Bound By The Baby

“I’m working.” She glanced around, as if seeking someone to come to her rescue, a bit of panic in her eyes.

Surely she wasn’t afraid of him, not after the night they’d shared. “When do you get off?”

She finally looked him in the eyes, perhaps concluding he wouldn’t back down, although nothing in her demeanor indicated she was backing down, either. “At nine.”

Less than an hour. His jet lag vanished at the anticipation. “I’ll wait for you.”

“Please, don’t.” She took a step back. “Please. I have to go.”

Dev let her leave. He returned to the bar just as his food was being set on the counter.

There was something to be said for timing. Food first, then Nicole.

She wouldn’t get far.

He knew where to find her.

Nicole didn’t know for sure that Devlin hadn’t trailed her until she slipped behind the front desk and turned around. Holding her breath, she scanned the crowd. He hadn’t followed.

She slipped into an empty office and shut the door, leaning against the wall beside it, one hand pressed to her mouth, one to her stomach. Light-headed, she made her way to a chair and dropped into it.

What was he doing here?

What was she going to do?

Nicole stared into space until the room came into focus. After a minute she typed his name into the computer on the desk, accessing the reservations data base. No Devlin Campbell. So…he wasn’t a guest. Not yet, anyway. Why was he here? Where was he staying?

For how long?

One of the front-desk clerks, Ann-Marie, came up to the window and made a face. Nicole tried to smile. The clerk opened the door and leaned in.

“Are you okay, Nic?”

I am far from okay. I am worried. And I am scared. “I’m fine, thanks.”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Devlin Campbell was a vision, all right, but completely earthbound. Tall, dark and handsome. High-society born and old-money rich—things she’d learned about him after their night together.

“Did you need something, Ann-Marie?” Nicole saw her recoil. She moved toward the twenty-three-year-old trainee. “I didn’t mean to be so abrupt. I guess I don’t really feel well, after all.”

“Maybe you should just go home.”

Nicole was proud that she hadn’t missed even an hour of work and had no intention of starting now. Anyway, she couldn’t. She was filling in for someone who’d needed to come to work an hour late. She could manage another forty-five minutes.

Under normal circumstances, she would’ve been gone by now, would not have run into Devlin. Once again the hands of fate had grabbed hold of her and not let go. It was too soon. She wasn’t ready—

“Nic?”

She smiled at Ann-Marie. “I’ll be okay until the end of the shift.”

The bubbly blonde smiled back and returned to the desk. Nicole followed. It was Tuesday night. The chances of there being a rush on rooms was slim, although the possibility that Devlin might want one kept her milling around the desk, waiting.

A few minutes before nine, he approached, pointing toward a place where they could talk without being overheard. “If not dinner, then a drink?” he asked.

She shook her head, made herself smile.

“I’ll be here every night until you say yes.”

Every night? Just how long—“Are you here on business?”

“I’m not sure how to answer that. It’s supposed to be pleasure, but it’s someone else’s definition of pleasure. I’ll be here for a month.”

A month! She gripped the counter. Everything would be different in a month. Now what? What should she tell him? And when? She needed to figure out what to say.

But not tonight. Not tonight. Tomorrow would be soon enough. Nothing would change in that time.

“Do you need a ride home?” he asked.

“I have my own car, thanks.”

“I’ll walk you to it.” His tone was more order than offer.

She’d never responded well to orders. “I have something to do first. I’m sure we’ll cross paths another time.” Take a hint, Mr. Campbell. You are dismissed. She turned away, took a few steps.

“What are you afraid of, Nicole?” he asked, his voice carrying enough that Ann-Marie looked in their direction.

She stalked back to him. “Why are you pressuring me?” she whispered harshly.

“That was a helluva night we spent together.”

So. He was looking for an encore. What had she expected? Love at first sight? “That was then. Good night.” She walked away, taking refuge in the office again and watching the lobby through the window. Seconds later she saw him head toward the parking lot exit.

Someone waved a hand up and down in front of the window then stepped into view. She focused abruptly on the man standing on the other side of the door, grinning.

She grinned back. Who could resist? Juan Torres was the sweetest man on the face of the earth. She opened the door.

“Thanks so much for staying the extra hour,” Juan said as he pinned his assistant manager badge onto his jacket. “I owe you.”

“I’m sure I’ll be calling in the marker.” She handed him a sheet listing the problems that had arisen during her shift, then pointed to one in particular. “The guest in 1015 has changed rooms three times since he got here at six o’clock.”

“What’s his problem?”

“Room’s too close to the elevators. View’s lousy. Noisy neighbors.”

“Ah. The usual. Trying to get us to comp him.”

She started to answer, then saw Mr. Room 1015 approaching the desk, his stare steely, his stride determined, obviously back for round four. “Saved by the time clock,” Nicole murmured with relief. “See you tomorrow, Juan.”