“You want a drink?” he asked, stepping into the suite. “I’m sure I have a minibar around here somewhere.”
She followed him in, closing the door behind her and trying not to stare at his hotel room.
It was . . . crazy. Crazy and ridiculous and utterly opulent. The beige carpet was thick underneath her shoes and the furniture shiny and new. Art—real art, not ugly hotel prints—hung on the walls, illuminated by their own personal spotlights. A pair of sliding doors led off to another “wing” of his suite, and as she stepped into the living room, she chuckled. “Is that a piano?”
“A baby grand for all of your hotel needs,” he agreed, approaching with two small bottles of alcohol in hand. “I personally have never gotten to a hotel room and thought, damn it, where is a piano when you need one, but apparently someone does.”
She laughed again and refused the drink he offered her. “No thanks.”
“You’re not driving back,” he cajoled. “I insist on a cab this late. And I’d be a sad sack if I was a lonely drunk. With you here, I’m not quite so lonely.”
His words warmed her a bit, and she took the tiny bottle of Patron from him, twisting the tiny cap off. He did the same, and held his bottle out to her in a toast. “Bottoms up,” she told him, and then sipped it. The alcohol had a delicious burn to it. She continued to sip it, wandering around the room. “How much does a place like this cost a night?”
“You don’t want to know,” he told her. “Actually, I’m not even sure I know. An assistant handled it for me.”
She headed through the living room—his freaking hotel room was a mess of rooms—and peered out to the balcony. “Oh, wow. This is huge.”
“Shall we go out?” He opened the door and gestured.
And even though Kylie was a bit tired and she knew Cade should head to bed, she went out on the balcony anyhow, because when was she going to ever do this again? The balcony had marble tile, and elegantly maintained potted plants dotted along the railing, interspersed with heavy wooden furniture. The city looked vast from here, and she stared at the view in awe. “This is gorgeous.”
“Isn’t it?” Cade smiled out at the buildings, his golden hair ruffling in the night breeze. He moved to stand beside her, his presence warm. “I have to admit I ask for this room simply because of the balcony.”
“I don’t blame you. This place looks big enough for a party.”
“Kind of sad that it’s just me.” His tone was melancholy, and her heart twinged again.
She lifted her tiny bottle of Patron back to her lips and drained the entire thing in one fell swoop, and her head began to buzz. “I’m sorry.”
“Why do you keep saying you’re sorry?” He gazed out at the Chicago night sky for a moment before turning back to look at her. “None of this was your fault.”
“I know,” she told him, and crossed her arms under her breasts, tucking them close to stay warm. Her thin shirt wasn’t exactly made for evenings outside. “I just wish things would have turned out differently for you. You’re such a good guy.”
To her surprise, his mouth twisted to hear that, his expression souring. “That’s the problem. No one ever seems to care how the nice guy feels, huh?” He tilted his head and studied her for so long that she began to feel self-conscious. “Except you.”
Her hair was blowing into her face, and she impatiently pushed it aside, thinking. What could she possibly say to him that wouldn’t sound stupid? I noticed you all night? I can’t help but be interested because you’re the perfect guy and Daphne’s throwing you away? I wish you’d notice me?
None of those phrases would come out of her mouth without embarrassing her, so she stood there, mutely staring at him, this perfect, wonderful man who deserved much better.
“It’s funny,” Cade said, stepping closer to Kylie. His hair blew in the breeze and for a moment, he looked like a fallen angel in the shadows. “Tonight, when I saw Daphne, do you know what the first thing in my mind was? It wasn’t that I was glad to see her, or worried that she was sick. Because I expected those things. It was disappointment . . . that she didn’t look like you.”
Kylie’s brows drew together. Huh? “I think you’re drunk, Cade.”
“I’m drunk,” he agreed. “Because I’d never say this otherwise. But you’re utterly, insanely sexy and I’ve been completely attracted to you since the moment I saw you, even when I know I shouldn’t be. And here I am, up on the balcony in the middle of the night after what has been a miserable experience, and all I can think is that I’m not all that miserable, because I like watching you.” His fingers reached out and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead, tucked it gently behind her ear. “And it makes me wish I was one of those guys that didn’t give a shit about anyone but themselves, because I’d ask you to stay the night with me.”
Her eyes widened. His fingers traced the curve of her ear, sending shivers down her spine. He wasn’t moving away. His speech wasn’t slurred. He . . . couldn’t be that drunk, could he? To be propositioning Kylie? “W-what do you mean, stay the night with you?”
“It’s late and you’re gorgeous,” he said bluntly, cupping her rounded cheek in his hand. “And I’m wondering if we should both live a little. Have an incredibly intense one-night stand and not think about it in the morning. What do you say?”