A Demon in Waiting (Crimson Romance) by Holley Trent Page A

been resignation. She knew where she and Hitch would end up if she had her way, and this time she wanted to be prepared. No excuses. During that long drive, she expected he’d get to the bottom of the bag, fish out the packet of rainbow-colored prophylaxes, and say something about them. But he never did. And now she’d sent him on a hunting expedition.
    She sighed as she dragged her suitcase to the counter.
    Who am I? I don’t even recognize myself.
    “Hi,” she said to the overworked clerk. “Ariel Thomas. Should have a one-night reservation. Made it this afternoon.”
    The clerk tapped some keys and studied her monitor. “Oh, yeah. I took that reservation.” She clucked her tongue. Then she clucked it some more and darted her gaze up to Ariel.
    Hitch returned right then carrying a paper bag that seemed much lighter than it had been minutes before. He must have dumped the trash. His grin was anticipatory, and Ariel felt an awakening in her gut.
    She cleared her throat as she returned her attention to the clucking clerk. “What’s wrong?” She didn’t like that cluck.
    The woman pulled her pink-frosted lips into a cringe. “Looks like we had to move a couple of guests because of central air issues. Since you hadn’t checked in yet, we had to bump you.”
    “So, I have no room?” Ariel wasn’t much of a whiner when it came to this kind of error, but the idea of getting back into her car and setting out in search of a hotel with vacancies when she was so very tired made her want to bark.
    “Well, we have
a
room, but I just want to make sure you’ll be comfortable in it.”
    “What’s wrong with it?”
    “Well, nothing’s wrong, per se. Actually, you have two options. I can put you in a ground floor, handicapped assessable room for the same rate, or I can bump you up into a suite for a ten percent extra surcharge.”
    Ten percent didn’t seem all that unreasonable. “A suite sounds nice, actually. Does it have a full-sized table? We haven’t had dinner yet.”
    She giggled. “Oh yeah. Full-sized everything. It’s the honeymoon suite.”
    The first thought that flicked through Ariel’s mind was
People have honeymoons in Arkansas?
The second was
Like hell if I’m going to submit a receipt to HR for reimbursement that has HONEYMOON SUITE itemized on it. How awkward would that be?
    Hitch must have tapped into the source of her discomfort, as he interjected, “Honeymoon suite sounds romantic, doesn’t it, sweetpea?” He nudged her foot with his own and raised one brow at her.
    What’s he up to?
    She gave a slow, but unambiguous, nod.
    “I think so too, sweetpea. You deserve to relax,” he said before turning his attention to the clerk once more. “We’re moving cross-country for work. Company’s footing the bill.”
    Realization dawned on the clerk’s face. “Oh. I see. Well, I can split the receipt and you can pay the up-charge separately, if you want.”
    He gave her grin that could deglaze ceramic. “That’s really helpful, uh … ” He stared at the woman’s full breasts for a moment, which made Ariel want to stomp his foot with her own.
    Then she realized she was reading her obstructed nametag just like he had with the waitress the day before. He seemed big on names.
    “Ashley,” he finished.
    “You got it.”
    Ariel handed the woman her credit card. “What time does room service stop serving dinner?”
    “Nine, hon.”
    “Thanks.” She signed the receipt with a flourish and bobbed her head toward the bank of elevators. “Want to eat upstairs?” she asked Hitch. Food was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. She was tired, but being with him wasn’t exactly exerting work.
    He shifted the paper bag to his left arm and pulled up the handle of her suitcase. “Sounds great. I’d love to get comfortable. It’s been a long drive.”
    “Too long.”
    They cleared away from the queue and headed toward the elevators. With each step she took, she felt more awake.