As it gets light outside, I hear the faint sounds of the city waking. I take a shower before going out to the balcony. It’s lovely outside, and I order a jug of fresh orange juice, waiting for the sun to come up before I order breakfast.
Rachel emerges from her room soon after. She looks beautiful in cream pants, a blue cotton shirt, and a light jacket. Her face is free of makeup and her hair hangs loose around her face.
It’s a pleasure to look at her, and not only because of how beautiful she is. There’s a light that radiates from inside her, a light that has never seen the kind of darkness or pain I have.
I cover my thoughts with a smile. “Good morning. Did you have a good night?”
“Perfect.” She smiles, a little too brightly, and joins me at the table.
I gesture toward the jug in front of me. “Juice?”
She nods, and I pour her a glass. The food arrives, a simple breakfast, but Rachel insists she doesn’t want anything else.
I butter a piece of toast while she watches silently, accepting it when I hand it to her.
“Tony is arriving this morning,” I inform her. “He’s going to be staying a floor below us for a few days before he returns to New York.”
“Okay.” She sounds as if Tony is the last thing on her mind.
“We’ll leave for the Gold Dust after breakfast,” I continue. “You’ve discussed your itinerary with him?”
“Yes. I meet with the hotel manager today, tomorrow the designers, and the photographers after that.”
She’ll be busy, and I’ll be busy too. I don’t let myself think what that means for the survival of our arrangement. I force a smile. “I’ll be in meetings all day.”
I can feel her eyes on me, but she says nothing.
I leave her to eat. Tony arrives just as we finish breakfast. “Tony’s here,” I tell Rachel. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” We both get up at the same time. Her eyes are wide as they focus on mine. She is irresistible, and the next couple of days will be excruciating if things continue like this. A tiny speck of butter stains one corner of her lip, and I have an insane urge to lick it.
I know if I touch her, I’m gone. In fact, the whole morning will be gone.
Carefully, I touch my finger to her mouth and wipe the butter off. As she watches me, I put the finger in my mouth and lick it.
Her breath quickens. No, I haven’t overestimated the intensity of her desire for me.
“I’ll wait in the living room,” I tell her.
She leaves me standing there then joins me in the living room a few moments later, carrying her bag. We go down together, silent in the elevator.
Oh well.
Tony is waiting in the lobby, and we all head to the Gold Dust. Something tightens in my chest as we near my new hotel. It’s a beautiful building with cream walls and exquisite detailing on the facade. It’s set back from the street, and even with the work still ongoing, it’s already showing the promise of coming perfection.
Inside, I try to see the large lobby through Rachel’s eyes. She’s looking around, taking in the covered floors and newly refinished walls. Her eyes go to the domed ceiling and she sighs.
“It’s lovely,” she exclaims in a rapt voice.
There is something gratifying in her appreciation, almost as if I’ve been waiting, eager and hopeful for just that.
“I’m glad you think so.” I say the words close to her ear, and she turns to look at me, green eyes wide. I have to fight an urge to kiss here right there, in front of everyone working on my fucking hotel.
“I’ll see you later.” There’s a brusqueness in my voice that I don’t intend. I touch her arm before walking away, leaving her with Tony.
For the next few hours, there’s no time to ponder my situation with Rachel, though she seeps into my thoughts without warning. I have meetings with local suppliers, labor providers, service vendors, and a few local groups. By lunchtime, I take a break, and even though there are a lot of other things I could do, I go to find Rachel. My plan is to take her to lunch. That’s time I can spend with her without there being any pressure.
I find her in the temporary office that was set up for her work. She’s frowning into her screen when I open the door. At the sight of me, her face relaxes, but only a little.