frowned, staring at the buildings on either
side—Spanish-like, cream stucco-walled buildings that looked out of place
compared to their more old-fashioned neighbors,
“Ah, you’ve rented an apartment for the afternoon?” Dan stopped
walking. “Looks like they’ve tried to bring a little of Europe here.”
Kat nodded and moved toward the building on their right,
walking up the pebbled path and reading the numbers on a brass plate beside a
main entry door. She needed apartment block two so walked on, checking the next
building. There it is. Her stomach bunched and she looked up at the
windows, all closed off from the outside world by blinds. Well, this is it… She turned to face Dan, who stood in the middle of the street, beaming. Let’s
hope that smile stays…
“Come on.” She gestured for him to join her. “Time my secret
was revealed.”
Dan stood beside her and Kat reached up, pressing the only
button on an intercom.
“Yes?” asked a female voice, loud and clear.
“I’m Kat Simmons. I booked a room for two hours.” She
glanced at Dan, nerves jumping.
“Ah yes. Come on in.”
The release mechanism buzzed and Kat pushed the door open,
stepping into a brightly lit foyer, the high shine of the beige marble floor
reflecting the overhead lights. A semicircular beech desk dominated the back
wall and a woman—high maintenance if Kat was any judge—sat behind it, all
blonde teased hair and manicured red nails.
“Hello there, Kat,” the receptionist said, voice warm and
friendly. “Have you visited a room like this before?”
“No. I—”
“ No problem. Take one of these leaflets.” She held it
out and Dan moved to take it, but Kat intercepted.
No way do I want him knowing my plan just yet!
“Thank you,” Kat said. “Do I need to sign in or anything?”
“No, I’ll log you into our computer. All I need is some ID,
preferably the credit card you paid with.”
Kat fumbled in her bag and produced her card, the slap of it
loud on the desk. She blushed, hoping the woman didn’t take it as a sign of
rudeness or impatience.
“My name’s Erica, by the way.” The receptionist smiled,
showing very white teeth. “Once you’re in the room, if you need me,” she
laughed and flapped her hand, realizing her faux pas, “I mean, if you have any
queries throughout your stay, please use the intercom provided. The leaflet
explains everything, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Erica handed Kat a key and
pointed to the elevators. “Room sixteen, level three.”
Kat slid her card back into her bag and made a fist over the
key, her heart thumping hard. “Thank you.” She glanced at Dan. “Ready?”
“Of course, though for what I still have no idea.”
Kat looked at Erica, who widened her eyes and covered a
smile with her hand. “Have fun!” she trilled, tapping at her keyboard.
The elevator doors eased open without Kat pressing any buttons
and she guessed they were computer-controlled. She stepped inside and turned to
face the foyer. Dan joined her and, as the doors whispered shut, he took her in
his arms and kissed the crook of her neck. Shivers went through her and Kat
closed her eyes, praying her surprise would be well received.
He can always say no and we can go back to the cabin or
my hotel. Even have a look around this town, have dinner and take the last bus
back. No biggie. She sighed, wrapping her arms about his back and pressing
into him. Who am I kidding? It is a biggie. Please let him enjoy
this!
The elevator jolted and came to a stop. Kat’s heart rate
soared and she pulled away, taking his hand and leading him out into an
immaculate tiled hallway.
“Christ, this must have cost a fortune to hire,” Dan said,
looking at the expensive-looking art hanging opposite each of the four doors.
Kat nodded. “It’ll be worth it.” I hope. Outside room
sixteen, Kat inserted the key and turned the handle, opening the door a couple
of inches. “Come on. Time to just do as you’re
side—Spanish-like, cream stucco-walled buildings that looked out of place
compared to their more old-fashioned neighbors,
“Ah, you’ve rented an apartment for the afternoon?” Dan stopped
walking. “Looks like they’ve tried to bring a little of Europe here.”
Kat nodded and moved toward the building on their right,
walking up the pebbled path and reading the numbers on a brass plate beside a
main entry door. She needed apartment block two so walked on, checking the next
building. There it is. Her stomach bunched and she looked up at the
windows, all closed off from the outside world by blinds. Well, this is it… She turned to face Dan, who stood in the middle of the street, beaming. Let’s
hope that smile stays…
“Come on.” She gestured for him to join her. “Time my secret
was revealed.”
Dan stood beside her and Kat reached up, pressing the only
button on an intercom.
“Yes?” asked a female voice, loud and clear.
“I’m Kat Simmons. I booked a room for two hours.” She
glanced at Dan, nerves jumping.
“Ah yes. Come on in.”
The release mechanism buzzed and Kat pushed the door open,
stepping into a brightly lit foyer, the high shine of the beige marble floor
reflecting the overhead lights. A semicircular beech desk dominated the back
wall and a woman—high maintenance if Kat was any judge—sat behind it, all
blonde teased hair and manicured red nails.
“Hello there, Kat,” the receptionist said, voice warm and
friendly. “Have you visited a room like this before?”
“No. I—”
“ No problem. Take one of these leaflets.” She held it
out and Dan moved to take it, but Kat intercepted.
No way do I want him knowing my plan just yet!
“Thank you,” Kat said. “Do I need to sign in or anything?”
“No, I’ll log you into our computer. All I need is some ID,
preferably the credit card you paid with.”
Kat fumbled in her bag and produced her card, the slap of it
loud on the desk. She blushed, hoping the woman didn’t take it as a sign of
rudeness or impatience.
“My name’s Erica, by the way.” The receptionist smiled,
showing very white teeth. “Once you’re in the room, if you need me,” she
laughed and flapped her hand, realizing her faux pas, “I mean, if you have any
queries throughout your stay, please use the intercom provided. The leaflet
explains everything, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Erica handed Kat a key and
pointed to the elevators. “Room sixteen, level three.”
Kat slid her card back into her bag and made a fist over the
key, her heart thumping hard. “Thank you.” She glanced at Dan. “Ready?”
“Of course, though for what I still have no idea.”
Kat looked at Erica, who widened her eyes and covered a
smile with her hand. “Have fun!” she trilled, tapping at her keyboard.
The elevator doors eased open without Kat pressing any buttons
and she guessed they were computer-controlled. She stepped inside and turned to
face the foyer. Dan joined her and, as the doors whispered shut, he took her in
his arms and kissed the crook of her neck. Shivers went through her and Kat
closed her eyes, praying her surprise would be well received.
He can always say no and we can go back to the cabin or
my hotel. Even have a look around this town, have dinner and take the last bus
back. No biggie. She sighed, wrapping her arms about his back and pressing
into him. Who am I kidding? It is a biggie. Please let him enjoy
this!
The elevator jolted and came to a stop. Kat’s heart rate
soared and she pulled away, taking his hand and leading him out into an
immaculate tiled hallway.
“Christ, this must have cost a fortune to hire,” Dan said,
looking at the expensive-looking art hanging opposite each of the four doors.
Kat nodded. “It’ll be worth it.” I hope. Outside room
sixteen, Kat inserted the key and turned the handle, opening the door a couple
of inches. “Come on. Time to just do as you’re
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