rules?”
“As long as they’re plainly stated, I suppose not.” Truthfully, I was too good at it. That was one of the things Chelsea has tried over the years to rectify. Live, be spontaneous, she’d say. “Take college for example…” I tried to steer the conversation away from the obvious.
We talked about my major. At first I told him it was quantum physics. After all, he’d said I was well-spoken. However, it didn’t take long before I admitted the truth. I’d majored in English with a dual minor in business and political science.
“Those future plans don’t include law school, do they?”
“Nox, I-I…”
“Yes, Charli, seeing as I still don’t know your last name, I’m going to assume that discovering life means some questions are off-limits. I can follow rules too, but I prefer to make them.”
I smiled. “Do you have a last name?”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“Touché.”
With our meals as done as they were to be, Nox lifted up a new bottle of wine. “Shall we toast to a week of first names?”
I offered my glass. “I’d like that.”
His brow twitched. “I’ll add to that, a week of finding out what else you like and the boundaries to your limits .”
I almost choked on my wine as he added that final statement, but it was too late. As the crisp liquid flowed, I drank to his exploration of my limits.
“Are you up for going back outside? The view is why I stay here.”
I shifted to stand. The lighting within the suite was much brighter than what we’d had on the patio. With his drink in his right hand, he offered me his left, and I saw it—my limit.
Suddenly the handsome, powerful man in front of me was no better than every other man, no better than Alton Fitzgerald and all of his business trips.
My neck straightened. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“What?” Nox asked, visibly surprised.
I pulled my eyes from his left hand. “I forgot. I promised Chelsea that I’d be back to our room tonight. This week is about us. It really isn’t fair of me to leave her alone.”
“I saw your sister. I doubt she’s alone.”
Though Nox tried again for my hand, I pulled it away, busy with removing his jacket from my shoulders. Shoving what undoubtedly was a very expensive suit coat his direction, I reached for my handbag.
“Goodbye, Nox. It was nice to meet you. I’m sorry, but I do know my limits and I’ve already, albeit unknowingly, broken a hard one.” I hurried toward the elevator. “Please don’t attempt to contact me.”
As the elevator doors opened, I turned to see not only Nox’s puzzled expression but also Mrs. Witt’s. With my lips pressed together in disgust, not only at them, but also at myself, I stepped into the elevator and waited for the door to shut. When it did, I exhaled and tried to comprehend how either of them would assume that I’d be comfortable with this circumstance.
I didn’t care how good looking or charismatic Mr. Nox—no last name—was. I didn’t see married men. The tan line on his fourth finger was too prominent to be anything but recent.
“MISS CHARLI?” FREDRICK asked with concern in his voice as I rushed from the private hallway. “Is everything all right?”
All right? No!
I took a deep breath. If I couldn’t stop whatever game Nox was playing from getting to me, I sure as hell could stop from showing it to others. Pausing only briefly, I replied, “Thank you, Fredrick. I’m not feeling well.”
“May I help you? Do you need assistance getting to your room?”
“No, I just need to lie down.”
“Really, Miss Charli, I don’t mind. I’m sure your host wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
My host . I wasn’t born yesterday. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I believed as soon as Fredrick escorted me to my room, he’d report my room number directly to Nox.
“No, thank you.” I began to walk away. “That won’t be necessary. I’m sure your resort is safe enough for a woman to walk
“As long as they’re plainly stated, I suppose not.” Truthfully, I was too good at it. That was one of the things Chelsea has tried over the years to rectify. Live, be spontaneous, she’d say. “Take college for example…” I tried to steer the conversation away from the obvious.
We talked about my major. At first I told him it was quantum physics. After all, he’d said I was well-spoken. However, it didn’t take long before I admitted the truth. I’d majored in English with a dual minor in business and political science.
“Those future plans don’t include law school, do they?”
“Nox, I-I…”
“Yes, Charli, seeing as I still don’t know your last name, I’m going to assume that discovering life means some questions are off-limits. I can follow rules too, but I prefer to make them.”
I smiled. “Do you have a last name?”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“Touché.”
With our meals as done as they were to be, Nox lifted up a new bottle of wine. “Shall we toast to a week of first names?”
I offered my glass. “I’d like that.”
His brow twitched. “I’ll add to that, a week of finding out what else you like and the boundaries to your limits .”
I almost choked on my wine as he added that final statement, but it was too late. As the crisp liquid flowed, I drank to his exploration of my limits.
“Are you up for going back outside? The view is why I stay here.”
I shifted to stand. The lighting within the suite was much brighter than what we’d had on the patio. With his drink in his right hand, he offered me his left, and I saw it—my limit.
Suddenly the handsome, powerful man in front of me was no better than every other man, no better than Alton Fitzgerald and all of his business trips.
My neck straightened. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“What?” Nox asked, visibly surprised.
I pulled my eyes from his left hand. “I forgot. I promised Chelsea that I’d be back to our room tonight. This week is about us. It really isn’t fair of me to leave her alone.”
“I saw your sister. I doubt she’s alone.”
Though Nox tried again for my hand, I pulled it away, busy with removing his jacket from my shoulders. Shoving what undoubtedly was a very expensive suit coat his direction, I reached for my handbag.
“Goodbye, Nox. It was nice to meet you. I’m sorry, but I do know my limits and I’ve already, albeit unknowingly, broken a hard one.” I hurried toward the elevator. “Please don’t attempt to contact me.”
As the elevator doors opened, I turned to see not only Nox’s puzzled expression but also Mrs. Witt’s. With my lips pressed together in disgust, not only at them, but also at myself, I stepped into the elevator and waited for the door to shut. When it did, I exhaled and tried to comprehend how either of them would assume that I’d be comfortable with this circumstance.
I didn’t care how good looking or charismatic Mr. Nox—no last name—was. I didn’t see married men. The tan line on his fourth finger was too prominent to be anything but recent.
“MISS CHARLI?” FREDRICK asked with concern in his voice as I rushed from the private hallway. “Is everything all right?”
All right? No!
I took a deep breath. If I couldn’t stop whatever game Nox was playing from getting to me, I sure as hell could stop from showing it to others. Pausing only briefly, I replied, “Thank you, Fredrick. I’m not feeling well.”
“May I help you? Do you need assistance getting to your room?”
“No, I just need to lie down.”
“Really, Miss Charli, I don’t mind. I’m sure your host wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
My host . I wasn’t born yesterday. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I believed as soon as Fredrick escorted me to my room, he’d report my room number directly to Nox.
“No, thank you.” I began to walk away. “That won’t be necessary. I’m sure your resort is safe enough for a woman to walk
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