Without a Hitch(54)

She’s a fixer. Nova’s words ring true.

“How do you know her?” Colton presses, snapping me from my thoughts.

“We’ve just met a few times.” I love Colton. He’s probably my best friend, but he doesn’t need to know the details. The sooner I get him settled into his suite, the sooner I can go in search of my Tilly.

Tilly. I shake my head. I knew Abby was too plain for her. Game on, Till. Game on!





C HAPTE R 1 9

TILLY

S hit. Horse shit. Dog shit. All kinds of shit. I’m in it now. Lochlan? He has to be my boss's best friend? Why does the universe hate me?

My meeting with Colton ran two hours longer than I expected, and now I’m scurrying to my room like a rat in Lochlan’s hotel, praying to any deity that will listen that I don’t run into him again. Colton is expecting me in an hour to babysit, but I’m still shaking. I need a hot shower and a nice, long chat session with the girls.

I enter my room and sigh with relief when the door closes behind me. My shoulders relax until I round the corner and find a package that’s not mine on the small desk in the corner.

Unease settles in my gut as I reach for the package. It’s large and has my name on a card lying on top of it. Glancing over my shoulder, I confirm the room is empty, then open it. I’m annoyed to see it only says my name in scratchy block letters.

I lift the lid and gasp. It’s the shoes I’d eyed in New York. The ones that cost more than my rent and car payment combined.

Lochlan.

I don’t dare to touch them. Obviously, I’ll need to send them back. But holy geez, are they amazing.

I trace the strappy sandal and snatch my hand back like it shocked me when an unfamiliar sound fills the room. I turn in circles before realizing it’s coming from my purse. Reaching in, I pull out a phone I don’t recognize and frown. Then I search all the zippers in the bag for mine. I have my work one, but my personal one is nowhere to be found.

“That’s what you get for having two phones.” I hear Eli’s disapproving words in my ear, then the phone I shouldn’t have rings again.

Tapping the screen, I’m shocked to find it unlocked. “Who leaves their phone unlocked these days?” I’m caught off guard when I see my number appear on the screen.

Oh, thank God. Someone found my phone. I hurry to accept the call, then immediately wish I hadn’t.

“Tilly.” Blaine’s deep baritone sets off fireworks in my belly. Not Blaine, Tilly. He’s Lochlan.

“Lochlan.” I’m proud my voice comes out even because my insides are hissing like lobsters in a hot bath. “How did you get into my phone?”

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

“How are you, Lochlan? I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

“Dinner. Tonight. My suite. The penthouse floor. Suite A.”

“I can’t. I have a date tonight.” Gah! Why am I being such a bitch?

“Cancel it.”

“I can’t. I’m really looking forward to spending time with him.” I don’t mention that him refers to a toddler. “I do need my phone back though.”

“No.”

“No? What do you mean, no?”

“Who is your date with?”

“That’s really not any of your concern.”

“It is unless you cancel it,” he gripes.

“Not happening. So, my phone. I need it back. How did you unlock it?”

“Not happening, but you know what will happen? The entire time you’re with dachoobie, you’ll be thinking of me. My face between your legs. My cock driving into you. My palm smacking your ass.

You’ll remember how hard you came every time a word leaves his mouth because all you’ll be thinking about is how fucking much you liked swallowing my dick.”

Silence.

“I… Hello? Blaine?”

He just hung up on me. My jaw hangs open. Guilt replaces my rage as I realize I never even thanked him for the shoes. Even though I have no plans to keep them, it was very generous and extremely sweet that he remembered the exact shoe I had coveted.

The phone lights up in my hand as text after text arrives. They’re all coming from my phone. What the hell?

Opening them, I see he’s forwarding pictures to himself. Photos of me and commentary about why he likes them and what he would have done if he were there. Holy mother of mercy. He’s seducing me with my own damn pictures.

Me: What are you doing? Get out of my phone!

Lochlan: Cancel your date.

Me: You’re insane.

Lochlan: Why do you look sad in this picture?

Lochlan: (picture sent)

My gaze drifts over the selfie I’d taken with my sisters at the beach last summer when Eli saw her dreams come true by opening her first after-school program. I hate that he’s the only one to see my real emotion hidden behind a mask of happiness.

Me: I’m not sad.

Lochlan: You’re lying. The eyes in that picture are sad. Why?

Me: Didn’t anyone ever teach you that calling someone a liar is rude?

Lochlan: Yes. My mum. She’s big on formalities.

The phone rings again, and my shoulders drop in resignation as I kick off my shoes and flop onto the bed.

“Yes?”