“My room?” I queried, eager for a slight reprieve from this whole situation.
“This way.” He replied after another beat, turning and continuing back the way we’d been walking.
Trailing behind him, I tried not to overthink what had just happened. It was undeniable that Alaric was a gorgeous man, but I had no right to think of him as anything more than an extended family member—a brother even. Illicit thoughts of him didn’t belong in my head.
I began to count the evenly spaced doors. I’d just gotten to four when he stopped and pushed it open.
“This is your room,” he announced.
I peered inside, unsurprised to find it as large and put together as the rest of the house.
My suitcase was already here, resting on an ottoman that had been placed at the foot of a large sleigh-bed.
“There’s a private bath through there.” Alaric pointed to a door on the far side of the room. “Feel free to use the dresser and wardrobe.”
I nodded even though I was fully intending to live out of my bag. I wouldn’t be here long enough to unpack.
“I’ll let you get settled. Come find me when you’re ready.” With that, he brushed by me, walking in the direction we’d just come from.
I twisted around at the last second. “Find you where?”
My question was met with silence. He was already gone.
CHAPTER FOUR
I didn’t know I’d been holding my breath until I realized the air seemed to flow in and out of my lungs a little easier. With an internal groan, I shut myself inside the guest room and walked over to the dresser.
The large mirror affixed to the back of it reflected an abhorrent image. I pulled the ponytail from my head, allowing my thick waves free-fall to the middle of my back.
The stylist I saw referred to their fresh color as beeline honey, while the ombre was a dusky pink. Chloe had suggested the look upon my first appointment. She said it went great with my fawn complexion and made my eyes pop.
I wasn’t too convinced about the last part. I took after my mom. Same oval face, same light brown hues. A short build with average sized breast, and a flaring set of hips.
Regardless of all that, though, the switch up from my natural coloring had somehow managed to stick. Unfortunately, it did nothing to hide the heavy bags beneath my eyes. If I were paler, I’d have a mask like a racoon.
Turning away from the pitiful person in the mirror, I pulled my cell from my pocket.
I had three missed calls. Two from Mom. One from Chloe. I had forgotten to take it off silent. I went to sit on the bed, dialing my mother back first. Beneath the stormy grey comforter, the mattress meshed to my body like an extra plush beanbag.
“Catalina,” Mom answered, sounding more than a little perturbed.
That made two of us. “Didn’t I tell you I wanted to stay at a hotel?”
“The man insisted.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t you who insisted until he agreed?” I retorted.
She sniffed, and I could picture her checking over her nails. “What does it matter now? You’re there, and settled in I take it?”
The urge to scream at her almost got the best of me. Of course, it mattered.
If she finagled things so that this man felt inclined to let me stay here, it was no wonder he reacted the way he had when I tried to decline. God only knows what she said to him.
“I seriously can’t believe you sometimes,” I griped, leaning all the way back.
“Everything I do is for you. Remember that, always.”
I attempted to discern what exactly she meant by that. Her tone alerted me that she was up to something. I prayed she wasn’t planning on dragging Alaric any further into some crazed plot she’d thought up. The uneasy feeling in my gut told me that was exactly the case and had been from the moment she found out Meg was gone.
“Be honest with me kitten, what do you think of him?”
This. Woman.
“I think he’s my sister’s husband,” I snapped.
“There’s no need to get upset. I know you can’t understand my motivations, or don’t care to. Just remember what I told you.”
“Mom,” I drew the word out, letting the sigh behind it speak for itself. “What are you planning?”
“I have to go, alright. Call me before you turn in.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Don’t forget to call. Love you.” She hung up before I could, ensuring she’d gotten the last word. I was getting tired of her doing that.
She was becoming more exhausting than usual. I knew she wanted me to have security, but money couldn’t buy my happiness and no amount of dollar bills would fix me.
I was in no way shape or form ready for a relationship, and maybe I never would be. I couldn’t fathom willingly bearing my soul and letting someone see the darkest parts of it. It was impossible to envision myself looking into someone’s eyes and telling them what I desired.