The limo was waiting for them again with the same driver—a sharp fellow who remembered them and even joked about making sure they had all their luggage before they got in. The quick return trip had only been a week earlier, after all, and Worth was a regular customer. To Jessica, every day without a crisis boded well.
The hotel was incredible. During the trip, Jessica, ever the reporter, had questioned Rebecca about crew accommodations. "Other than the lobbies, one nice hotel is pretty much the same as the next. After a long day, just give me a hot shower and a comfortable bed!" This hotel, however, would likely have made her take notice. From the shining marble floors to the elaborate floral arrangements and chandeliers, this was not a five-star hotel, Jessica thought. More like a ten.
With only the two small carry-ons for luggage, they checked in quickly and got on the elevator alone. It was clear, so as they traveled to the eleventh floor, anyone bothering to look their way could tell that this was no business couple sharing one very long kiss as they rose high above the lobby.
The door opened onto elegance, in a rich, deep green with exquisite peacock décor throughout. Jessica was pleasantly surprised to see a bouquet of red roses in a crystal vase beside a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice—a very expensive bottle, from the label. Two spotless flutes stood at the ready. "Oh, Worth, how sweet! Thank you," she said as she turned to him. "You constantly amaze me with your attention to detail."
"I'll take credit for the roses but not the champagne. I wonder if the hotel sent that up." Dropping the bags in a little velvet upholstered chair, he walked over to see if there was a card from the management while Jessica read the one that he'd had sent with the flowers. She turned when she heard his deep chuckle. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"Leave it to dear old Molly." He handed her the little card he'd found.
Jessica smiled as she read the loopy, feminine script: A little bubbly to start the party. I hope you order room service and don't leave your room all weekend. Enjoy your time together; it's well deserved and long overdue. Love, Molly. "She is quite the character, isn't she?"
"That, she is," Worth said, wrapping his arms around her. "And didn't I tell you that the two of you would hit it off? All that worrying for nothing. My mother adores you."
"Well, Bathroom Guy was quite effective in calming me down before lunch." She reached around him to pinch his bottom.
"My pleasure," he said with emphasis. "A few times, if I remember correctly."
"Your stamina is particularly impressive." She smiled. "Among other things."
Worth quipped, "On my home planet, all the men are like this. And all the mothers are characters like Molly." Worth's eyelids drooped suggestively. "What do you say we change into something more comfortable and take Molly's advice? I'll open the bubbly and we can order in."
"I love the way you think, Mr. Dillingsworth Vincent Alexander—which reminds me. Are you going back to your original name?" She'd daydreamed often about being Mrs. Vincent but she wouldn't complain about being Mrs. Alexander instead. One day, perhaps, she thought with a little sigh.
Worth shook his head. "I've been Worth Vincent for much longer than I was Vincent Alexander. Besides, Worth is my legal name now. But. No. More. Talking." He kissed her long and gently, his hunger evident.
"Hold that thought! I'll be right back," Jessica said, grabbing her bag and finding the enormous bathroom. It was even larger and more ornate than her friend Rita's—the bathroom where this had all begun. She quickly stripped out of her clothes, carefully hanging her dress and jacket on hangers in the adjacent walk-in closet, relegating her underthings to the little laundry bag she always packed. Completely nude, she washed up a bit with one of the plush washcloths and searched through her bag for the lingerie she'd purchased at an airport boutique before boarding.
After brushing her hair and touching up her lip gloss, she spritzed on some Chanel No. 5 before emerging from the bathroom. Worth stood by the little table with one of the roses between his teeth and a silly expression on his face. He was wearing a pair of black satin pajama pants, with no shirt. The color perfectly set off his ample chest hair, just beginning to get a little gray in a few places. Just like down below, she thought with a rush of heat. His shaved head had always reminded her of, well, his head. Is the air on?
Worth held out a flute of champagne to her. Before taking it, she pulled the rose from his teeth and tucked it behind her ear. "Thank you," she said as she accepted the flute, sipping the sweet bubbly with relish while never taking her eyes off his face. She had wondered if he would like the red teddy with short matching robe she had chosen, and the way his eyes swept her body told her he did.
"You are stunning, Ms. Daniels," he said as he snuck a kiss. "And you taste like champagne. But I must warn you—"
"Mmm?"
"I enjoy your naked curves so much that lingerie is not really a priority." He fingered the black lace décolletage, stroking her breast beneath. "This outfit will likely last for years because you will actually have it on for such a short time."
"Years, you say," Jessica murmured. "I like the sound of that." She turned and led the way to the king-sized bed in the center of the room. She'd often thought that you could guess the price of a hotel room by the number of pillows arranged on the bed, and if that were true, this
