Read Bougainvillea for Free Online Page B

hurting, feeling that she could really, truly use a quick shower, David returned.
    â€œProblem?” he asked.
    â€œThey overbooked.”
    â€œBut you’ve had reservations?”
    â€œOf course. At first, I was ready to strangle someone at my publisher’s house, but they found the reservation. They simply overbooked, and everyone else had the sense to check in early.”
    The harried desk clerk rushed over to her side. His hair was very short, but it was evident he’d been tearing through it with his fingers. “Thanks so much for your patience. I’m still working on it.”
    She started to say something but he rushed off to the office to the far left of the desk.
    â€œLooks like I’m staying somewhere else. Hey, youknow, we can scratch this dinner thing. I don’t mean to keep you waiting.”
    He hesitated a moment, studying her, and she thought he was planning on backing out.
    â€œI don’t have a thing to do this evening, I assure you. And I was really looking forward to spending some time with you.”
    â€œReally? You’ve such a strange look on your face.”
    â€œWell, I was thinking I can solve your problem—if you don’t think it too…forward, I guess, is the word I’m looking for. I have a huge suite. Two bedrooms.”
    She wasn’t sure what her expression might have been because he gave her that wry amused smile of his and added, “Two bedrooms with locking doors. Living room, kitchen. And a great balcony.”
    She opened her mouth. “I can’t accept, really.”
    â€œWe shared a house years ago, you know.”
    She had to laugh.
    The clerk came rushing by, his cheeks red as he hesitated briefly, looking at her mournfully. “Still on it!”
    Kit stood there, trying to offer no expression at all as she looked at David. She knew she wanted an invitation to Bougainvillea. She was dying to go there, and yet…she still felt that same strange sense of aversion. She didn’t understand it, or her father’s dying word. Bougainvillea. Something that seemed important in life was eluding her, and it was at Bougainvillea.
    However…
    David really was striking, self-assured and certainly accustomed to the ways of the world. His world. In a stratosphere above her own. She wondered if he considered her woefully naive. She wasn’t.
    â€œIf you’d rather, I could try pulling some weight with the management here,” he said.
    Kit glanced at the harried clerk. “Poor fellow. It seems as if he’s really having a bad time.”
    â€œWell, you did have a guaranteed reservation. I can make him even more miserable.”
    â€œI don’t want you to do that. He looks as if he might cry already.”
    â€œThere’s my suite,” he reminded her. And he was laughing somewhere inside she knew, well aware that he was playing with a very good hand.
    She gazed at the clerk. He was sweating bullets.
    She looked back at David and shrugged. “I don’t want to put you out.”
    â€œYou won’t be putting me out. My accommodations are ridiculous for a single traveler.”
    â€œWhy so large?”
    â€œI had some meetings up there,” he explained briefly.
    â€œAh.” She kept looking at him. He was definitely pursuing her. Why? Was he using her in some way?
    She certainly intended to use him. But then again, maybe none of it was so sinister. All she wanted to do was see Bougainvillea, and it didn’t seem that was going to be a problem.
    â€œAll right, sorry, bad idea. Give me a minute. I’ll have them call the manager.”
    She laughed. “No, please. I was just hoping that your suite had two great rooms and two great showers. If you’re sure, I’ll accept your offer.”
    He nodded simply. “Ralph!”
    The harried clerk came running over. “It’s all right.Ms. Delaney has graciously accepted a part of the suite.”
    Poor