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The line progressed, and she gladly refocused on getting to a room and out of this lobby Several more customer service reps took their places behind the counter and in acalled forward Still, she found herself casting a glance towards the three one So why didn’t she feel relieved? In fact, she felt more uneasy
She didn’t have time to contemplate The customer service rep was quick and Julie was on her way to her roo and with key in hand, rolled her way to the elevator, thankfully finding an eainst the mirror, ready for peace and quiet and sleep Oh yes Blessed sleep
A second before the doors would have shut, someone stuck their hand inside the panels and they jerked open with a loud jangle of a bell That sa chill she’d felt in the lobby travelled her spine
Aher chill to ice They were cold, calculating eyes She cut her gaze and willed her heart to stop trying to juet a better description than a tall man, with dark, wavy hair, and a tan jacket, because for some reason she felt she needed it
He punched a button three floors above hers and she tried to find coht to be here, he was likely just another traveller Still, even with that logic, she counted floors, willing the car to move faster The doors opened, but not at her stop, and Julie fought the urge to dart forward and just get out of the car
A young couple rushed forward and joined theet off Get away froe ot off, too? There was safety in numbers and she had company now
The doors started to shut and she let the Julie alone with the stranger, and as uneasy as ever She stared at the doors, ticking off the seconds until they stopped two levels up The instant she was able, she rushed forward, eager for escape
Once Julie was in the hallway, she found her destination a few rooms to her left Thank you She was nearly to sanctuary and safety
Letting her bag settle upright on the ground, she glanced over her shoulder, eyeing the elevator The doors were just now closing with the stranger still inside, she assuh to see which roo her botto herself the rooms were safe, and near impossible to break into Key in hand, she swiped the plastic through the electronic panel, and frohen the little light stayed red "Daain
Still red
No No No Please say this wasn’t happening She dropped her head to the surface of the door, her hair falling forward, glad it covered her face Crying wasn’t her style, but tears prickled in her eyes Seeing Luke had rattled her Add in her fear ofand she was a mess Then there was Elizabeth Moore’s visit, which clearly had shaken her to the core Good gosh, she was tired She orried She was not herself A return trip to the lobby felt overwhel her skin and sparked a fa her head, Julie swivelled around and blinked, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her
"Luke?" He was leaning against the door fra ripplingAnd it had been a joy Herto dull the impact of his presence Heat pooled low in her stomach, and her pulse kicked up a beat The man was even ht, she found herself questioning the crazy coincidence "How are you here, right next door to , and his chocolaty eyes just a little sharper "My luck continues despite a flight cancellation" He inclined his chin to indicate her bag "Need help?"
She exhaled a breath that had soerous to her heart, to her decision-ht when she felt far from it She didn’t knohy, just that it was better now that he was here "My key isn’t working It’s been a bad night, but I’htful look as he pushed off the door fraot the better end of the deal I was sitting here, waiting on you to arrive I reserved your rooain So close
"You reserved my room, next to yours?"
His eyes darkened, the air crackled "That’s right," he said, closing his hand around her key, his fingers brushing hers and sending heat up her arether and I didn’t want to risk upsetting Royce or Lauren by letting theht, too," she said "I thought about calling you for that charter flight but I didn’t have your nuerous one you warnedto her door to swipe her card
"Yes," she laughed, surprised she had the energy "The dangerous one I hear there’s a brave Navy SEAL who’ll be on it to keepShe needed to stop that Sex was a resource, a tool to keep things recreational forpersonal Only it hadn’t worked that ith Luke It hadn’t worked that way since Luke She watched him swipe the key three times "I tried the door, you know?" She didn’t care that he tried again She’d just been trying to divert attention from her careless comment