“If you don’t like it, sleep in the street for all I care. I live upstairs, and I got a roof over my head tonight, with or without your business.”
So much for customer service.
Byron wouldn’t put up with disrespect from another man, but he found feisty women amusing. Maybe because his mother had always been so beat-down. She’d had the fight smacked out of her on a nightly basis.
He deliberately shook off the dark thoughts.
“Out of curiosity, do you rent blankets for sidewalk camp-outs, darlin’?”
Her lips curled into a hint of a smile. “It’s the bridal suite, which is why it’s so pricey.”
A romantic room for two? Sounded like the perfect venue for a seduction.
“Why didn’t you say so?” He slipped her his black Amex.
“I’ll pay half.” Jane pulled out her wallet.
“Keep your money. I got this.” Byron could afford it. “Just out of curiosity, why’s the bridal suite open on Dearest Day?”
“The Knopf weddin’ got called off.” Juliet tapped on the keyboard and then swiped his card. He noted she wore thick black leather cuffs on either wrist, which was an odd sort of wristband. “The bride was screwin’ her would-be father-in-law.”
“Scandalous.” Jane shook her head. “I don’t blame the groom for not going through with it.”
“Funny, you talkin’ about what’s shameful.” Juliet sniffed.
Jane looked at him askance, and he shrugged. He had no idea what the girl’s beef was with Jane.
“Do we know each other?” Jane asked.
“No, and we don’t need to get better acquainted.” Juliet tossed the card back, and he tucked it away. Then she handed him the key.
He made a mental note to check the bill later in case she tacked on extraneous charges for the hell of it.
“I’ll have the porter get your bags.” She disappeared for a moment and then a young man in a prospect vest hustled to Byron’s car. Byron unlocked the SUV from the window with his key fob and kept an eye on the biker, just in case the MC decided to give him any “welcome gifts.” Never paid to trust anyone too much.
As the kid lugged their bags down the hall, Jane followed—slow as molasses on a frosty morning. Be nice if she didn’t act like spending the night in the same room with him was like a trip to the electric chair.
And what a room it was.
The four-poster king-sized bed was swathed in gauzy white curtains. A large wicker basket rested at the foot of the bed, and it’d been painted with the words LOVE YOU in red, in case anyone missed the point of the room. There were candles everywhere—in the fireplace, beside the bed, around the rim of the large porcelain tub.
Byron whistled. “Hot damn, this is the bridal suite. Does it do anythin’ for you?” He glanced at Jane.
“No.” She scowled. “And you can sleep on the floor.”
“Nope. We’re sharin’ the bed, it’s plenty big enough for the two of us. And before you ask, I’m takin’ the side nearest the door. Anythin’ comes through it has to go through me first.”
Jane grimaced.
“I’ll keep my hands to myself.” He raised his arms and did his level best to appear innocent. No mean feat. “If you want me to, I mean.”
“I want you to.”
“Come on, now, Legal Eagle. You promised you’d give me a shot, so you’ve gotta be at least open to the possibility.”
“Fine.” Jane sagged against the wall.
“Don’t look so put out.”
“What’s that smell?” Her nose wrinkled.
The room was littered with rose petals, which gave the room a sweet, perfumey scent. She gathered them up and tossed them in the brass trash can.
Byron chuckled.
“What? I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t want to slip on one of these when they wilt.”
“Very practical.”
“And why is the bed by the bath?”
The tub was situated near the bed. Byron had a vision of taking a bath with Jane, followed by some adventurous sex in the water. He hardened instantly, his body longing to take this relationship further.
“Guess.”
Her eyes widened as it occurred to her.
She flushed. “We should go see the coroner.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” He crooked a finger. “I want you to kiss me.” She needed to get used to his touch.
“Kiss you?”
“You have heard the term before, right? I’ve been wantin’ your mouth for months, and it’s finally time.” Why did everything have to be so difficult? “And I want another hug. Come here, let me hold you some more, loosen you up a bit.”