Elsie

“I am so excited to get those pictures. Larson is going to die when I give them to him. I’ve already decided I’m going to wear the same outfit underneath my clothes and let him discover it for himself when he undresses me, photo in his hand,” Isabel says, leaning on the reception counter.

We already decided we were going to have a celebratory post photo-shoot dinner together tonight and she’s waiting for my shift to finish. Fortunately, she’s wearing normal clothes, although who knows what she has on underneath her black blouse and jeans. The plan is to go straight from here to a local bar called Tarzan’s and toast the fact that we did something out of the ordinary and kinda crazy. Although Isabel’s was a whole new level of crazy from mine. Still, at least I did something out of the ordinary.

“Yeah, I’m really excited to get the photos and share them with nobody,” I say.

“You can share them with me, darling. I’ll appreciate them,” Nathan says, tapping my arm playfully.

“You’ll just get jealous,” Isabel laughs.

“Absolutely, I’d love to fit into a little corset like she wore,” Nathan says. “But my waist is far too thick to even dream of it and there’s no way I’m giving up my Ho Hos so don’t even tell me I can always slim down, because that’s just not going to happen.”

“They do sell plus-size corsets,” I say.

“How do you know I don’t already have a closet full of them?” he asks.

“It wouldn’t even surprise me,” I say, shaking my head. In fact, I’d be surprised if he didn’t have them. Although I never really figured him for a cross-dresser, but you never know with Nathan.

“Anyway, back to me. Becca said my photo shoot was full-on dirty. As in the dirtiest she’d ever done. We really pushed boundaries,” Isabel says.

Man, she’s not making me want to see the results. I start formulating a list of excuses to tell her why I can never look at them.

“Wow, Izzy, you’d fit right in with our current guest. You know Xander Whitman is staying here, right? He’d be all into your photos,” Nathan says.

I cringe at how openly he said that Xander is staying here, although I was obviously going to tell Isabel anyway.

“Oh my God, is he the guy who walked in on us? I thought he looked familiar,” Isabel says.

“One and the same,” Nathan says.

“Now you’re sad you went and hid in the bathroom, aren’t you?” I tease Isabel.

“That’s the understatement of the century. I can’t wait to clean his room tomorrow. How long is he saying?” Isabel asks.

“Just one night,” I say.

“Dammit. I’m just going to hang out in the lobby until he shows his gorgeous face,” she says.

“And then what?” I ask.

“I don’t know, ask for his email to send my nasty photos to?”

“I’m sure Larson would love that,” I say.

“He probably would, they could have a threesome and Larson could tap his ass,” Nathan says, waggling his head.

“I’d be up for that,” Isabel says without hesitation.

I can’t help thinking about my earlier interactions with Xander and how my body reacted. I’m also aware that it’s almost six-thirty and Xander will be coming to get his pizza soon. What will our interaction be like this time? My cheeks heat at the prospect.

“What are you blushing about?” Nathan asks.

The question makes me blush more and I say, “He keeps flirting with me.”

“Get out,” Nathan says, his eyes bulging.

“Of course he is. You should’ve seen what she was wearing when he first saw her,” Isabel says.

“What did he say?” Nathan says.

“Yeah, what did he do?” Isabel asks before Nathan’s finished speaking.

“I can’t go through it all now,” I say.

“Oh come on, give us something,” Isabel says.

“He touched my hand to his face.” I shift my eyes down, remembering his touch. “Something happened, I don’t know, my body just went into full-on alert for him. He could have taken me right here on the desk and I wouldn’t have done anything to stop him.”

“Obviously! The world’s sexiest man touched you,” Isabel says.

“No, he made her touch him. That’s major sexy,” Nathan says.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter. We’re talking about someone with a girlfriend in the middle of a very public sex scandal,” I say.

“Hey, what happens in Trenton stays in Trenton,” Nathan says.

“That’s not very nice to his girlfriend,” I say.

“After today do you honestly think they are going to be a couple much longer? I’d be surprised if they haven’t already broken up. Hell, why is he here at our little hotel in Trenton? If they were still together he would be at her penthouse,” Nathan says.

“Excellent points,” Isabel says.

“He sure doesn’t seem very upset if they just broke up,” I say.

The entrance door opens and a pizza delivery man carrying a stack of three pizzas with some bottles of drinks in a bag dangling from the crock of his elbow makes his way across the lobby. Either Xander has a big appetite or he has no idea how to order pizzas. Unless he’s stocking up for breakfast. And lunch.

“Hi, you can set them down here. Are they already paid for?” I ask.

“Great, yep. All paid,” the delivery guy says.

“Thanks, this is for you,” I say, handing the man a ten-dollar bill.

“Have a great night,” he says and makes his way out the door.

“Okay, spill. Those pizzas are for Xander, aren’t they?” Isabel says.

“Maybe,” I say.

“Oh shut up and stop trying to hide secrets from us,” Nathan says.

As if on cue, Xander comes strolling into the lobby and struts up to the desk. He doesn’t even seem to notice Nathan or Isabel as his eyes are fixed firmly on me. His gaze is enough to heat my core once again.

“Three pizzas, you must be hungry,” I say.

“I wasn’t sure what kind you like so I ordered a few,” he says with a coy smile that shows off his dimple.

“Does it matter what pizza toppings I like?” I say.

“It does if you’re going to eat them with me,” Xander says and flashes me a smile.

I am stunned into speechlessness. It doesn’t even seem real. I mean, I know it’s only pizza but still, Xander Whitman wants to eat dinner with me. Although realistically it’s only because he saw me in the lingerie and most likely he’s only after a quickie on his way to wherever it is he’s going. Plus, he has the girlfriend. Plus, there are details of his outlandish sex life all over the news. Plus, plus he makes my insides melt.

“I’m really sorry,” I say, scrunching up my face, “Isabel and I already have plans for dinner.”

“I’m going to have to move our dinner to tomorrow. Really sorry, but Larson just texted me and I really have to meet up with him,” Isabel says, her words rushed.

Xander’s lips tighten together, he clearly sees what she’s doing as well as I do. She’s such a little liar. The problem is I simply don’t know what to do.

“Good thing I have two lovely chairs in my room,” Xander says.

God, in his room. I think that decides it. I don’t think me going alone to his room is the wisest idea. He’d get the wrong idea right from the start. I’m not exactly a one-night stand kind of person. I’ve never had sex with anyone outside of a relationship and I can’t see myself starting now, even if it is with him and my body does react like it’s never reacted to anyone before. I’m still mostly convinced that I’m reacting this way simply because he’s famous and incredibly good-looking.

Nathan grabs my shoulders from behind and steers me around the counter and to Xander. I try to drag my feet, but he’s very determined.

“You go and have a good time. I’ve got the front desk under control until the evening shift gets here,” Nathan says.

I glance between Isabel and Nathan, both urging me on with their wide eyes and not-so-subtle nods. My heart is racing as I twist and turn the options over in my mind. A solution comes to me.

“How about we eat in our VIP roof garden?” We don’t really have a VIP roof garden, or even any roof garden. The area is simply a plastic dining table and chairs that Cynthia gave us as a reward for meeting some target or other that she set on us last year. Now the employees use the area for breaks away from the hotel guests. And as I said before, he is the first VIP guest and it’s only fitting that I give him a private, comfortable area to eat. He’s been in his room all afternoon, I’m sure he needs a change of scenery.

“The VIP roof garden sounds ideal,” Nathan says half scoffing as the words come out of his mouth.

“It certainly does. Let’s go before the food goes cold,” Xander says and picks up the pizzas.

Am I really doing this? What the hell, I promised myself to have more fun before my body gives out so that’s what I am going to do.

“Follow me,” I say and stride to the service elevators before I have the chance to change my mind.