like a month.
She shifted her gaze from the outside scene to the trolley
and lifted the second dome. A yellow rose lay on top of a plain white envelope.
Kat smiled. The insane thought that Dan had somehow gotten hold of the hotel
staff and ordered her breakfast swept through her mind, but she dismissed it
for the pathetic hope it was. Yes, she’d told him she loved yellow roses, but
it was just a coincidence, wasn’t it?
But if it wasn’t Dan who sent it, who did?
Her nerves jangled and she thought back to the previous
evening. She’d visited the hotel bar, seating herself in a corner booth, watching
everyone else have a good time. No one had approached her, had even looked her
way, and she’d felt invisible. Lost and lonely. No, nobody here had sent her
breakfast. Sent a rose that brought back memories of childhood, when her nanna
had handed her one in full bloom and urged her to sniff it. Kat had brought the
flower to her nose and inhaled, the petals tickling her skin. From then on the
smell had reminded her of Nanna, that vibrant woman who’d said, “Press it, Kat.
Place it between two books and press it. Then you’ll always have something from
me.”
Even as young as she’d been, Kat had sensed a hint of
despondency in the old woman’s voice. Tears had pooled in eyes that had
witnessed events over seventy-two years, eyes that still remained young despite
the wrinkled skin surrounding them. Eyes that closed for the last time a week
later, Nanna taken by the angels and spirited off to a better place. Nanna had
kept her illness to herself—typical of her to not want anyone to worry—but the
cancer had claimed her, snatching her away too soon.
Tears burned Kat’s eyes now and she blinked them away,
inhaling deeply to combat the emotions spreading through her and threatening to
take hold until they swamped her. She picked up the rose, holding the stem
between thorns, and lifted it to her nose. Wistfully, she placed the flower on
the trolley and opened the envelope, pulling out a folded sheet of paper. The
familiar handwriting set her stomach to bunching and she shook her head,
reading the words aloud.
“I know you said not to come, but I couldn’t resist. Go into
the lobby at eleven o’clock. The receptionist will have an envelope for you.
Inside are instructions on where I am. Come find me. Dan.”
Kat smiled so wide it hurt her cheeks. Dare she hope he felt
the same as she did? Doubt crept in. No, he’d made it quite clear he’d join her
as a friend. Still, it didn’t matter. If it meant he was here and she would get
to see him, it would have to be enough. Energized, she glanced at the bedside
clock. With an hour until eleven, she had plenty of time to shower and get
ready. What should she wear? Anything more than casual and she’d look obvious
and also out of place. This wasn’t the kind of town that required dressing up
during the day. She walked to the wardrobe, rifling through the clothes she’d
brought, searching for something appropriate. Dan had only ever seen her in
blouses and knee-length skirts, slacks when the weather turned cold, and pumps
a footwear fanatic would smirk at.
Selecting jeans and a plain black sweater, she laid them on
the bed and hopped in the shower. What did he have planned? Would they get
along outside the work environment? What if they didn’t—would that sour their
relationship when they returned home?
God, I hope not. She sighed and rinsed the lather
from her hair. Just meet him, see how it goes. Take it as it comes.
Giddy with bubbling excitement, Kat dressed and dried her
hair, leaving it wavy and loose about her shoulders. No time for the flat iron
today. She pulled on her black boots and glanced at the clock. Half an hour to
kill. Applying subtle makeup wasted a few minutes and, unable to dawdle any
longer, she put on her black down-filled jacket, grabbed her bag and left the
room.
The elevator took an age, the green lights indicating the
floor levels
She shifted her gaze from the outside scene to the trolley
and lifted the second dome. A yellow rose lay on top of a plain white envelope.
Kat smiled. The insane thought that Dan had somehow gotten hold of the hotel
staff and ordered her breakfast swept through her mind, but she dismissed it
for the pathetic hope it was. Yes, she’d told him she loved yellow roses, but
it was just a coincidence, wasn’t it?
But if it wasn’t Dan who sent it, who did?
Her nerves jangled and she thought back to the previous
evening. She’d visited the hotel bar, seating herself in a corner booth, watching
everyone else have a good time. No one had approached her, had even looked her
way, and she’d felt invisible. Lost and lonely. No, nobody here had sent her
breakfast. Sent a rose that brought back memories of childhood, when her nanna
had handed her one in full bloom and urged her to sniff it. Kat had brought the
flower to her nose and inhaled, the petals tickling her skin. From then on the
smell had reminded her of Nanna, that vibrant woman who’d said, “Press it, Kat.
Place it between two books and press it. Then you’ll always have something from
me.”
Even as young as she’d been, Kat had sensed a hint of
despondency in the old woman’s voice. Tears had pooled in eyes that had
witnessed events over seventy-two years, eyes that still remained young despite
the wrinkled skin surrounding them. Eyes that closed for the last time a week
later, Nanna taken by the angels and spirited off to a better place. Nanna had
kept her illness to herself—typical of her to not want anyone to worry—but the
cancer had claimed her, snatching her away too soon.
Tears burned Kat’s eyes now and she blinked them away,
inhaling deeply to combat the emotions spreading through her and threatening to
take hold until they swamped her. She picked up the rose, holding the stem
between thorns, and lifted it to her nose. Wistfully, she placed the flower on
the trolley and opened the envelope, pulling out a folded sheet of paper. The
familiar handwriting set her stomach to bunching and she shook her head,
reading the words aloud.
“I know you said not to come, but I couldn’t resist. Go into
the lobby at eleven o’clock. The receptionist will have an envelope for you.
Inside are instructions on where I am. Come find me. Dan.”
Kat smiled so wide it hurt her cheeks. Dare she hope he felt
the same as she did? Doubt crept in. No, he’d made it quite clear he’d join her
as a friend. Still, it didn’t matter. If it meant he was here and she would get
to see him, it would have to be enough. Energized, she glanced at the bedside
clock. With an hour until eleven, she had plenty of time to shower and get
ready. What should she wear? Anything more than casual and she’d look obvious
and also out of place. This wasn’t the kind of town that required dressing up
during the day. She walked to the wardrobe, rifling through the clothes she’d
brought, searching for something appropriate. Dan had only ever seen her in
blouses and knee-length skirts, slacks when the weather turned cold, and pumps
a footwear fanatic would smirk at.
Selecting jeans and a plain black sweater, she laid them on
the bed and hopped in the shower. What did he have planned? Would they get
along outside the work environment? What if they didn’t—would that sour their
relationship when they returned home?
God, I hope not. She sighed and rinsed the lather
from her hair. Just meet him, see how it goes. Take it as it comes.
Giddy with bubbling excitement, Kat dressed and dried her
hair, leaving it wavy and loose about her shoulders. No time for the flat iron
today. She pulled on her black boots and glanced at the clock. Half an hour to
kill. Applying subtle makeup wasted a few minutes and, unable to dawdle any
longer, she put on her black down-filled jacket, grabbed her bag and left the
room.
The elevator took an age, the green lights indicating the
floor levels
Similar Books
