* * * *
A smiling attendant greeted us outside the new hotel and moved to open the door for Emmitt as we approached. I felt silly being carried but didn’t try to get Emmitt to put me down, yet.
The red and gold patterned carpet in the expansive reception area muffled Emmitt’s steps, and every piece of highly polished metal we passed gleamed in the lights.
The person behind the desk welcomed us with a smile. “Mr. Cole. Good to see you. Your mother’s description was very accurate.” The man held out a room card, which I accepted on Emmitt’s behalf. “Room service will be up with your meal. Please let me know if you need anything else. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
Neither Emmitt nor I said anything for a moment. I wondered what Emmitt’s mom had done or said to have completely registered us before our arrival. The man should have at least made us sign something.
As long as he was being accommodating, I decided to see if he could help a little more. “Do you think someone could get me some socks and shoes? I lost mine.”
The man smiled serenely and nodded as if it were an everyday occurrence to have a guest request shoes. “I’ll have something delivered as soon as possible.”
I thanked the man, then Emmitt turned away, heading toward the bank of elevators. I pressed the button for Emmitt, and he stepped in as soon as the doors slid open. After checking the number on the room card’s envelope, I selected the top floor. The doors slid shut, and the elevator started moving.
“Could you set me down? I don’t want to attract any more attention than we already have.”
He grudgingly obliged, but as soon as he set me on my feet, he wrapped my hand in his and rubbed his thumb in slow circles against the pulse in my wrist. I stood carefully, trying not to wince at the aches I felt.
When the elevator chimed and the doors whispered open, Emmitt breathed deeply before we both stepped out into a deserted hallway.
“Are we okay here?” I asked softly. I didn’t think he’d scented anything but after being taken once, I was feeling cautious.
He pointed to a camera mounted just outside the elevator. “Better security.”
He led me left from the elevator. Our movements were strangely hushed, making me feel like we were in a library rather than a hotel. Several feet down the hallway, just before the first numbered door, I noticed another camera. This hotel definitely had more security. And more space. The doors were so far apart, I wondered what kind of room Charlene had gotten for us.
Our room card opened the second door on the right side of the hall. Decorated in neutral colors with black accents, the suits of rooms not only looked clean but smelled clean, too. The door closed behind us with a click. After one last swipe of his thumb, Emmitt released my hand.
The light cream walls of the kitchenette flowed into main room where a fireplace danced with electric flames. The leather sofa and oversized chair beckoned, but I hesitated to step from the dark laminate floor that ran from the entry door to the light carpet. I didn’t want to leave dirty footprints.
I noticed a bathroom through an open door to the right. It was immaculately clean, and I stared in grateful appreciation. Three times larger than the one at home, it had a glass corner shower with dual shower heads, a whirlpool tub big enough for two, and a heated towel rack.
“I call dibs on the tub,” I whispered, half-reverently.
Emmitt laughed but didn’t follow me as I drifted into the bathroom, flicking on the lights. I moved to the tub and turned on the water. Fluffy, white towels sat on the tub’s ledge along with a pair of white robes.
When I saw the robe, I paused. It struck a familiar chord, but I couldn’t place why. Given the other crappy hotels, I was sure it hadn’t been because of them. I continued staring at it. Seeing it didn’t alarm me; it made me feel like I’d forgotten something important.
Absently, I wandered from the bathroom, forgetting to worry about my feet as I looked around again. Nothing in the kitchen or living area looked familiar, and I started to doubt the odd feeling I’d gotten.
Emmitt, who sat on the sofa, lifted his head from his hands and watched me with a sad light in his gaze. I crossed the carpet, sat beside him, and rested my head on his shoulder.
“Don’t dwell on the past. It doesn’t do any good.”
He kissed my forehead. “Go take your bath.”
Reaching around him, I gave him a quick hug then got up to inspect the bedroom.
“What are you doing?” he asked with curiosity in his voice.
“Just checking things out. Something seemed familiar, and I can’t figure out why.”
I moved to the doorway and froze. The king-sized bed with a white down comforter dominated the room. Two towels folded into swans faced each other at the end of the bed. Their heads and necks formed a heart. On the wall above the bed, a black, white, and brown abstract painting hung. To the left, long black and brown patterned curtains dominated the wall.
This was the room from the vision where I bit Emmitt. My stomach dropped, and a blush consumed my face. My stomach continued twisting nervously, and my heart gave a quick unsteady beat.
“Are you okay?” Emmitt asked quietly from behind me.
Startled, I jumped and turned. “Yep. Fine. I’m going to rinse in the shower then take a nice long soak. Let me know when the food’s here, okay?” My gaze drifted to his throat briefly before I forced it back to his eyes.
He tilted his head, probably trying to figure out what I wasn’t saying. I just smiled nervously and moved to step around him. He mirrored my move, blocking me.
“Michelle, tell me. What is it? Should we leave? Find another room?” Concern etched his face.
Despite my discomfort, I couldn’t let him worry. I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest. His heart beat strong and steady. Mine still raced.
“No. The room is fine. I just connected it with a vision I had.”
“What was the vision about?”
I made a face against his chest, not wanting to say anything, but knowing he’d think the worst, if I didn’t.
“You and me.” I pulled away, feeling nervous. Then, the filter between my brain and my mouth broke. Every thought that crossed my mind spilled from me unedited.
“I don’t want to bite you. I don’t care if it looked like you liked it or not. It’s going to hurt you, and I just don’t think I can do it. Not yet.”
He quickly masked his shocked expression and didn’t try to stop me when I fled toward the bathroom. I wasn’t nervous about being “engaged” to Emmitt. The biting part scared me. I’d bit Frank because I was angry and desperate. I’d meant it to hurt him. Granted it hadn’t, and all I had to show for it was the lingering taste of rotten soup in my mouth, but still...
I glanced back at Emmitt just before I stepped into the bathroom. He watched me with concern. I’d put him through enough lately, and as I turned away, I wished I could take back my mental spill.
I left the door ajar for comfort; I needed to be able to hear him moving around out there. Though I wasn’t about to let myself dwell on the mistake I’d made when I’d opened the door for Frank, I wouldn’t soon forget the fear.
The tub was at least halfway full, so I shut it off and moved to the shower. I was about to peel off my clothes when I realized they were the only ones I had. The hotel probably had a laundry service but what would they think of the blood that smattered my shirt? I stepped out of my shorts, but kept the rest on as I ducked in under the spray. First, I peeled off the shirt, cleaning it with shampoo until the bloodstains were gone. Then I rinsed my under things. I rung everything out and hung the clothes over the glass shower door.
The water ran pink again when I washed my hair. Would I really be Claiming Emmitt tonight with a head injury? What kind of crazed person was I? The word “tonight” echoed in my head. I needed to think about something else. I needed a toothbrush.