Laurella breathed a silent sigh of relief as the taxi pulled up outside their hotel in Chicago. It had been a tense flight in which she and Calum had barely spoken a word to each other. Finally, she’d be able to get some much-needed space. She unlocked the door and climbed out.

The bellhop wheeled his luggage rack to the back of the car and opened the trunk. “Are you checking in?” he asked politely.

“Yes,” Laurella replied as he lifted out each of their bags. “Separate tickets, please.” She pointed to her suitcase. “That’s my bag.”

He scrawled on a ticket and gave it to her. “Hand this in at the front desk, and they’ll make sure your luggage is sent up to your room.”

“Thanks, man,” Calum said, taking his own ticket. He slipped the bellhop a ten-dollar bill.

“Have a wonderful vacation,” the bellhop said, wandering off before Laurella could correct him.

“Wish I was on vacation,” she muttered, drawing a cocky grin from Calum.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll see to it that you have a good time.”

She gave him a sickly smile. “Oh, you’re going to make sure you stay the hell away from me? Then you’re right—I will have a good time.”

She spun on her heel and stalked into the hotel. Fortunately, a check-in assistant was free, and Laurella stepped forward. “I have a reservation—”

“We have a reservation,” Calum said, appearing at her shoulder. “Laurella Ricci and Calum Brook.”

Laurella bit down on her lip before she said something that would no doubt embarrass the lady serving them. But she did make sure to grind her heel right into Calum’s foot.

“Jesus,” he said, snapping his foot away.

Laurella allowed a small smile to creep across her face. “Oh, sorry. I really must be more careful where I step.”

Calum glowered as the check-in clerk tapped away on her computer. After a minute or so, she hit them both with a bright smile. “Ms. Ricci, you’re in room five thirty-three, and Mr. Brook, you’re in five thirty-five.”

“Well, look at that,” Calum murmured in Laurella’s ear. “We’re virtually sleeping together.”

“In your dreams,” she hissed, swiping her key card off the desk. Without waiting for Calum, she hastened across the lobby and managed to get into an elevator without him. The doors closed, and she sagged against the wall. As if the flight to Chicago hadn’t been bad enough, the next two days were going to be torturous. Zane had the best interests of his company at heart and thought that by forcing them together, they would find a way to get along, but Laurella’s view was quite the opposite. After two days spent in her company, Calum Brook would be lucky to leave with his teeth intact, not to mention his special parts.

The elevator doors juddered open, and Laurella strode down the hallway. She craved a shower and some rest. After that, she planned to order room service, go over her notes for the following day, and crash.

She inserted the key card into the slot, and the green light fortunately came on. Too often, these things didn’t work, which resulted in a trip back down to the lobby. The last thing she needed was to bump into Calum on his way up to his room.

She slipped inside and tossed her jacket on the bed. Poking her head into the bathroom, she flicked on the light and nodded her approval. A nice bathroom was a measure of a good hotel, and this one excelled, with a huge walk-in shower, twin sinks, and a deep tub that she would definitely be taking advantage of over the next couple of days.

Laurella switched on the nightstand lamp. A soft, buttery glow gave the room a relaxed feel. She perched on the edge of the bed and removed her shoes then massaged the soles of her feet. She loved her heels, but they definitely didn’t love her, especially when having to traipse through two airports.

When a knock came at her door, she wandered across the room and peered through the peephole. Excellent. Her luggage.

She opened the door. “Thank you,” she said, indicating for the bellboy to leave her bag by the entrance. Laurella handed him a tip and closed the door then flopped onto the bed. She lay back and closed her eyes. Exhaustion settled over her like a blanket. She’d rest for a just few minutes, and then she’d unpack and freshen up.

She began drifting off to sleep, so she forced herself upright. A shower would make her feel much better. She pulled her bag across the room and heaved it onto the bed, ready to open it, and paused. This wasn’t her bag. It looked similar, but hers was slightly larger and a deeper blue. She read the luggage label. Damn it all to hell. It was Calum’s bag, which meant he had to have hers. Wonderful. Just when she’d hoped to avoid speaking to him until the morning, it seemed fate had other ideas.

With a heavy sigh, she hauled his suitcase back onto the floor, dragged it into the hallway, and rapped on Calum’s door. When there was no answer, she knocked again, harder this time.

“Hang on,” he called from inside.

He opened the door, wearing only a towel slung low around his waist. His hair was ruffled and damp, and rivulets of water dribbled down his chest. As much as Laurella tried to focus on his face, her eyes seemed to have a mind of their own. Calum Brook might be the most frustrating and hateful person she’d ever had the misfortune to meet, but dear God, the man had the body of an Adonis: hard pectorals, broad shoulders, the most delicious deltoid muscles she’d ever laid eyes on… and tanned, smooth skin.

And as her disobedient gaze traveled farther south, she was treated to a set of defined abs that had her fingers twitching to explore, not to mention a too-sexy-for-words thin strip of hair that started at his navel and disappeared beneath the towel.

She forced a swallow past a throat that had narrowed considerably.

Calum rested his arm high above the doorjamb. “Missing me already, Laurella?”

She schooled her expression into a bored stare and dragged her gaze to his face. “You have my suitcase.”

He raised one eyebrow then grinned. “Yes, I believe I do.”

He wandered over to the far side of the room, where her suitcase stood. The rear view wasn’t bad either. His broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist. She’d bet he had a firm ass, too.

What the hell, Laurella? She tucked her chin into her chest and nibbled on her bottom lip. Something about seeing Calum in this setting, especially as he was barely clothed, unsettled her.

He set her case down in front of her, swapping it for his own. “Here you go. Get dressed. I’ll call for you in a half hour and take you to dinner.”

She scowled at him. “I’m having room service.”

“No, you’re not. We need to plan for tomorrow, and as you were morose on the flight over, you give me no choice but to put up with your scintillating company this evening. Believe me, sweetheart, I’d rather seek a more… willing party.”

“Fine.” She almost spat the word.

“Good. Thirty minutes,” he reiterated.

She wheeled her suitcase next door and opened her door.

“Oh, and Laurella?” he called out.

She stiffened her spin and reluctantly turned around. “Yes?”

“Wear the blue lingerie.”

She frowned and then figured out what he was getting at. She strode back to him, hands on her hips. “You opened my suitcase?”

“Of course.” He smirked. “Color me curious. I must say, you’ve got great taste.”

“You’re unbelievable,” she bit out, astonished at his invasion of her privacy.

He full-on smiled then, not a hint of embarrassment on his face. “I think that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” And without a backward glance, he kicked the door shut—right in her face.

Laurella let out a frustrated growl before entering her own room. She slammed her door so hard the frame rattled. How on earth was she going to survive the next two days with that man?