Chapter 13

It was almost six o'clock by the time Kate got back downstairs. She'd spent the day sleeping and ordered room service for dinner. After a long shower, she was starting to feel like herself again. She put on her favorite pair of army green shorts and a black tank top,but there was a nervous energy coursing through her as she left her hotel room.

Would she see Hollis downstairs? And what would her reaction be? Would they pick up where they left off? What if Hollis regretted last night?

Kate wandered over to the bar just off the lobby and ordered a glass of Chardonnay. That had to be the least likely option. They'd left on good terms, and whatever was going on in Hollis's life right now, Kate just couldn't see her regretting the night they'd spent together.

She slid onto a bar stool while she waited for her drink, running a hand through her hair, trying not to be nervous. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen. There was no point trying to guess what that would be.

"Is this seat taken?" The familiar voice came from behind her a few moments later, and a shiver chased up Kate's spine.

A wave of desire came over her just at the sound of Hollis's voice. She'd heard so many different versions of it, all of them already eliciting a multitude of reactions from her body, and when she turned to meet Hollis's eyes, she couldn't have prepared herself for the physical reaction she would have. Her heart was fluttering while her stomach did somersaults.

"No," Kate managed with a smile coming to her lips as she took Hollis in. Her hair had a few more waves in it, falling across her shoulders. Her white tank top showed off her tan and toned arms, and her navy shorts cut off in the middle of her thighs. Kate resisted the urge to reach out and run her hand over her smooth skin.

"I think this is exactly where we met yesterday," Hollis said, flashing her a warm smile before she turned to catch the bartender's attention. "Are you okay for a drink?"

Kate nodded. "It's on the way." She wet her lips, willing herself to keep it together, because she felt the full force of what Lexi had said to her this morning, that Hollis was so far out of her league.

But she was here, sitting beside her. That had to count for something.

"What did you get up to today?" Hollis asked, giving Kate her attention again, and Kate struggled not to get lost in her gray blue eyes.

"I slept." Kate's lips slid into an easy smile. "I'm only just up."

"Sorry. That wasn't a great question since that's exactly how I spent my day, although I've been down here for about an hour. Hoping to bump into you," she added after a second.

Kate held her gaze, and Hollis reached across the few inches between them to rest her hand above Kate's knee. That simple touch brought every memory from last night to the front of her mind. She had to be blushing as she remembered the way Hollis's warm palm had slid up her thigh as she gently parted Kate's legs. The bartender returned with their drinks, breaking the spell that Kate seemed to have fallen under, and then Hollis's hand was gone. Kate took a much needed drink.

"I was hoping to see you too," Kate said, wondering where all of her confidence had gone.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course." Kate took another sip, the crisp white wine so refreshing.

"How old are you?"

Kate looked away for a second, almost surprised that this hadn't come up last night. "I'm twenty-six."

Hollis's expression was unreadable as she reached for her glass of red wine.

Kate's heart beat faster, waiting for her to say something. She didn't want to outright ask Hollis what her age was, but maybe she'd have to.

Hollis gently placed her glass on the bar, before sliding her fingers through her hair and propping her elbow up on the bar, her gaze settling on Kate. "I was hoping you'd say at least thirty," she said with a slow smile.

Kate's eyes searched hers. There were so many things she wanted to ask. Was Hollis curious about her age because she was wondering if this would work in real life? Could Hollis see them together despite their age difference?

"I'm forty-four," Hollis said, her eyes still locked on Kate."In case you were wondering."

"I wasn't, but what I am wondering is why you wanted to know."

"As in, if I'm thinking beyond this weekend?"

Kate took a sip of wine before putting her glass down. "I don't know. You tell me." She managed to keep her voice steady while her heart was hammering in her chest.

"My life is extremely complicated right now," Hollis said, finally breaking their eye contact as she sat up straight, her fingers sliding out of her hair. "I'm not sure what I have to offer you, but I also can't ignore the way I felt last night. Maybe, it wasn't as intense for you–"

"It was. Not for the same reasons maybe, but it definitely was."

Hollis was looking at her with such a sultry gaze. At what point could Kate suggest they go back upstairs? Because she was having trouble thinking of anything but getting Hollis out of those clothes.

Hollis exhaled softly. "I'm a realist. I like to set the right expectations, and I like to be in control."

"I know," Kate interrupted with a smirk on her lips.

Hollis's expression completely changed, the seriousness slipping away as she laughed softly. "As I was saying... I like to be realistic. I don't know if it's because I've been running my own business for so long and being the one in control of the outcomes, but I just don't want you to think that next weekend would be like this one. Because it wouldn't."

"What do you do?"

"I'm an interior designer." Hollis held her gaze. "Do you know what I'm trying to say? I would only love for this to be the start of something, but I can't honestly say that it could be. Even if I want it to."

Kate swallowed down the lump that had formed suddenly in her throat. Hollis's words didn't surprise her, but they were still hitting her to the core. "No, I know. You were upfront with me yesterday. You told me you were getting a divorce. But I'd just like to say that I would be willing to see where this might go, however unrealistic. I don't think our age difference had any effect on how our night went."

"Hmm, well it wouldn't if you spend the night in bed," Hollis said, her eyes nearly sparkling, her smile mesmerizing.

"I know, but if you were single right now, would you let our age difference stop you from wanting to see me again?" Kate asked. She knew she had no right to be this invested in Hollis, not after one night together, but she also knew for a fact that she'd never experienced anything even remotely as sexy, as intoxicating as their connection last night.

Hollis studied her. "Eighteen years is a lot." She inhaled a sharp breath. "But I feel like you're getting the short end of the stick here."

Kate couldn't stop her eyebrows from shooting up. "You're kidding," she said with a laugh. "Please tell me you're kidding." She reached for her glass and took a drink.

"No. I'm not. But to answer your question." Hollis bit her lip. "I feel like I should say that it would let it stop me. That's the sensible thing to say. And maybe last night wouldn't have happened if I'd known."

"Do you regret it? Last night?" Kate didn't think her heart could beat any faster, but it had gone up another gear in the last few seconds.

"No. Not at all. I'm glad that I didn't know, and I'm so glad that we had last night," Hollis said, reaching for Kate's hand as she set her glass back on the bar.

Kate's breath caught in her throat as Hollis slid her hand over Kate's palm, playing with her fingers as she interlaced them. What was it about Hollis? Touches and looks that might have intrigued her coming from someone else were driving her crazy when they came from Hollis.

"But now that I do know," Hollis said, looking up from their hands, "I don't know. I have a feeling that I'm going to have a very hard time going back to my normal life after this. I'm not sure how I'm going to forget about you, because I know that I should. And I think you've changed me in a way that you'll never understand. I know that sounds incredibly dramatic, but no matter what happens, I will always remember last night and everything about you. How you made me feel. How you kept me grounded when I thought I was losing myself."

In that moment, unselfishly, Kate just wanted Hollis to be happy, however that looked for her, and judging by the way this conversation was going, it wouldn't involve her. And Kate had to figure out a way to be okay with that. She'd come into this weekend with zero expectations, and she had to leave this hotel the very same way tomorrow afternoon.

"So," Hollis said with a sigh, "What I'm trying to say is that, honestly, I don't think I'd say no to you, if we met in Los Angeles next week or next month, but that's not possible. Not anytime soon anyway."

"No, I know," Kate said, glancing down at their hands. "I wasn't looking for anything. I know you've got a lot on your plate right now. I guess, I was just curious. If you could see us…" Kate let her voice trail off. She shouldn't have asked, and she might have ruined any chance of spending tonight in Hollis's room, because all of a sudden things had gotten very serious.

"I think I could," Hollis said with a smile slowly coming to her lips. "And that's a big deal for me. I still can't really believe that I'm here. Five years ago, I never would have dreamed of driving down here for the weekend. It just wouldn't have been something I could have done. I know I shouldn't be here. I could have waited another year, and maybe I should have. By then I'd be free to see whoever I wanted to without worrying about the consequences, but…" Hollis was smiling fully now. "Then we might not have met."

"Probably not." A warmth spread through Kate as she held her gaze, Hollis's words replaying in her head. How did Kate have it this bad? That hearing Hollis say that she thought she could see them together would have her feeling this energized, this happy. But it wasn't real. Not that Hollis was lying, but the part about them not really having a chance together because of Hollis's current circumstances wasn't going to change, and Kate needed to reel it in. "So we have tonight?"

"Hmm. We do. I'm leaving in the morning. I have a client meeting in the afternoon that I really wish I could change." Hollis slid her hand away from Kate's and reached for her drink. "On the drive here, I would have said that I'd need to be very drunk to allow myself to let go like I did last night, for last night to even happen, but I'm so glad that I was only slightly tipsy."

Hollis took a drink, and Kate couldn't keep herself from staring, her eyes moving over Hollis's neck, her toned arms, her fingers.

"And this is all I'm having tonight," Hollis said as she met her eyes. "I want to remember every single detail."

Kate's lips slid into an easy smile. "Me too." Her heart was thumping wildly against her chest, but it was more anticipation than nerves tonight. She finished her wine before sliding off her stool. "Will we go upstairs?"

"I'd love to," Hollis said, reaching for her hand.