Kristi Gold - Hotel Marchand 04 Read Online Free PDF

the door, facing her, that same breath-catching smile on his face. But then, they’d both had a lot to smile about.
    She recalled exactly what she’d said to him on their ascent— It’s really going to happen . And remembered his response as if he’d only said it a few moments before. Yeah, it definitely is. Then he’d backed her against the mirrored wall and kissed her. Every meeting they’d had to that point, every quiet dinner they’d shared while discussing the film, every round of lighthearted banter, had led to that moment. And that kiss had led straight to her bedroom, without ceremony. Without having that drink or even bothering to completely undress until later.
    Even now, Renee was tuned into everything about Pete, from the faint scent of his cologne to the slightest shift of his weight. She fought the return of that craving, that soul-deep desire she’d felt so keenly that night.
    By the time the doors opened, Renee was balanced on a jagged edge, knowing that in a matter of seconds, they would be alone in her apartment while she tried to maintain a tenuous hold on her control. If he even made one move toward her, she might forget they had enough garbage between them to populate a landfill.
    When they reached her corner apartment, it took two attempts for Renee to trip the lock and several to will away the craving to turn around and move as easily into his arms as she had three years before. Déjà vu could be deadly.
    If Pete had noticed her nervousness, he didn’t let on when she opened the door and they entered the foyer. He moved beside her and stated, “Very nice,” in the calm, collected tone that she’d seen him utilize before, even during the toughest situations.
    Straight ahead, the angled foyer opened into a large and lengthy living room with white slate tiles, high ceilings and a gray marble corner fireplace. Even after living there for the past few months, the dramatic scene still took Renee’s breath. “The first time I saw it, I knew I had to have it.”
    “I know what you mean.”
    Renee glanced at Pete to find him staring at her. Determined to ignore his assessment, she dropped her keys on the chrome table set against the wall to her right and opted not to remove her all-weather coat. Getting too comfortable might give Pete the wrong idea, namely that she expected him to stay more than a few minutes.
    Leaving him behind, she strode into the living room and pointed to her left. “Guest bedroom and bath down that hall.” She gestured to her right. “Kitchen and dining room over there. The doors open onto a veranda.”
    “Where’s your bedroom?” came from behind her.
    Not at all an unexpected question, but one Renee intended to gloss over. She turned and faced him, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle as if that could actually provide some charm armor. “Beyond the kitchen, away from the main living areas.”
    He strolled around the area, his hands in his jacket pockets. “It’s a lot bigger than I expected.”
    Not quite big enough for the both of them, as far as Renee was concerned. She walked to the window and pulled back the louvered blinds with a jerk of the cord. “As you can see, I have a nice view of the city.”
    While she kept her back to Pete, a weighty silence ensued as if what needed to be said hung over them like a stifling blanket. Although she’d originally wanted to avoid digging up the dirt, Renee had the prime opportunity to question him in detail about his departure. But to what end? Nothing had changed, and that was the worst part. He hadn’t changed.
    “Just do it, Renee.”
    She sent him a fleeting look over one shoulder before turning her attention back to the panorama she’d seen at least a hundred times. “Do what?”
    “Yell at me. Curse me. Hell, you can even throw something if it makes you feel better.”
    She faced him again, slowly. “Are you looking for absolution, Pete? If so, I forgive you.”
    “But you won’t forget it, will