Bound to Fall by Jaime Samms

Author:Jaime Samms [Samms, Jaime]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

CHAPTER 25

THEY MADE the short drive to the hotel and checked in without incident. If the girl behind the counter recognized Eddie—and Pike was pretty sure she did from the way her cheeks flushed—she made no comment. In fact, she dealt with him and mostly disregarded Eddie but for a surreptitious glance now and then. Pike appreciated her for that, because Eddie was slipping deeper and deeper into a funk and Pike wasn’t sure how he was going to extract him.

“If you need anything at all, Mr. Pike,” she said sweetly, handing Pike both room keys, since Eddie was basically ignoring the entire proceedings, “just ring the front counter, and we will be happy to help.”

“Thanks.” Pike accepted the cards, gave her a smile, and piloted Eddie toward the elevator. The room was on the top floor, of course. The ride was a smooth one, and Pike watched Eddie’s reflection in the polished brass of the elevator’s doors. He remained blank, but thankfully, the rigidity of his public face was absent.

The ride up was made in silence, as was the short walk from elevator to room. There were only two on this floor, it seemed. Pike hoped that meant they’d get a great view. When he swung the door to the room open, Eddie showed a bit of life at last and sighed as he went in.

“This is nice,” Pike observed.

In truth, it was about a thousand times nicer than any place he’d ever been in. Certainly, it was head and shoulders above his apartment. Even Ryan’s loft was, at best, rustically charming next to the slick modern decor in the hotel suite.

“It’s all right,” Eddie agreed. He looked at his phone, thumbed the screen, and frowned. “Full bars.”

“Okay,” Pike replied. “I should hope we get good reception up here.”

“She hasn’t called back.”

Pike furrowed his brow, but then realized Eddie was talking about Margaret. “Well, it’s late—”

“She’s on the East Coast. It’s barely midnight.”

Pike glanced at his watch. It was just about ten. That meant not quite midnight in New York, but… “Maybe she’s asleep?”

“On a Friday night?” Eddie snorted. “I highly doubt it. She’s probably out partying with her less neurotic clients. The least she can do is answer a text.”

“Let her have her fun. She’ll be working hard tomorrow.”

“Maybe.” Eddie sighed and pocketed his phone. “She doesn’t really do any of the work anymore, though. She has people for that.”

“Don’t worry about it. You sent her the link, you texted her, and you left her a voice message. I think we can safely say you did your very best to warn her. Let it go for now.” He reached into Eddie’s pocket and removed the phone. “We’re safe behind a locked door, so let’s just go with that, okay?”

Eddie nodded, staring at the phone like he wanted to snatch it back.

Pike placed both their phones on the table by the window.

“You’re not mad anymore?” Eddie asked, tearing his gaze back to Pike.

God, he looked so hopeful. Like a little kid.

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