Before she could utter a sound, Scarlett felt herself being pushed behind a wall of muscle. The chivalrous move put The Man in Black’s body in front of hers, completely blocking Scarlett’s near-naked body from the jerks’ view.
Her nostrils filled with a hint of a spiced cologne and something else that was decidedly male. She was closer to him now. So close, in fact, the warmth from his imposing form was like a comforting blanket wrapped tightly around her chilled, damp skin.
“Bro.” Idiot Two popped off again. “You think she’s got anything under that towel?”
Seriously? Do they think I’m deaf?
The Man in Black tensed, the muscles in his shoulders and back growing even more rigid with his next words. “That’ssomething you and your pal there are never going to find out…Bro.So I suggest you gentlemen shut your mouths and walk away.” And then, just when Scarlett was certain he was finished, she heard an even deeper, almost menacing, “Now.”
She held her breath and waited, half-expecting some sort of smartass comment from one—or both—of the chauvinist pigs. Much to her surprise, the only response she heard was the sound of soft footfalls marching swiftly away.
Smart choice, boys.
The breath she’d been holding released. Scarlett was pretty sure she could’ve handled herself just fine where those two nimrods were concerned. After all, she and her friends had all dealt with their fair share of crude comments and eye-rolling catcalls over the years.
Still, the stranger’s gesture had been pretty damn sweet.
“Thanks for that,” she offered softly.
The Man in Black stiffened at the sentiment. His reaction to her words had Scarlett frowning, but half a beat later, he slowly began to turn.
Hard. Unreadable. Intimidating.
Those were the descriptions that flew to the forefront of her mind. She wanted to ask why he was looking at her that way. In fact, she intended to do just that.
But just as Scarlett’s lips parted, another loud ding came from the elevator’s direction.
Rather than pull her behind him like before, the confounding man took a broad step in an attempt to stand in front of her. Another gallant move that was also appreciated.
But as it turned out, it was totally unnecessary.
A middle-aged man rushed through the elevator’s opening doors. “I am so sorry it took me so long to get here!” He approached with enthusiasm. “But the phone wouldn’t stop ringing, and since I was the only one there, I had to wait untilmy assistant got back from helping another guest…anyway. My sincerest apologies.”
Dark-skinned and bald, the apologetic man was dressed in a pair of dark dress pants, a white button-up, and a dark gray vest. The nametag pinned at his chest read “John”, and though he was clearly in a rush, he was also sporting a wide, friendly smile.
“You’re good,” Scarlett greeted him with a smile of her own. “I’m just glad this gentleman came along when he did.”
Her encounter with those two other guys would have been far more uncomfortable had she been standing there alone.
“Oh.” John looked surprised. “You two don’t know each other?” When Scarlett shook her head, the hotel’s manager addressed The Man in Black directly. “That was so kind of you to call for her, sir. And to wait with her until help arrived. Thank you.”
A low grunt sounded from the generous stranger, but that was it. Nothing more.
John, however, was already moving to her door with a shiny new keycard held securely in his hand. He lifted it up to the small black reader mounted above the doorknob. It beeped, a small green light appeared, and her second guardian angel of the day opened the door with ease.
“There you go.” The kind employee held it open with one hand while handing her the new room key with the other. Caught in the light from the ceiling above, a pair of tasteful studs sparkled at the lobes of his ears.
The earrings suited him perfectly, and Scarlett couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you so much.” Scarlett took the key while holding a firm grip on the terrycloth knot at her chest. “I still can’t believe this happened. I was in the shower, and those kids kept knocking. I was already running late because my phone didn’t charge last night, which caused my alarm not to go off. And I wassupposed to be downstairs for a very important meeting at nine, and now it’s…”
She checked her watch, her heart sinking when she realized nearly twenty minutes had passed. Twenty. Minutes. How was that even possible?
I guess time flies when you’re stuck waiting in a towel with the hunkiest man in the universe.
“Never mind.” Scarlett blew out a breath. “I’m sure the person I was supposed to meet gave up and is long gone.”
“Surely, if you call and explain the situation, they’ll understand and be open to rescheduling.”