The managercleared his throat and gestured for Lachlan to take a seat.
He didn’t.Adrenaline flooded his body and he paced back and forth trying tocalm himself down. Think of Sarah. Think of the wedding. It’severything she’s ever wanted.
“Sir, itappears that there was a mix up at check-in and you and Ms Donovanwere allocated the same room.”
“And thiscouldn’t have been figured out before I was paraded through thehotel like a criminal?”
The managerdidn’t flinch. “Sir, as a token of our apology, I have taken careof your accommodation costs for the duration of your stay. You willalso be upgraded to our best suite at our expense. I sincerelyapologise for the misunderstanding and for the embarrassment youhave suffered as a result. I have arranged for my assistant tobring some clothes for you to change into before accompanying youback to the room to retrieve your possessions.” He began typinginto the computer on his desk.
Lachlan’s mouthdropped open for the second time that day. An upgrade? As ifthat could make up for the thought of his half-naked photographhitting social media and going viral. Or other guests avoiding himin the restaurant or whispering their laughs behind their hands atthe pool when they recognised him. As if that could resurrect hisgood name and reputation.
Someone tappedon the door and a man poked his head through. “Sir? I have someclothes for the gentleman.”
“Thank you,Bruce.” The manager took the proffered bag and handed it toLachlan. “I understand that you are part of a wedding party here atthe hotel, sir.”
Sarah.
“That’s right.”Lachlan exhaled and some of the anger went with it.
“Those costswill also be met by the hotel. Sir, I cannot express how trulysorry I am about this predicament. You can rest assured that I willspeak to the staff on our check-in desk to ensure this neverhappens again.”
They were goingto meet the cost of the wedding? It wasn’t necessary. Lachlan hadit covered. He’d worked his butt off his entire working life toraise his only child and pay for her wedding. Despite the longhours and the often-gruelling work, he hadn’t complained. It was afather’s duty to provide for his children and Lachlan had worn thatduty with honour. He opened his mouth to object. He didn’t needcharity. Then the memory of the horrified glances of the guestsstuck in his mind and he snapped it shut. Perhaps the hotel wasafraid of any bad publicity or worried he might sue.
Lachlan nodded.“Thank you. I’d just like to get dressed and return to my room. Isthat all?”
“Of course,sir. There’s a bathroom down the corridor to your left that you canchange in.”
Lachlan pulledthe door open but turned back at the last minute. “What happened tothe woman?”
“For herprivacy, Ms Donovan will be moved to another room. Our securityguard has explained the situation to her.”
“So, she’s notin any trouble?”
“No, sir.”
Yet they’dimmediately viewed him as the bad guy and been ready to call thecops without one shred of evidence. He shook off his irritation anddressed in the black pants and white shirt and followed Bruce backthrough the hotel and into the lifts. They rode in silence. Whenthe doors opened, he followed Bruce along another luxuriouslydecorated corridor.
“This is theChairman’s Suite, sir.” Bruce slipped the room key card into themechanism and opened the door.
Lachlanclenched his teeth to stop his mouth from falling open once more.The room was exquisite. Even more luxurious than the resort roomhe’d checked into the first time, and that room’s opulencehad impressed him. As a single dad, he wasn’t the kind of guy usedto staying in five-star resorts.
There was asitting area, a spectacular view of the replica Eiffel Tower acrossthe Strip and holy moley, was that a fireplace?
“I trust thisroom will be satisfactory, sir.”
“This is…”Lachlan swallowed. It was too much. “I’m one person. I don’t needall of this space.”
“Please, sir.It’s with the hotel’s compliments for your inconvenience. Pleaselet me know when you’re ready to retrieve your things from theother room and I’ll accompany you. If there’s anything further Ican assist you with during your stay, don’t hesitate to call me.”He handed Lachlan a business card.
Lachlanpocketed the card and the man left, the door closing with a softclick behind him. Moving to the window with the extraordinary view,he folded his arms. He’d done the best he could by Sarah, all theseyears. He’d tried to set an example for her, taking the high roadand turning the other cheek when people had wronged them. He’dtried to teach Sarah to rise above and be the better person.
An image of thewoman from the hotel room filled Lachlan’s head, and all thoughtsof being the better person flew right out the window. How could itbe that he lived in a world where a woman could hurl falseaccusations at a man and get away with it without consequence?
CHAPTERTHREE
“You did what?”Amber screamed on the computer screen. She leaned forward, her faceall scrunched up and blurry.
Emma grinned asshe stretched out on the enormous bed in her new room and balancedher laptop on her legs. “I thought he was a thief who had brokeninto my room.”
Tash leaned in,pushing Amber aside. “Who was he?”
“I don’t know.Another guest. Somehow they allocated us the same room at the sametime.”
“What did helook like?”
On Emma’sscreen, Amber rested her head on Tash’s shoulder and a pang ofhomesickness touched Emma’s heart. This was her first trip awayfrom home since university and she missed her friends more thanshe’d thought possible. They’d always done everything together,ever since they were eight years old and ran around their smallneighbourhood in suburban Australia.
But coming toLas Vegas was something Emma had had to do, alone.
“He looked likea man who’d just come out of the shower.” Emma’s voice trailed offas she remembered the droplets of water sliding down his tanned,smooth chest and those spiky black eye lashes. Oh, how she loved aman’s eyelashes.
Her stomachgurgled but whether it was
