bet Boss Man had to do some Googling to come up with that.”
“Or he had Angela take a page from her mother’s playbook.” They’d never reached the acquaintance level of interaction, but Amanda understood more about Angela’s life with a mother like the infamous Senator Sorenson than most.
Hagan snorted. “Don’t remind me of that old witch.” He smoothed his thumb along the indentation of her spine, then managed an easygoing conversation with their attendant as they made their way to the elevators and boarded.
The elevator quickly rose to the ninth floor. Hagan held her hand like they’d had years together, and when the doors opened, he strode in front of the bellhop until they reached their suite.
“I’ll make sure everything is to your liking,” the bellhop offered, unlocking the door with a key card and stepping aside.
Amanda took a step. Hagan hauled her back, and with a shiver-inducing half-grin, he winked. “I’m supposed to carry you over the threshold.”
Have mercy. She needed his arms around her again.
Hagan caught her gaze and held it, lifting her into his arms.
It felt so right. There wasn’t a single word that explained how he made her feel. A distant voice in the back of her head warned her that they would both get hurt if she let this go too far. But she’d already had and was fast wondering how deep she could fall for this man.
He carried her into the suite and spun Amanda around. “Does this work for you?”
In so many ways. “Think so.”
“Me too.” Hagan kissed Amanda and set her down.
She didn’t let go, not trusting her legs. Blood rushed in her ears, and vaguely aware of Hagan conversing with the bellhop, she fought against the deliriously amazing fog that his lips could create.
The door shut. They were alone. Hagan placed his hands on her hips and pulled her to him. “I like playing pretend with you.”
She swayed into him, feeling herself come alive. His thick erection pressed between them. There were things she had to do. Standard operating procedure required her to sweep the room and inspect their luggage. But Amanda didn’t care. “That makes me very happy. She caressed his bulge. She unfastened the top of his jeans, teased the zipper down, and slid her hands under the denim. “Because I like playing with