Chapter 12

MELODY

It's notlike I'm easily impressionable.

I've stayed in luxurious hotels in Paris, London, Rome, and Rio de Janeiro. Not to mention the ones in New York, LA, or Miami.

I'm used to nice things like crisp sheets, plump pillows, chilled champagne, and beautifully wrapped chocolates on the pillow, but this is more than that.

The spacious room hosts a large canopy bed, two nightstands, an antique red velvet settee,a pair ofconsole tables, tall vases overflowing with flowers, a mahogany lounge chair and ottoman set, a fireplace, and thick drapes.

The bed is covered in white petals and small chocolates in red foil wrappers. The room smells as if spring has swirled around the place.

Olivia invites me in and gestures around the space.

"This is the honeymoon suite," she says unnecessarily, since everything suggests marital bliss.

The wooden floors creak while she strolls across and checks the door to the balcony.

"You can leave it open," I say, as she wants to do the exact opposite.

A gust of wind sweeps in, making the fire lash at the logs. The sweet, fresh smell of flowers is quickly overpowered by the aroma of smoke.

"Are you sure?" she asks politely.

"Yes. I don't mind the cold."

She touches the drapes and shoots me a questioning look.

"You can open them as well."

"Sure," she says, promptly accommodating me. "This room has a lovely view," she points out, gesturing to the lake outside and the footpath nearby. "It's even prettier in the spring," she adds, although I don't need much convincing.

I like it as it is, with wisps of fog, a smoke-gray sky, and the glistening grass the clouds have cried on.

We both move our focus to the room.

"The main bathroom is over there," she says, leading the way to the next room through a doorless entryway.

The white bathroom walls outline a space with a glass shower stall, a clawfoot porcelain bathtub big enough for two people, marble floors, and a designated corner divided into his and her areas.

Everywhere I look, fresh flowers, embroidered towels, and love quotes painted on soap dishesserve aslittle reminders that this space has been intended for two people in love.

A pang of sadness vibrates in me.

How do people go from crazy dating to something serene like this?

For a wavering momentthere, I make an effortto imagine Thomas, or someone like him, with me in a place like this.

How would we act?

How would we feel about each other?

Would we be comfortable with one another?

Would the sex be good?

Would there be any emotions?

Or would we just check this moment off our list, take some pictures for posterity, and have less-than-stellar sex before talking about practical things and moving on with our lives?

I don't even know why I'm thinking about him.

The guy might not even be in the picture anymore.

"So what do you think?" Olive says as my silence prolongs.

Her voice snaps me out of my head.

"It looks great. Yes… Wait," I mutter, looking around. "There's no toilet."

She dutifully shows me out of the bathroom and takes me to a small hallway and a half-bathroom with a toilet and a sink.

"This is more private," she says, which makes no differenceto mesince I'm alone, although I appreciate her explanation.

By the time we walk back, my suitcase awaits me in the bedroom.

"Are you sure you can make it work if I leave tomorrow afternoon?" I ask.

She meets my concern with a smile.

"Yes. We've already made new arrangements and confirmed with the couple. Theyarrivelater than we thought. So, yes. Things will be all right. Thank you so much for working with us."

"Thank you," I say, convinced they're losing money by upgrading me for free.

"All right," she says, relief beaming in her voice. "Make yourself comfortable, and feel free to order snacks and drinks before dinner. It's on us. The suite also comes with a breakfast in bed tomorrow morning and a complimentary platter of wine, cheese, and chocolate-dipped fruit at midnight."

My eyebrows rise slowly.

"It's a standard package," she says in response to my questioning look.

"Thank you," I say, making a mental note to leave a hefty tip when all is over.

The door closes behind the womanwhen I walk around the room and bathroom again, quietly inspecting everything.

What a strange turn of events.

Last night, I hoped to have sex.

Then a wild man kissed me.

And now I'm about to sleep in a newlywed couple's bed.

Still musing, I remove my shoes and lower myself on the bed,making surethe petals stay in place.

My fingers brush over their softness.

Little things with so much meaning, making me wonder if they are truly in love with each other. This couple.

I'm still pondering that thought when my phone rings. I push to my feet, grab it from my purse, and answer the call while heading to the lounge chair.

"Hey. Are you there yet?" Alice asks while I sit on the lounge chair, prop my legs on the ottoman, tug at the curtain, and look outside.

"You won't believe this," I say, smiling at the view before relaying her my new experience.

MELODY

Ispendan hour giving Alice the full scoop on my room, and she couldn't be more thrilled with my new experience.

By the time I end the call, it's dark outside, and I need to get ready.

I walk into the closet, shed my clothes, put them on hangers, and pick up a bathrobe before heading to the bathroom.

The bathrobe sits on the edge of the sink as I step into the shower and let the water roll over my body.

A few moments pass, and a horse neighs outside.

Curious, I turn off the water, run a towel over my frame, put on my bathrobe, and pace to the window.

I crack it open and look to my left.

Yards away, Olivia's son walks two horses into a stable.

Their website specified they offered horse riding lessons in the summer, so I might want to try that in the future.

The horses and the man are already inside, yet I linger at the window, listening to the silence when the noise of a car travels from the woods, its headlights flickering through the trees.

More guests are coming, and the thought that it's a big crowd makes me feel good.

I spin around and go straight to the bedroom to check the two dresses I packed for this evening.

Before long, Ioptfor the black cocktail dress with a V-neckline, fitted design, a back zipper, and a hem that hovers right above the knee.

I pull out my black pumps and slip them on before painting my lips crimson.

The splash of red adds life to my otherwise stern look, although I'm not here to flirt with anyone.

By the time I take the stairs down, voices, laughter, music, and the clinking of silverware drift from downstairs.

The dining room is packed, and once I inch closer to the entrance, Olivia greets me with a smile, inviting me to follow her inside.

I'm convinced she won't be able to find a seat for me, but she does.It's a small table for two, and she pulls the chair out, signaling me to sit.

"What would you like to drink?" she asks, removing the second plate and making more room on the table.

"Wine would be fine."

I place my food order, and it doesn't take long before I delight myself with grilled shrimp over angel hair pasta tossed in olive oiland seasonedwith lemon edges and a scrumptious piece of chocolate raspberry cake.

People are animated all around me as I take another bite of cake andturn my gaze tothe misted windows.

Car headlights glow outside as some of the guests start leaving.

Absently peering out the window, I chew on my cake when an eerily familiar noise tears into the air.

The roaring car engine makes me stop chewing. I listen with my mouth full before I put my dessert spoon down, lean forward, and look outside.

The slanting sheets of rain conceal the shapes, yet even so, the racing stripes on that car are easy to spot.

My heart gets drunk, jumping up and down, but I'm convinced it's a coincidence.

So, I pick up my dessert spoon and chew on my cake again, dragging my gaze around the room.

Olivia and Herbert are in the hallway with a few guests, and several seats in the dining room are empty.

I try to appear calm, although a part of my brain spinsthisidea that it's statistically impossible to see a car like his here in the middle of nowhere. Without a good reason.

My restlessness only soars when I look outside.

A couple of cars pull away, heading to the nearest town, while the sports car pulls up in front of the inn.

The driver turns off the engine, and does nothing.

Nah… It can't be him. I must be delusional.

Plenty of people drive cars like his.

‘Name one in your circle,' a skeptical voice grumps in my head.

Well, maybe not in my circle. But there are people. Maybe they're friends of Olivia's son.

Or perhaps it's Olivia's son's car.

I look away from the window, refusing to freak out over something virtually impossible.

So, tipping my gaze down, I pick up a raspberry from the chocolate cake, pop it into my mouth, and crush it between my teeth, paying more attention to the sweet and sour aroma than the person outside.

A few moments pass, and Olivia's voice floats around the room, carrying highnotes of surprise.

‘Don't look. Don't look,'the voice in my head says, and I try not to, glancing everywhere except for the hostess.

My eyes drift over the table and my purse. I check the time on my phone when heavy steps trail to the middle of the room, heading my way.

Seconds later, I peek down, and my eyes slide over a stranger's boots.

"What a wonderful idea," Olivia says, and I don't know whether she refers to me or the man accompanying her. "Your friend is here, Miss Hill," she says, and I instantly know I'm doomed.