her head, as if she sensed C J’s presence nearby. Bullseye. C J knew she had spotted him. Zoe cut off whatever the concierge was about to say and headed straight for the bar. Oh shit, he thought.
By the time Zoe entered the bar the concierge had decided to pursue her and was signaling the front desk to call for backup. Zoe’s wet pumps squeaked as she walked, and droplets of water created a trail behind her on the carpet. A few of the bar’s patrons looked away in disgust, and the others smiled with anticipation for the spectacle they were sure would ensue. Zoe stopped at C J’s table and fixed him with a look.
“Are you going to ask me to join you or should I just continue to stand here?”
“Would you like to join me for a drink, Ms. Alden?” C J asked with no emotion.
Just as Zoe sat down the concierge and waiter both arrived tableside, looking concerned. The concierge fixed his eyes on Zoe and said, “Madame, as I explained to you a moment ago, I feel it is in the best interests of the hotel and yourself if you leave immediately,” Then, turning to C J, he said, “Mr. Fairchild, I apologize for the intrusion. We will make sure the disruption is contained, and you won’t be bothered further.”
C J paused for a full fifteen seconds before speaking just to draw out the moment. “Gentlemen, Ms. Alden is joining me for a drink. We need no special assistance at this time. Zoe what’s your pleasure?”
“I’ll take a dirty martini. Gin, not vodka,” she added as the waiter moved away quickly.
“As you wish, Mr. Fairchild,” the concierge said. Backing slowly away from the table, he gave C J a look that let him know all he had to do was signal and the staff would swiftly move to contain Zoe and escort her out of the hotel.
“You don’t plan to make this easy on me, do you?” Zoe asked.
“Should I?” C J retorted.
“Probably not. I was wrong and I admit it. Accept my apology for accusing you of not being honest. Rob Scott is a first class jerk and we have a history of disagreements going back to the dawn of time, so I overreact when he’s involved,” Zoe said.
The waiter placed Zoe’s drink in front of her and hurried out of earshot. As Zoe lifted the glass to her lips, C J noticed water dripping from her hair onto the table where a small puddle was forming. The gorgeous blonde was intently watching the situation, and C J had trouble suppressing a grin but knew any hint of amusement would be misinterpreted by Zoe. He gave her credit for the apology but had to think a moment about what he wanted. Hell, C J knew what he wanted and it was Zoe Alden. Before he could speak, Zoe started rambling some bullshit about staying in touch and that he had opened her eyes to the politics of the oil industry and for that she was grateful.
Standing up and effectively cutting off her speech in mid-sentence, C J said, “How about we get you out of those wet clothes. It’ll probably take the hotel days just to dry out the seat cushion. Plus I’m famished, so I plan to head to my room and see what room service has to offer.”
Zoe took another sip of her martini and stood. C J slid his room key out of his pants pocket and handed it to Zoe.
“Apology accepted, Zoe. Please head to the room before you start shivering while I take care of the tab. It’s room 500,” C J said with a note of care in his voice.
Zoe took the key card and headed for the elevators. The concierge looked up with concern, but C J caught his eye and nodded that it was fine. As C J signed the tab and handed it back to the waiter with a generous cash tip, he felt conversation resume in the bar. Funny, he hadn’t noticed the quiet until now. On his way out the blonde caught his eye and gave him a quizzical look. C J just grinned at her and shrugged his shoulders. No, I wouldn’t trade Zoe for anyone he thought. This idea momentarily stopped him; then he walked quickly across
By the time Zoe entered the bar the concierge had decided to pursue her and was signaling the front desk to call for backup. Zoe’s wet pumps squeaked as she walked, and droplets of water created a trail behind her on the carpet. A few of the bar’s patrons looked away in disgust, and the others smiled with anticipation for the spectacle they were sure would ensue. Zoe stopped at C J’s table and fixed him with a look.
“Are you going to ask me to join you or should I just continue to stand here?”
“Would you like to join me for a drink, Ms. Alden?” C J asked with no emotion.
Just as Zoe sat down the concierge and waiter both arrived tableside, looking concerned. The concierge fixed his eyes on Zoe and said, “Madame, as I explained to you a moment ago, I feel it is in the best interests of the hotel and yourself if you leave immediately,” Then, turning to C J, he said, “Mr. Fairchild, I apologize for the intrusion. We will make sure the disruption is contained, and you won’t be bothered further.”
C J paused for a full fifteen seconds before speaking just to draw out the moment. “Gentlemen, Ms. Alden is joining me for a drink. We need no special assistance at this time. Zoe what’s your pleasure?”
“I’ll take a dirty martini. Gin, not vodka,” she added as the waiter moved away quickly.
“As you wish, Mr. Fairchild,” the concierge said. Backing slowly away from the table, he gave C J a look that let him know all he had to do was signal and the staff would swiftly move to contain Zoe and escort her out of the hotel.
“You don’t plan to make this easy on me, do you?” Zoe asked.
“Should I?” C J retorted.
“Probably not. I was wrong and I admit it. Accept my apology for accusing you of not being honest. Rob Scott is a first class jerk and we have a history of disagreements going back to the dawn of time, so I overreact when he’s involved,” Zoe said.
The waiter placed Zoe’s drink in front of her and hurried out of earshot. As Zoe lifted the glass to her lips, C J noticed water dripping from her hair onto the table where a small puddle was forming. The gorgeous blonde was intently watching the situation, and C J had trouble suppressing a grin but knew any hint of amusement would be misinterpreted by Zoe. He gave her credit for the apology but had to think a moment about what he wanted. Hell, C J knew what he wanted and it was Zoe Alden. Before he could speak, Zoe started rambling some bullshit about staying in touch and that he had opened her eyes to the politics of the oil industry and for that she was grateful.
Standing up and effectively cutting off her speech in mid-sentence, C J said, “How about we get you out of those wet clothes. It’ll probably take the hotel days just to dry out the seat cushion. Plus I’m famished, so I plan to head to my room and see what room service has to offer.”
Zoe took another sip of her martini and stood. C J slid his room key out of his pants pocket and handed it to Zoe.
“Apology accepted, Zoe. Please head to the room before you start shivering while I take care of the tab. It’s room 500,” C J said with a note of care in his voice.
Zoe took the key card and headed for the elevators. The concierge looked up with concern, but C J caught his eye and nodded that it was fine. As C J signed the tab and handed it back to the waiter with a generous cash tip, he felt conversation resume in the bar. Funny, he hadn’t noticed the quiet until now. On his way out the blonde caught his eye and gave him a quizzical look. C J just grinned at her and shrugged his shoulders. No, I wouldn’t trade Zoe for anyone he thought. This idea momentarily stopped him; then he walked quickly across
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