Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
I swallowed and chose not to say anything more. Kage swaggered on up to the front desk, leaning casually against it with one elbow propped on its gleaming surface.
The female clerk was tall, brunette, and pretty. She knew her way around a makeup kit, that was for sure, and her teeth were freshly-lasered, glow-in-the-dark white.
“Can I help you boys?” she drawled, eyeing Kage like he was the main attraction at a bachelorette party. Then she cocked her head and narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. “Hey, you seem familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”
Yeah, from your dreams, bitch.
It had really started rubbing me wrong when women looked at him that way. He was a person, for heaven’s sake, not an object. What right did they have? They didn’t even know him. Certainly not like I did. He could have been a serial killer for all they knew.
Kage noticed the scowl on my face before I did. “What’s the matter, Jamie?”
“Nothing,” I huffed, crossing my arms across my chest like a bratty child. I made sure not to look at the desk clerk.
Kage’s expression was puzzled as he turned his attention back to the woman. “No, ma’am. I don’t think we’ve met.” He gave her one of those signature Michael Kage smiles— the ones that break hearts and incinerate panties. “I’m sure I would remember if we had.”
Oh, yeah, Kage. Go the extra mile and make sure she falls in love with you. As if you have to try.
She smiled back. “It’s just— you do look awfully familiar. Are you sure you haven’t come in here before? I never forget a face. It’s one of the reasons I’m so good at my job.”
Kage shrugged, already bored with the game. “Well, my friend and I just need a room for the night, if you don’t mind. Can you hook us up?”
“Oh, right. Two full size beds? Smoking or non?” She had begun to tap keys on her computer. It was all business now, as it should have been from the start.
“What kind of suite do you have?” he asked. “Something with amenities. Maybe a mini-bar or Jacuzzi tub? What’s the nicest thing you’ve got?”
“Kage…” My protest went unacknowledged, and I scowled as the clerk consulted her computer.
“We have a junior suite available with a fully stocked bar and whirlpool tub.” She frowned. “Oh, but it’s only got one king bed, and the sofa isn’t a pull-out.”
Kage pushed his credit card across the desk. “We’ll take it.”
“Are you sure?” The woman tapped around on her keyboard some more. “I could call our sister location. It’s not far from here, and they may have some two-bedroom suites available.”
I shocked everyone, including myself, when I said, “We like to cuddle, okay lady? Now just give us the key.”
Kage raised his eyebrows at me, looking thoroughly amused. I was grateful when he didn’t make any apologies for me. Just waited for the woman to finish the transaction and hand over the key cards to our room. When the papers were signed, we were dismissed with a curt “Have a nice stay.”
Kage picked up both of our duffel bags and slung one over each shoulder. I tugged mine off of his arm and slipped it over my own shoulder. He gave me another of those amused looks, but he surrendered the bag easily enough.
“That was a bit reckless, don’t you think Mr. Publicist? Spreading rumors about you and your client cuddling might not be the best idea you’ve had.”
I glared at him. “It’s not a rumor, Kage. Maybe if you’re ashamed of it, you shouldn’t have done it.”
“How would I know if I was gonna be ashamed of it ahead of time?”
“Are you?” My voice echoed too loudly in the posh lobby, and a few people looked my way. I stretched my legs to keep up with Kage, lowered my voice. “Are you ashamed of it? There wasn’t anything wrong with it. Was there? I mean, it wasn’t anything… sexual.”
“If I’d thought there was anything wrong with it, I wouldn’t have done it,” he said. “But I don’t think that hotel clerk needed to know about it, either. Do you?”
“Probably not,” I conceded. “I just don’t like her.”
“And not liking her is reason to tell her our personal shit? I didn’t particularly like her, either.”
“Hard to tell with the way you were flirting.”
“You flirt way more than I do, Jamie.”
“I don’t flirt.”
“You’re shameless with it, dude. At least I pick and choose who I flirt with. You turn on that southern boy charm for everyone you meet.” He stopped at a bank of elevators and pressed the call button. “Well, everyone but me.” He gave me a pointed look, no doubt remembering every rude comment I’d ever made to him.
I sighed. “I don’t do it like you, though. I’m just being friendly. Every time you talk to a girl, you’re just oozing sex. You’re giving off the wrong impression. Your public image needs to be an untouchable bad boy, not some indiscriminate man-whore.”