Chapter Thirty One
I slow to a jog and eventually a walk as I approach the hotel. There’s no mistaking who it belongs to. ‘Hunter’s Hotel’ is displayed in huge blue letters some fifty floors up. I’ve passed by it hundreds of times before, mostly when I’ve been running around the park across the street but I’ve never given it a second thought. Never given Mason a second thought.
I try to steady my breathing as I glance down at the box in my hands, my palms noticeably sweatier than usual. I’ll drop it off at the front desk then be on my way. In and out in less than half a minute. I remind myself that I’m doing the right thing by returning the dress. Doing the right thing for him. If Emily ever found out that he bought me a gift, she would use it as ammunition against him and no doubt pressure me to work even harder to get the evidence which she so desperately needs. The evidence which I so desperately don’t want to give her.
I stop dead in my tracks. I’ve been so caught up in my own thoughts that I don’t notice him until I’m about twenty feet away. He’s standing next to a parked car outside the entrance to the hotel. Good, maybe he’s about to leave. He takes a step to his right and that’s when I see a woman with him. A woman with blonde hair. The same woman he was with yesterday. I watch them for a few seconds as they laugh and then everything turns to slow motion as Mason leans towards her. Relief floods through me as he wraps his arms around her in a friendly embrace. I watch as she climbs into the car and wait for him to follow suit but instead, he closes the door and taps the top of the car. We both watch as it pulls away. Frozen to the spot, I silently will him to go back inside the hotel. But as if he can sense somebody watching him, he turns around and looks straight at me. My heart stops. I spin around as quickly as possible and collide with somebody carrying a tray of coffee in each hand.
The young girl looks mortified as I jump back, gasping in pain and surprise. I drop the box with the dress inside and frantically try to pull at my soaked T-shirt but it’s completely stuck to me. Stupid skin-tight workout clothes. I have no choice but to take it off before the steaming hot coffee has chance to do any permanent damage. I throw it onto the floor just as Mason appears in front of me. I thank the lord that I wasn’t lazy today and wore a sports bra instead of one of my everyday bras. His eyes go wide as he takes in all of my bare skin. “Are you…are you okay?”
“I think so,” I reply as I quickly assess my arms and stomach. The latter is a little red and blotchy but it’s my left wrist which took the brunt of it. Small blisters have already started to form on the soft underside.
Mason notices it too. “We need to get you checked out.”
I wave him off then bend down to pick up my soaking wet T-shirt. “It’s nothing, I’ll be fine.”
“Sophia, your skin is bubbling. Literally bubbling.”
“It’s just a couple of blisters.”
“At least come over to the hotel so we can run it under some cool water.”
“I’ll just jog home. I don’t want to bother you.”
“Bother me?” He gestures to the hotel. “It’s right there. ETA twenty seconds.”
“Okay,” I reply but only because it’s starting to sting like a son of a bitch.
Mason turns to the young girl who is still watching us in shock. “Did you get burnt too?”
“I…no, I didn’t...I’m sorry.” She bites her lip. “My boss is going to fire me.”
“Are you an intern?” She nods. “It was just an accident. It wasn’t your fault.” He reaches into his jeans pocket and pulls out a fifty dollar bill, followed by another. “Use this to buy some more drinks.”
“Wow, um, thank you but I don’t have time. I’ll be late if I have to get in line again. It’s only my first week.”
“What company do you work for?” he asks sounding rushed, his eyes going back and forth between the girl and my wrist.
“Clayton Law.”
“David Clayton? The law firm?” She nods. “Tell David you’re late because of Mason Hunter. Explain what happened.” He hands her a business card. “I know David. He should be fine, but if he gives you any grief, you’re welcome to come and work for me instead.”
“Oh, wow. Thank you so much. And sorry again,” she says, wide eyed, before scurrying off.
“That was nice of you,” I tell him. “Thank you for that. It was completely my fault.”
He shrugs. “I just did what anyone would do.”
“No, you didn’t.”
He bends down and retrieves the box which is now splattered with coffee. He obviously recognizes it as he says, “Wow, you must either be extremely attached to this dress or you were on your way to tell me I got the wrong size.”
I cringe and wish that the ground would open up and swallow me. “You got the right size.”
He grins. “So then you really do have attachment issues?”
“I can’t accept it,” I reply as I follow him over to the hotel.
“Do you mean to tell me that I visited twenty four stores yesterday for nothing?”
My eyes snap to his. “You…you went shopping for it yourself?”
“Yes. How else was I going to find it?”
“I thought…” I shrug. “I thought you would have people for that kind of thing.”
“I do. My sister.”
“Your sister helped you look?” I ask as we walk through the revolving doors.
“Yes. We were shopping all day. I lost count at store number twenty four. It was probably closer to thirty.”
“And this was yesterday?”
“Yes but I’ve only just managed to get rid of her. She sometimes stays at the hotel. She says it’s to keep me company but I think she only does it for the free food and drink.” He raises an eyebrow. “It was my sister who you saw getting into the car just now.” He nods in greeting to several members of staff before leading us through a set of double doors and into a large bar area.
“I wasn’t watching you. I know it looks like I was but I was just…”
“Coming to return the dress. Got it.” He lifts up a panel allowing us access to the space behind the bar. He walks over to the sink, turns on the tap then holds out a hand, waiting for me. He must sense my wariness as he gives me a little reassuring nod. My heart starts to race as I place my hand in his. How is it possible for something so innocent to feel so emotionally charged? I’ve had to kiss a lot of men in the past but this feels different. More intimate. I gasp as he gently strokes the area above the burn with his thumb. I mentally curse myself for being so stupid and clumsy. Seeing Mason was never part of the plan and being inside his hotel was definitely not part of it. He places my wrist under the cool water and I feel instant relief. “That feels nice,” I tell him, unable to think of anything else to say.
“It should help.”
“So how long do we stay like this?”
He looks down at my hand in his. “However long you want.” I don’t allow myself too long to think about the meaning behind his words. We stay silent for what feels like minutes and then, “I didn’t expect to see you today. I thought you were busy this morning.”
“Oh, um, yeah, I was but the…the thing…it got cancelled.”
“I see. So it was fate which brought us together.”
No, it was actually your wife. “So you believe in fate?”
He crinkles his nose. “To an extent. I believe that most things happen for a reason but I also believe in freewill. Fate can only do so much. I think we could choose to ignore it, if we really wanted to. Take today for example. Fate may have brought us together but we’re standing here through choice.”
“So is it fate that I got covered in twelve cups of coffee?” More like an omen, I think to myself. Bad karma for what I’ve been hired to do.
He grins. “You’ve had a drink thrown over you twice while I’ve been with you. If that’s not fate trying to tell you something then I don’t know what is.”
“So it’s telling me that I should take my clothes off?”
“Who are we to argue with fate?” he replies, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
I laugh. “It’s a good thing we have freewill too then, right?”
“Ah, forget about that. That’s just one of my theories. I think we should play it safe and just listen to fate.” He grins as he checks my wrist then turns off the tap. “How’s it feeling?”
“Better, thank you.”
“Keep an eye on the blisters.” He lets go of my hand and I instantly miss his touch. “Why can’t you accept the dress?”
“It’s too much.”
“It was my fault that your other dress got ruined.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“Well it certainly wasn’t your fault. Just look at is as a replacement.”
“But what would…” I shake my head, stopping myself.
“You don’t need to censor yourself around me, Sophia. Please speak your mind. Ask me whatever you want.”
“Okay. What would your wife think if she knew you were buying me gifts?”
“My soon to be ex-wife.”
I try my hardest to appear calm and unaffected by what he’s just said. “You’re filing for divorce?”
“I’ve already filed.”
“Does she know?”
“She hasn’t been served with the papers yet but I doubt it’ll come as a shock.”
“When are you serving them?”
“As soon as I can. My lawyers are looking into a few things first.”
I want to know more but I’ve already asked too many questions. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry you’re going through this.”
“Thank you. Hey, let’s make a deal. If the dress has been ruined then I’ll happily accept your return.” He grins. “If it’s undamaged then you have to keep it.”
Judging by the box, the odds are definitely in my favor. “Deal.”
I watch as he slowly picks up the box and removes the lid. He takes his time checking over the dress then finally turns to me. His eyes burn into mine and a grin slowly makes its way across his face. “Looks like we have a keeper.”
I swallow hard. “Maybe fate wants me to wear clothes after all.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” He grins as he hands me the dress. “I meant what I said about the wine.” He gestures to all of the different bottles of wine behind us. “I don’t think I’m going to run out any time soon. You know where I am if you ever want a drink…or company.”
I nod. “Thanks for your help.”
“Any time.”
“Well, goodbye, Mason.”
“Until next time, Sophia.”
I feel his eyes on me as I walk away.
I feel his hands on me as I shower.