CHAPTER2
A couple of hours later, with newly packed bags in hand, Abbie pressed the elevator button for Derek’s floor.This is so stupid.She’d texted her best friend, Megan Keating, and told her what she was doing.In typical Megan fashion, her response wasget it, girl.
Megan had been the one to help Abbie eat too much ice cream and drink too much wine post-Jeremy-break-up.She’d encouraged Abbie to jump at Derek’s offer – the perfect weekend to get Abbie out of her funk and just let loose and have fun.Megan was rarely wrong.
The elevator opened, and she headed down the hall to his room.She didn’t have a key but knocking felt awkward.Standing here is even worse.Two knocks, and a few moments later, the door opened.
“Hi.”Derek motioned her in.He wore jeans and a dark red Henley with the sleeves rolled up.Abbie almost swallowed her tongue at the sight of his muscular forearms.While she had gone for casual but sexy with her outfit change, Derek went for casual, but the shirt was just a bit small and hugged his chest.
“Hi.”Abbie stepped over the threshold and put her small suitcase down.He closed the door and stepped around her.
Derek leaned in and grinned down at her.“Your lips look a little swollen.”
“I can’t imagine how they got that way.”In a moment of boldness, Abbie reached up on her tiptoes, closing the gap he’d left.She pressed her mouth to his and groaned at the softness.Derek wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.After a few moments, she stepped away, and he let her.
Derek’s hands were still on her hips, though, his grip tight.“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun this weekend.”
She reached for a hand and went to lead him into the bedroom, eager to have him rip off the shirt and skirt she wore.She saw his bags stacked neatly by the door and turned back to face him.“Are we going somewhere else?”
“Well, the room was only through today, and I requested a late checkout.But I have a house rented.”He tilted his head.“Is that okay?”
Alone in a house with Derek Hartley.An image of him fucking her on top of a kitchen table sprang to mind.“Yeah, it’s okay.”Abbie realized she should maybe be a little afraid of being alone with a strange man.“Uh, just so you know, I have to check in with a friend at least twice a day.”
Derek grinned even wider.“Not a problem.Shall we?”He motioned back out to the hall.
He pulled a hat from his bag, put it on and reached for her suitcase.
“Oh, I can get them.”The small piece of luggage was mostly filled with the sexiest clothes and undergarments she owned, plus toiletries.The other bag carried her wallet, keys, and ID.
“Nah, I got it.Just close the door behind us?”He grabbed her bag and headed down the hall.She made sure the door clicked shut and followed.
Suddenly nervous, Abbie asked, “Is it okay if we’re seen together?”
“I don’t think there’s anyone around, but if you want to go out ahead of me, that’s not a problem.There’s a car waiting outside.Driver’s name is Paul.”
The elevator dinged, and he let her go in first.“Do you want me to meet you in the car?”
She hesitated.Abbie really didn’t want to risk her photo being taken with him, not if it meant her face all over social media.The only thing she wanted out of this weekend was amazing sex and multiple orgasms; notoriety was not on her list.
Abbie nodded.Derek winked as the doors shut.
Abbie was thankful for the empty elevator.This was truly insane.Going to a house with Derek Hartley, where it would be just the two of them for the entire long weekend.The sex last night was great - really fucking great if she were honest - but this was still stupid, wasn’t it?Leaving the hotel separately and meeting in the car?This weekend was already more complicated than she anticipated.
Thedingsounded again, and the doors opened.There were paparazzi outside, waiting for Derek.Abbie’s knees were weak.The photographers hadn’t been there when she arrived, had they?How would they know when he was leaving?
She stepped outside, the brisk spring air enveloping her.The photographers let her through their swarm, and she couldn’t help but smile.If they only knew.
A man in a suit stood next to the only car at the curb.A stretch limo.“Paul?”
“Miss.”He nodded and opened the car door for her.Abbie glanced back before she slid in.Hopefully the photographers wouldn’t realize she was getting in Derek Hartley’s private limo.Paul quickly closed the door behind her.
The driver’s door opened, and Paul peeked his face through the divider.“Miss?Mr.Hartley suggested we drive around the block and try to make the photogs out there think this is a different car.What do you think?”
“Oh.”Thoughtful.“If you think it’ll work, we can give it a try.”
“All right, then.”He pulled onto the street and slowly made his way around the block.
“Hey, Paul?”