"Good grief, I'm a mess." Kat groaned in frustration as she slapped the clock with one hand and felt the cold empty space beside her with the other. Huffing her bangs out of her face, she jerked her hand away from the empty sheets and ran it through her tangled red curls.
She was being irrational, childish even, and the worst part was she knew it. There was no way any man, especially Viktor Katsaros, was going to sneak into her room for an afternoon tryst. It was stress, had to be...maybe even a little jet lag. It was the only explanation.
But...it had been so damned real. So real her lips still tingled from his kisses. She could still feel the warmth of his hands as they moved over her skin. Goose bumps were still raised on her arms. It was so real she honestly did believe, at least for a moment, he was going to be there when she opened her eyes. Sadly, she was still alone.
Deciding that lying in bed and brooding wasn't getting her anywhere, Kat threw off the covers and sat up. The minute her feet hit the plush, slate grey carpet, she wrapped the fluffy hotel robe around her and headed downstairs to find something to eat in the hopes of throwing off the remaining shadows of her dream. Kat needed to focus. Her presentation wasn't going to pitch itself and everything had to be perfect.
Changing her mind, she grabbed the phone at the base of the steps and called room service. Kat couldn't help but grin when the waitress's British accent chirped through the receiver. "Good Afternoon, Miss Romalesky. This is Jasmine. How may I be of service?"
Kat was shocked by the use of her name but then remembered caller id.
Duh! I really am off my game.
"Hi. I wanted to order some tea and scones, but there are so many flavors on your menu I have no idea where to start. And to be honest I'm not even sure I like scones. It's just something I've always been told you have to have when you're in London." She laughed before adding, "What do you suggest?"
The girl giggled, causing Kat to suspect she was probably no more than eighteen or nineteen years old. Since Kat's first job had been slinging burgers at the Sonic Drive-In-complete with roller skates, short shorts and tube socks-she was pretty impressed that someone so young worked for such a prestigious hotel. "Well, my favorite is Yorkshire Gold with milk and sugar. Be sure to add the milk first, it gives it a richer flavor." Jasmine spoke as if they were friends swapping secrets, which made Kat smile even more. "And if I may suggest our fresh sweet biscuits. They are just delish dunked in your tea."
Kat chuckled at the young woman's enthusiasm over a simple pot of tea and a snack. Teasingly, she asked, "Now, just to be sure, biscuits are cookies, right?"
Laughing out loud, Jasmine immediately caught on to Kat's joke and quipped, "Oh, you are a sly one, Miss Romalesky." She stopped and took a quick breath before powering on, "Yes, ma'am, they're like your American cookies and chef's special recipe. A real treat for sure. You'll find no better anywhere."
"Then send up a pot of your favorite and a plate of those biscuits. My mouth is already watering."
"Yes, ma'am. And one more suggestion if I may?"
"Absolutely."
"You can take your tea on your rooftop terrace. It gives you a lovely view of the River Thames. This time of day, you can watch the sunset. It's truly breathtaking."
"I will do just that. Thank you so much, Jasmine, you have been such a big help."
"My pleasure, ma'am. James will meet you on the terrace straight away. Have a nice evening, Miss Romalesky."
"You too, Jasmine, and thank you again for all your help."
"My pleasure, I'm sure, ma'am."
Kat hung up the phone and flew up the stairs. There was no way she was going out on the terrace in a robe and her underwear, not even if she was twelve stories off the ground. It just seemed untoward somehow.
Yeah, but sex dreams about a man you've never met that you're going to ask to bankroll your company's latest project isn't unseemly at all, right, Kat?
Shaking her head and blaming all her delusions on nerves and jet lag, Kat dashed into her bedroom and threw the smaller of her two suitcases on the bed. Sliding open the zipper, she grabbed her black leggings, a long, dark green T-shirt, and her favorite black sweater that hung to her knees before she even had the case open all the way, then dressed in record time.
Throwing her hair up on top of her head in a messy bun, she pushed the button on the control panel next to her bed for the blinds and waited. The floor to ceiling slats slowly opened and Kat's heart skipped a beat as the most spectacular view she'd ever seen was slowly revealed. Not only could she see the Thames, but also the London Eye already lighting the sky with so many twinkling lights it looked like the stars themselves were perched upon each tress and trellis of the huge Ferris wheel. As if that wasn't already enough, the remarkable display was reflected in the calm waters of the river. It was the first postcard come to life moment Kat had ever experienced.
Staring at the scene before her and opening the sliding glass doors, Kat's wayward thoughts once again landed on Viktor Katsaros. What was it about the man that made him so irresistible even before she'd laid eyes on him? Why did she think of him as so much more than just a business acquaintance, especially after hearing his voice over the phone?
Thankfully, her wayward thoughts were cut short as the service elevator dinged its arrival. Turning toward the noise, she smiled at the young man whose nametag did indeed say James, just as Jasmine had said.
After thoroughly enjoying her tea and biscuits and making a mental note to leave a positive comment for Jasmine and the chef, Kat spent the rest of the evening perfecting her presentation and snacking on some of the goodies from Viktor's gift basket. With pride that she'd avoided obsessing over the man she was to meet tomorrow and anticipation of going home with a signed contract from KI, Kat slid into bed and slept without a single dream for the first night in over three years.
The next morning, the time difference between London and her home had Kat up before the sun, something that normally would've been the start to a really long, really bad day, but she was energized and felt like she could take on the world. After a long, hot shower, Kat styled her hair to perfection, put on her makeup like she knew what she was doing, and dressed in her favorite black suit with a cream silk blouse underneath. It was only six a.m. when she took her last look in the mirror and declared her efforts a success.
I look pretty good, if I do say so myself...
Kat wasn't conceited. She knew she was cute most of the time and when she worked at it some would even call her pretty. It was no secret that she'd never win any beauty contests. She was too tall, had too many curves, and loved chocolate covered almonds way too much. Not to mention the hundreds of freckles that appeared across the bridge of her nose and the apples of her cheeks every single time she was out in the sun. But none of that bothered her. Kat was a solid seven out of ten on any given day and that was just fine with her. She felt good and that gave her the extra confidence boost she needed on the most important day of her life.
Deciding a treat was in order since she was ready early, Kat remembered a restaurant called Balthazar that Courtney, one of her college roommates who had been to London several times, had told her about. It was reported to have the best breakfast in town. Of course, Courtney had gone on and on about the fabulous Bloody Marys, but that would have to wait for another time. Showing up with alcohol on her breath was not the first impression Kat wanted to make.
Making her way down to the Concierge, Kat found out that Balthazar was less than a mile away and decided to walk. It was shaping up to be an unusually sunny London morning and fresh air was just what she needed to keep her anxiety at bay.
Kat was so absorbed in the beauty of her surroundings that she ran right into the back of a man waiting at the crosswalk. Jumping back as quickly as she could, Kat started apologizing before the man was turned all the way around.
Thankfully, the man's murderous look changed to a smirk as Kat stuttered and stammered her way through an apology. "Oh, my God, I am...I mean I was...Are you...Oh Lordy, I am truly messing this up?"
She chuckled nervously as her unintentional victim thankfully stepped in with his amazing British accent and English charm, saving her from further humiliation. "It's quite all right, pretty lady. It must be my lucky day."