Read Online The District by Carol Ericson - Free Book Online Page B

getting run over, this night had exceeded all her expectations. Eric had forgiven her for taking secret notes on his family tragedy and didn’t believe she’d been in league with Ray Lopez to write a book. He’d softened toward her, and it felt so good she’d almost forgotten that she had a bigger secret—one that would torpedo their tentative truce.
    But she had to tell him.
    He parked the car, and she scrambled out before she could blurt out the truth. This needed careful planning. He was already suspicious about her move to San Miguel with her mother. Mom was hardly old or sickly.
    She blinked as they walked into the glare of the lobby.
    Eric called across the room to the hotel clerk. “Is the hot tub still open?”
    She responded. “Midnight.”
    “Perfect.” Eric took her arm. “The witching hour.”
    “Would you stop with that?” She shook off his hand. “I already told you. Midnight is not the witching hour.”
    “Like I said, you should know.” He punched the elevator button. “Are you really going to the hot tub? Did you even bring a suit?”
    “I always do.”
    They reached their adjoining rooms, and she slid her card in the slot and turned, but he already had his own door open.
    “I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow morning at eight?”
    “Sure.”
    The stab of disappointment almost took her breath away. Not that she was expecting a good-night kiss or anything, but something more than a door in the face would’ve been nice after their breakthrough tonight.
    She let her own door slam behind her. Maybe Eric didn’t consider what had happened tonight a breakthrough.
    And it wasn’t. The breakthrough would come when she told him about Kendall. Or not.
    After she tugged on her one-piece suit, she crouched in front of the minibar and grabbed a mini bottle of chilled white wine. She didn’t have to drive anywhere now.
    She slipped the white terry cloth robe from the hanger in the closet and wrapped it around her body. She dropped the wine in her pocket, followed by a plastic cup. She padded barefoot down the carpeted hallway to the elevator. She stabbed the button for the basement floor a couple of times.
    She slid her key card into the slot next to the glass door leading to the pool. She nodded at the couple dog-paddling around the shallow end. Probably thrilled to see her.
    Steam rose from the hot tub, which was tucked in the corner of the room and she cruised toward it, shedding her robe along the way.
    A head stuck up above the edge, and she tripped to a stop. Awkward. She was hoping to have it to herself. Maybe he’d leave.
    As she approached the enclosure, the person in the hot tub turned his head and she almost tripped again.
    “Took you long enough.” Eric sat up straight and the hot water sluiced from his broad shoulders and steam rose from his back.
    She had to snap her mouth shut and just hope no drool had made it to her chin. “You.”
    He ran a hand across his hair, and his biceps bunched. “Sounded like a good idea. Hop in. It’s nice and hot.”
    She had to peel her tongue from the roof of her mouth to speak and she still managed only a gurgle.
    She entered the enclosure and dipped a toe into the bubbling water. “Yep, it’s hot.”
    Eric lifted one corner of his mouth, and the heat spread to her cheeks. Idiot.
    She stepped into the tub and sank onto the tile seat across from him. Her foot touched his and she jerked it back. His presence here did not bode well for a relaxing soak.
    Sighing, she scooted farther into the water and rested the back of her head on the edge of the pool. She shifted so that the jets pounded between her shoulder blades. “Ahh.”
    He lowered his body back beneath the surface of the frothing water. “Feels good. Thanks for the suggestion. Hope you don’t mind.”
    “Not at all. It’s a good way to unwind after work. Beats booze.”
    “Apparently not.” He pointed to the little bottle of wine perched on the deck with the plastic cup snug over the