Hooked 3 (Hooked #3)(10)

CHAPTER SEVEN

After a week of this frenzy, I was entirely ready to fall into the world of Drew once more. In this world, I knew, there were no worries. Everything was easy; everyone knew how to dance, how to dress. I paused in front of my closet, naked, tracing the dresses over and over again. I wasn’t sure where we were going for this overnight weekend trip. He had simply called me, out-of-the-blue that morning to tell me that I needed to pack something elegant for the next evening’s festivities. I had heard drilling in the background. Had he called me from the worksite, from the excavation of my old dance studio? Also, I had thought this was going to be one overnight; not two. I furrowed my eyebrows, becoming nervous. I knew I couldn’t fall in love with this man (not more than I already was).

I had to put it out of my mind. I dipped my hand into the closet and brought out a fiery red dress, one that showed far too much cleavage. He hadn’t told me if the next evening was a grand benefit or a goddamned concert. Either way, I would be prepared. I slipped the dress over my slim frame, admiring the way it held tight to my body, showing the outline of my breasts. I could see a flash of my nipples, as well, as they glistened in the bright light from the Friday sun.

I packed the dress in a suitcase and chose some black leggings and a cute top for the travel. I knew we were leaving the city, but I couldn’t be certain where we were going. In my head, I was worried we were going to Indiana for some reason. I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t bear to see my home state again, not wrapped in the arms of Drew, not in the sleek Porsche.

Drew knocked on my door at around six. I stepped toward it and opened it only for a moment, revealing him in his long winter coat, a nice, warm winter hat. “Well. Aren’t you prepared for snow?” I teased him.

“It’s going to be rather cold there this weekend. I’d grab a hat, if I were you.” His eyes looked bright, excited. I decided to play his games. I grabbed my suitcase, my coat, and followed behind him into the hallway, locking the door behind me.

“Where are we going, anyway?” I asked him, smiling.

He raised his eyebrow, taking my suitcase. “We’re actually going to Iowa.”

My heart sunk in my chest. What the hell was in Iowa? Was this guy going to take me out to the boonies and murder me? As I tapped down the steps and out onto the whirring streets, I felt regretful, sad to leave my home behind. Chicago! Leaving for Iowa?

I sat in the Porsche and brought my hands together timidly, looking over at Drew as he pumped the engine. He noted my wayward expression and laughed. “It’s not going to be that bad,” he said.


We shot west toward Iowa. I watched as the sun dipped low in the sky, leaving us in a quiet darkness on the Friday night highway. I tapped at my leg quietly, peering out the window. “It’s been a long time since I was out on the road.”

“You don’t travel much?”

“Can’t afford it. I don’t know if I would, anyway. Sure. Maybe Europe, Australia, or something. But not in the Midwest.” I cleared my throat, watching the signs pass us as we whirred by, going eighty, then ninety.

“I love to drive. I feel so powerful, you know. Like the entire world is mine, before my feet.” Drew kept his eyes on the road, maneuvering the manual stick of the vehicle as we climbed in speed.

The drive took five hours. He exited the interstate at around eleven in the evening and whizzed us up in front of a grand, sparkling hotel. I looked at it wide-eyed, with a bit of bliss. It was possibly the largest hotel I’d ever seen, and cornfields surrounded it on every side. “Who comes here?” I whispered to Drew.

“Only those who know it’s here,” he murmured back.

A valet driver, similar in dress to the one from the previous week, emerged from the hotel and came jogging toward the car. He saluted Drew, who he seemed to know. “Sir,” he said as he escorted me from the vehicle. “I see you’ve brought a very beautiful woman with you this time.”

I blushed. I’d never been referred to as more than just a “pretty girl.” “Beautiful woman” brought me to the next level; a level of stark grandeur and richness.

Drew took my arm and led me into the foyer of the remarkable hotel. The lights were dimmed as we entered. The man at the desk stood tall in a subtle bit of light over his papers. “Sir Thompson,” he announced through the cold of the foyer. “So lovely to see you this evening.”

Drew nodded his head toward the man, not bothering to check in. I wondered about this—if he forgot. I remembered my mother continually heading to the desk, having to enter in her credit card information, her address, possibly her soul—I never knew. But here, everyone seemed to know Drew, to respect him. He seemed almost a part of the hotel, although I thought that was impossible. After all; he lived in Chicago, and we were five hours away.

Drew led me to the double-doors of the shining glass elevator. He pressed the button and the doors opened automatically. He led me onto the glass floor and I peered down, nervous already about seeing all the way to the bottom of the shaft. My eyes were large, alarmed.

He laughed at me as the door closed. “Don’t be nervous.”

The elevator glided upwards through the enormous foyer. I could see everything; every person working, every person drinking, every person talking. Fires lined the remarkable study, further away, toward the bar. I squeezed Drew’s hand. “What is this place?” I asked him. He didn’t answer.