ELIZABETH

“The card won’t seem to work.”

Caden takes the plastic room key from my hand. “Let me try.” He slides it through the slot a few times and frowns, “Hmm. Is this the first time you’ve used it?”

“They gave me two. I used one to get in, and maybe I grabbed the other one?” Running a hand through my hair I add, “Flew in just today. I changed and met Gwen and David, so I haven’t needed to get back in yet. Is it possible one would be defunct?”

Caden pulls me into his arms, smiling at me. “I’m looking forward to getting back into you.”

I caress the back of his head, loving the soft feel of his hair lacing between my fingers. “Me too.”

“Let’s go to the front desk.”

I pause and blink toward the upscale, modernly painted hallway, but only see Atlanta Hope’s corridor.

Caden touches my chin and pulls my focus back to him. “You worried someone will see us? We’re in Chicago.”

On a small laugh, I disagree, “No, I was thinking I hope someone does. And then I realized nobody would.”

He cocks his head, so handsome as his eyebrows twitch. “You want people knowing about us?”

“I didn’t think about it until now.” I pause, wanting to ask, Is there an ‘us’? “I guess I’m tired of hiding.”

“Let’s go see what not-hiding feels like.” He takes my hand and we walk briskly to the elevator. Nobody called it since we arrived, so it’s waiting for us. Inside, Caden chuckles, “My blood is pumping like I’m getting caught fucking my teacher.”

“You kind of are.”

He pulls me close as the numbers drop. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? How are you going to feel when I’m no longer beneath you in rank?”

“You’ll always be beneath me in years of experience. I’ll take comfort in that.”

He sensually presses his lips to mine, tingles delivered everywhere.

The doors open and we separate to find two people who are so mismatched it’s obvious they aren’t here together. They stare at us a beat before averting their eyes out of politeness. Caden’s fingers lock with mine and we leave the elevator with him dipping his chin. “Watch out. The car is magical. We just met.”

They react, glancing to each other and awkwardly entering the elevator.

I cover my smile with my free hand, footsteps hurriedly matching his pace. How many times have we walked together as professionals up a busy hallway to do what we do best, and here we are at a hotel in another state, walking just as fast with a different sort of purpose.

The front desk clerk, a female in her mid-twenties, lifts her head and gives us a familiar can-I-help-you smile. Caden leans his elbow on the taupe counter. “We have a problem.”

“Yes, what is it?” she asks, eyebrows lifting, smile stable.

“We’re not supposed to be here together. She’s my boss in a manner of speaking. But we’re kind of into each other so we got this hotel room.”

My heart is pounding. And this woman doesn’t even know us. Or the Chief. Or any of my fellow staff who would be shocked to discover where I am right now.

The clerk’s smile loses focus.

I explain, “Actually, it’s my room. I just invited him to it despite everything he just confessed to you. Because, well, look at him.”

Caden slides the defunct key over, and it scrapes pretty loudly. “She must have left the good one inside, and taken this one without checking. I really need to be alone with her, so if you could just zap that into action, I’ll follow suit.”

I start laughing.

The clerk asks for my I.D., and I pass her my Georgia license. She checks the computer, reprograms the key and forces a polite smile.

Caden says, “You’re a peach.”

And I shake my head, letting him lead me away. “Was that a joke on my license?”

“Remember I’ve got the same one,” he winks. “And I’m jealous.”

Tugging on his hand I stop walking. “Caden, I’m so sorry you’re here.”

He frowns, going sober. “Want me to leave?”

I laugh, “You know what I mean! Here in Chicago.” Touching his chest I rest my palm flat, eyelashes rising to meet his. “I’m sorry you had to uproot your life.”

Caden covers my hand with his and leans to kiss me, the pressure gentle. Lacing our fingers together, he walks us to the elevator. We are silent while we wait, both of us staring ahead and not at the numbers, lost in our thoughts.

We live in different states, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. But we have this night.

As the doors open, the two women from before are still in it, and they separate from a kiss. Our mouths go lax as they turn to us.

One says, “You were right,” taking the other woman’s hand as they walk past us. “Where did you want to eat?”

“I found this great place last night.”

Their discussion’s volume quiets with distance while Caden and I are in the elevator, dumbfounded, him holding the door so we can watch the two disappear.

He pushes the button, under his breath saying, “Whoa.”

“Did you notice what floor I’m on?”

He glances to the number and sends me a smirk. “I’m an idiot. Can’t believe I didn’t see that. You ask for the seventh?”

“Why would I do that?” I shrug.

He chuckles and brings my fingers to his lips, kissing the tip of each one so slowly it inspires a hum of anticipation inside me.