“Yeah, okay. But if I can’t find her later, you’re going to have one pissed-off male host on your hands,” he grumbled.
He headed to the lobby and the elevator closest to his room. He was surprised to see that Sunny was still at the registration desk talking to the clerk. He waited nearby, trying not to look too conspicuous, though several other ladies looked at him and giggled as they scurried past.
He watched as Sunny finished up, then nodded as the desk clerk instructed her on the easiest way to get to her room. From the looks of it, she was in the same area of the hotel as he was, and he could only hope and pray that they were on the same floor.
Before he could join her, a group of women surrounded her, and he watched his uber-shy little Sunflower transform in a heartbeat. He was probably the only one who saw how uncomfortable she was as she smiled, shook hands, and accepted hugs from women who were obvious fans. Finally, she excused herself and headed to the elevator. The same elevator he needed to use to get to his room.
He waited until the doors opened, and she stepped inside before crossing the lobby, stepping inside just before the doors slid closed. Noting the button was already lit for the fourth floor, he leaned against the back wall, and once again studied the woman he was determined would be his. She was leaning into the corner, her eyes closed and looking exhausted though it was only the middle of the afternoon.
“Are you all right?” he asked in a voice soft and gentle.
Sunny kept her eyes closed for another two seconds before opening them. Lifting her head from where it rested on the wall, she looked at the man who had her feeling so discombobulated that she was not sure she would ever find her equilibrium again. He sounded both sincere and concerned in his query.
Taking a breath, she forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just a bit overwhelmed already. Shey was supposed to be here to run interference, so I don’t… Never mind. I’m fine. Thanks.”
Geo’s beautiful brown eyes seemed to glow, and she felt his life force reaching across the small box to wrap around her. Of course, her body responded in a manner that was entirely inappropriate since they had met less than an hour before.
“Do you want me to play bodyguard? Or I can ask Gigi to find someone, if you want.”
Touched at his offer, Sunny smiled and shook her head. “No, thanks, I just have to work on building the walls a little higher and thicker.”
“You put up a good front back there. None of those ladies knew you were faking your pleasure and were actually freaking out,” Geo said. He pushed out of the corner she was leaning into, took a step, and cut the distance between them by half.
Sunny turned her head, not wanting him to see how much she appreciated his words. Though tempted to throw herself into his arms, and let his energy wrap around her again, instead, she behaved, got off the elevator, and went to her room. She wondered if she could hide there until Sunday when it was time to return to the airport and her flight home. No, that would never do. Gigi would no doubt track her down and be hurt if she did not make regular appearances at the meetings.
When the elevator dinged for her floor, she grabbed her luggage and stepped toward the front of the compartment. As soon as the doors slid open, she walked out, needing a breath of air that was not scented with whatever the cologne was Geo wore. Not that it was a bad scent, just intoxicating. She had noticed it back at the airport, then again in the truck, and she fought the urge to get up close and personal just so she could breathe him in.
It did not surprise her when he followed her out of the elevator. After all, he had not pushed a floor button, and there were only five floors in the building. Looking at the signs on the wall with arrows pointing to the various blocks for room numbers, Sunny headed down the appropriate corridor. Geo followed, not saying a word. As a way of distracting herself, she read each door until she reached her own. Instead of going to his room, he stopped and leaned against the wall, watching her.
Nervous under his intense scrutiny, she fumbled with her key card. It took several tries before the little green light glowed, indicating the door was unlocked. Needing to say something, she turned her head. “I guess I’ll see you later, then.”
A flutter of excited warmth flittered through her when he smiled, looking every inch an assured, healthy, dominant male. “You will indeed, sweet Sunflower. Possibly sooner than you think.”