Chapter 3: Lydia
Slightly taken back by the huge woman’s beaming grin and deep-toned voice, I shouldered my purse and smiled.
“I would like to check in, please. I’m here with Theo Clayton.”
The woman’s grin widened. She had dyed red hair and wore skillfully applied, yet somewhat loud make-up.
“Oh yes, Mr. Clayton – of course,” she said. “And you must be Ms. Thorpe. Your suite is lovely. I’m sure you’ll be happy here.” The woman turned to the man beside her adding, “Won’t you help our guest with her luggage?”
I had only brought one small carryon suitcase with me and didn’t really need any assistance with it. But the man was already coming from behind the reception desk toward me.
“Oh no, please. I can manage,” I began.
We both bent to pick the case at the same time and my hand closed momentarily over his. I stared down at the strong, tanned hand then up to meet startling blue eyes.
For a moment nothing else seemed to exist.
Electricity crackled where we touched and even more so when we locked gazes. I couldn’t remember anyone ever looking at me the way this man did, like he’d never seen anything more beautiful or captivating.
I felt drawn by the gleaming swirls of his eyes and his handsome, compelling features. His long blond hair and muscles spelled surfer dude or a model for a high-priced cologne ad.
The spark of awareness was sudden and fierce and made me catch my breath. He smiled slightly and straightened, breaking the spell as he lifted my case in his hand.
My fingers slipped away and I felt heat steal over my cheeks. In those few seconds, I wasn’t myself. I had to blink to recollect my bearings.
“It’s no problem at all,” the man said with a distinctive American accent. “Is this all you came with?”
I was about to reply when Theo emerged, carrying with him the rest of our luggage.
“Sorry I took so long,” he said. “A call came through just as I was on my way in.”
“That’s fine,” I said, quelling my guilty feelings.
Not that I’d done anything wrong. Well, maybe I had. After all, it had been a long time since I’d felt a surge of attraction for a man, especially one I’d only just met and didn’t even know.
“I was about to go up and check out the suite,” I added, to cover my discomfiture, which increased as I saw Theo glance at the blond-haired man still standing by me.
“You’ll see to the rest of the luggage, of course,” Theo said to him dismissively.
I felt like cringing.
“Of course,” the man said courteously, though I could have sworn his lips curved in an ironic smile. “In fact, we have a whole welcome team ready to ensure your bags are not only taken to your room, but also to take your drink orders if you so wish. Is there anything you’d like?”
“Nothing for now,” was Theo’s curt response as he turned to the beaming woman waiting at the desk.
She must have pressed a button because indeed, uniformed attendants miraculously appeared. I found myself ordering a cold daiquiri while our bags were carried off.
I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder at the handsome blond man who’d exited the scene. I wondered who he was and hoped he hadn’t been too offended by Theo’s offhand manner. Theo felt little need to show regard to those he considered below his social level.
Nonetheless, I felt embarrassed that he couldn’t treat a hotel employee with more respect. He did that a lot, especially when we went out to restaurants.
And yet this was just another thing I couldn’t hold against him. Not with the fact that he’d lived in the lap of luxury all his life. His family owned stakes in oil, property and stocks. Their name carried a lot of weight even beyond the business climate. That didn’t give anyone the right to act stuck up though, I thought with hidden anger.
By the time I saw our rooms, I put my annoyance behind me. Theo proved himself in many other ways; he was thoughtful, generous and charming, especially to me and I’d never had cause to complain. Our huge suite of rooms was gorgeously appointed and had a breath-taking view of blue sky and water.
The sense of nature and beauty was almost overwhelming and suddenly I knew my time here had a purpose. I vowed to keep negative thoughts at bay and revel in the opportunity to bring the romance into a love affair that had initially seemed more of convenience than anything else. Maybe it was time to change that.