Obsession. Tori Carrington

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СКАЧАТЬ cleared her throat. “Very well then. Good night, Mr. Morrison.”

      She stepped back inside her room and closed the screen door.

      She had little doubt that his quiet, sexy chuckle would resonate in her mind, and her dreams, well into the night.

      LATE THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Josie accepted the package of cleaned and pressed guest linens and towels from the service. She stared down at the bill that had been payable on delivery. If things didn’t change soon, she’d have to see to the washing herself.

      “Did you get the supplies?”

      She blinked up at Philippe who’d appeared beside her behind the desk.

      Supplies…

      She handed him the plain brown wrapped linens. “No. Why don’t you see to it right after you take these up to Monique? She should still be on the second floor.”

      He didn’t look pleased. But Philippe’s displeasure at the moment was the least of her concerns. If she didn’t come up with a plan to turn things around and quick, they’d all be very displeased indeed. Monique and Philippe would be without jobs…and Josie would be without her hotel.

      After only a couple hours sleep, she’d gotten up early and had come down to brainstorm ideas to get the Josephine back on track. Aside from a list of names she’d taken from the phone book of attorneys she hoped might help her with her tax problem, she’d made up a page of Rent One Night, Get One Night Free coupons, which she would have Philippe copy for her and then she would give out to her onetime regulars like Frederique.

      “Josie? Is everything okay?”

      She looked up to find Philippe still standing next to her with the linens in his hands.

      “You don’t look so hot, chérie.”

      She straightened the papers in front of her. “Have I ever told you that you have a way with the ladies, Philippe?”

      He grinned at her. “No. But then again that’s not exactly on my list of priorities either.”

      She gave him an eye roll and laughed, although with half the heart she might have.

      “Has something happened?” he asked.

      She shrugged. “I got another one of those calls last night is all.”

      Of course, that wasn’t all that was bothering her, but it would fill the bill for now. The rest…well, the rest she couldn’t unburden on Philippe.

      He put the package back down on the desk. “I’ve been telling you forever that you need to get your phone system updated. You’re still using rotary technology when caller ID might be able to nip the little problem of your midnight caller in the bud.”

      “You told me callers could block that.”

      She thought again about alerting Homicide Detective Chevalier about the calls. If there was even a remote possibility that the caller could be connected to the murder…

      She gestured Philippe away. “Anyway, with business the way it is, we’ll be lucky to have phones at all by next month.”

      Philippe still hadn’t moved.

      She raised her brows. “It might be a good idea for you to at least look busy in case, you know, I decide I can cut your pay or eliminate your job altogether.”

      He squared his shoulders and looked a gesture away from saluting her. “Yes, sir. I mean, ma’am.”

      He picked up the package then took the stairs two at a time. Josie shook her head and turned to collect the lockbox so she could give him the money for the kitchen supplies he needed.

      “I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.”

      Drew.

      Josie recognized the smooth timbre of his voice without looking. Of course, that might also have to do with the fact that he was her only current paying customer. But the way tiny bumps raced along her skin wasn’t how she usually reacted to regular customers.

      “Mr. Morrison.” She turned toward the desk.

      He was wearing a badge that had the Marriott motif on it along with the name of an auto-parts organization and his own name. He followed her gaze.

      “Oh. I forgot I still had this on.” He put down his briefcase and pulled the elastic fastener over his head, tousling his hair.

      “Uh-oh. The smile’s gone.”

      Josie couldn’t help giving him another. He looked like a breath of fresh air in a stiflingly hot room. He was as welcome as he was unexpected.

      “Conference let out for the day?” she asked, counting out the money then returning the lockbox to its spot behind her.

      “No. Just decided Gasket Technology of the Future wasn’t going to do it for me this afternoon. So I decided to play hooky.”

      Hooky. How youthful the word sounded. And how carefree. Had she ever played hooky from anything? School? Work? She couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever shrugged off her responsibilities and given herself over to spontaneity.

      She couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever wanted to.

      But somehow standing there looking into Drew’s face…well, she wished she could escape from the worries of her life for a few precious hours. After all, it wasn’t like the worries would go anywhere. They’d still be there when she got back.

      Philippe came down the stairs.

      Josie looked at Drew. “So did you have anything planned to fill your day?”

      He looked mildly surprised by her question. “Actually, I was going to try to tempt you into becoming my private tour guide for the afternoon, but I didn’t think I stood a snowball’s chance in hell.”

      Josie edged out from behind the counter. “Philippe, mind the store for a couple hours. It looks like snow to me.”

      DREW COULDN’T BELIEVE his streak of good luck. Not only had Josie agreed to stroll through Jackson Square and then down Bourbon Street with him, she actually appeared relaxed and, yes, happy.

      Why she’d decided to come out with him, he couldn’t be sure. But he wasn’t about to tempt fate by questioning whatever plan the gods had in mind.

      “So you grew up at the hotel,” he said quietly, watching the play of dappled sunlight on her tight, black curls.

      She nodded then watched her feet as they walked. She wore flat sandals with straps that wrapped around her ankles, the ring of shells around her left ankle clinking as she moved. “In essence, yes.” She squinted at him. “And you? I mean, I know you were born in Kansas City, but you haven’t really said anything beyond that.”

      Despite the heat of the day, Drew slid his hands into his slacks pockets, to hide the fact that he’d clenched them. “Nothing much to tell, really. My father left my mother before I was born. Although СКАЧАТЬ