Unconventional Fling (A Working Girl’s Guide, Book 1) Read online

  He gave her what he hoped was a winning grin. “I’m trying to find out if Jade in six-ten has checked out yet?” Maybe he should’ve at least gotten her last name.

  Her expression faded, even though her smile didn’t dim. “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t give out guest information.”

  Of course. “Yeah, no, totally understand.” He set the passes on counter—one for the con and one for the concert that night. “If she’s still here, can you make sure she gets these?”

  She didn’t touch them. “If she’s not here, I’ll just have to throw them away.”

  Did that mean she was gone? “Do what you have to. Thanks.”

  Brandon fell back into his routine as the day wore on. At least he didn’t feel obligated to hide in his room this time. If no one cared who he was friendly with, he could still talk to the fans and enjoy some of the other panels.

  He tried to ignore it, but as the hours ticked away with no sign of Jade, his disappointment grew; it was aggravated by the fact that Michelle still hadn’t called him back.

  Chapter 7

  Jade pulled her rental car into one of the last empty spots in the hotel lot. Historic Franklin was gorgeous. She was glad she’d stuck around for the weekend. She was even happier that she’d gone out to enjoy the town. Staying in her room all day with a random stranger would’ve been an absolute waste of the gorgeous day.

  And for the number of times she’d told herself that throughout the day, she almost believed it.

  Throngs of people in costumes milled around the entrance and spilled through the front doors. They seemed to have doubled in number since the night before. It must be nice to be that enthusiastic about something. She shouldered her way through the groups. She wouldn’t look for Brandon. Not even a glance. She was heading straight for the elevator.

  She’d go upstairs, put on a pair of heels and her leather skirt. Then take a cab downtown and drink until she couldn’t think, drowning herself in live country music.

  Perfect plan.

  “Miss Whitman.” A voice struggled to carry over the crowd.

  Jade spun at her name, attention landing on the front desk and a gentleman waving to catch her attention. He held out an envelope as she approached. “Someone left this for you.”

  She opened the flap, eyes growing wide and unwanted hope blooming inside at the sight of a convention pass and something else she didn’t recognize. She looked at the hotel clerk again. “Did they leave a note with it or anything?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, I wasn’t here when they dropped it off. I was just supposed to give it to you.”

  “Thanks.” She gave him a wide smile and headed toward the elevators again, a bit more spring in her step. Okay, so she’d spent the entire day trying to get him out of her mind, but one more night would definitely be worth it. Besides, she’d fly out tomorrow, the temptation would be gone, and she’d have incredible memories to take with her to the next town.

  Within a few moments, she’d returned to her room, changed into the outfit she’d set out for the bar, and was back down amid the crowds. This time she tried to flow with them instead of moving around them. As she wandered the same paths as groups of people in neon and spandex, realization sank in. She had no idea where to find Brandon. Packs spilled from open conference rooms on the second floor and melted into the crowds on the first.

  She didn’t even know where to start.

  A long line, longer than the autograph line had been, wrapped around one corner and then another. That looked promising.

  She spotted a familiar face and made her way toward Andie and her friends.

  Andie looked startled at first from being approached, but it quickly faded into a smile. “Who’d you borrow from this time?”

  Jade laughed. “I got my own. What’s the line for?”

  A shorter girl next to her rolled her eyes. “Yūta Furukawa. Duh?”

  Jade stared back blankly. “The what?”

  Short girl sighed and pursed her lips.

  “He’s a singer,” Andie explained, voice soft but steady. “From Japan. He’s doing a concert tonight.”

  “Oh.” Jade pulled the ticket from her purse that had been with the con pass from Brandon. “Like this?”

  “Duh?” Short girl grunted in disgust.

  “You can stand in line with us,” Andie offered. “Otherwise, you’ll be waiting out here forever.”

  “She’s not even a fan,” Short girl argued.

  Standing in line longer meant she could scan the crowds; which was great, unless the person she was looking for was already inside. But at least out here she could see if Brandon was around. In her experience, it was almost impossible to find someone in a crowded concert. With her odds at fifty-fifty, she opted for the easier surveillance. She gave both girls a smile. “Thanks, but I can’t cut. I’ll wait my turn.”

  “Stupid.” Short girl’s insult hit Jade’s back as she searched for the back of the line.

  Two hours later Jade finally reached the entrance—someone else in line told her the doors hadn’t even opened yet when she’d arrived. The heels had probably been a bad idea. And there was still no sign of Brandon. She squeezed her way to the back of the room—they had opened the four main convention rooms downstairs to make one larger venue—and found a spot near the back wall. There were no seats left.

  What was she even doing there? There was no way she would find anyone in this crowd. And the lights were going down. Great. She crossed her arms. What now?

  A warm body pressed against her back, and she shifted to move out of the way. Two hands rested at her hips, and a familiar scent of soap and cinnamon greeted her. Brandon.

  She couldn’t help her smile, not that anyone could see it in the now pitch-black room.

  “You came.” His lips brushed her ear, breath warm against her skin. His hands slid to her stomach, pulling her closer.

  Heat spread between her legs, and she leaned into him, his arousal hard against her butt. What was it about this man? “Not yet, but I’m hoping to.”

  “I like that.” He kissed up the back of her neck, his words vibrating through her. “What are the odds I could turn the innuendo into reality?”

  Before she could ask what he had in mind, his hand dropped to the bottom of her skirt. His fingers traced along the edge of the hem, around to the back of her legs until he caressed her inner thigh.

  She gasped, intensely aware of the crowds around them but not sure she cared. She shifted her weight, and his hand glided higher.

  Bright lights strobed from the stage, but none reached them. Heavy music pounded through the room, vibrating her feet and thumping in her chest. Or maybe that was her screaming pulse.

  While one hand pushed up the back of her skirt, his other made its way under her shirt, palm resting directly on her stomach. “You know.” His voice was low but right next to her ear; it still cut through the bedlam. “If anyone catches us, we’re in trouble.”

  She nodded, the confession heightening her arousal further. Need pulsed between her legs, and her nipples ached against fabric.

  “And you’re going to let me keep going?” Laughter lined his seductive question.

  She nodded again. “Don’t get us caught.”

  His laugh rumbled through her back, hand sliding higher between her legs. “If I didn’t have to be on stage right now, I’d see that as a challenge.”

  He brushed the bottom of her breast through the lace of her bra, and she lost any reply she might have, temporarily misplacing her disappointment that they didn’t have more time.

  “Our Master of Ceremonies for the night, Brandon Powell!” The announcement echoed through the room.

  “Dammit, I’ve been summoned.”

  She grabbed his wrist to keep him from leaving yet and spun to face him. With her free hand, she fished something out of her purse. She slipped the room key into his back pocket. “Meet me upstairs after the concert?”

  He kissed her hard before breaking awa
y. “Give me thirty minutes after it ends.”

  Chapter 8

  Brandon couldn’t see Jade through the crowds, but it didn’t matter. Her room key was an alluring weight in his back pocket. He hopped off the stage. Just a few more polite good nights, and he could sneak out for the evening. His pocket buzzed, and he grabbed his phone, frowning when Michelle’s picture grinned back at him.

  He pushed into the hallway, looking for a mostly quiet corner. “What?”

  “Sorry to call so late.” She sounded pleasant. “But I knew you had that thing tonight, so I was hoping I could catch you.”

  “You did.” He resisted the urge to say, “and I caught you,” still not sure what was going on. “Do you have a few minutes?”

  “Of course.” Her reply was too chipper. “I called you back, didn’t I?”

  He glared at the phone. “So, I talked to Trent from Funami today.”

  “Oh?” Her cheer vanished in a single syllable.

  “Want to tell me what’s really going on?” He wasn’t going to lash into her. She’d been his agent for five years. There was no reason to throw a fit until he had her side of the story.

  “Not really.” Her voice was flat.

  Or he could tear into her now. “What the hell are you doing? He’s got work for me, and you’re telling me they never want to talk to me again. Is it personal? Did he piss you off? Are they trying to jerk me around? Help me out here.”

  Her sigh echoed over the phone. “It’s personal.”

  He hadn’t expected that. “Did he insult you or something? I don’t want to be working with a company that isn’t treating us right. You just had to tell me.”

  “No, it’s not that.” She sounded tired. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Funami, except they didn’t have a lot of work for you, so I figured you’d miss them the least.”

  He frowned. That didn’t make any sense. “It’s not a high-profile, big-money industry. I pretty much miss every job I don’t get. What’s going on?”

  “I just…” Her voice faded off.

  He waited. And checked his phone to make sure she was still there. And waited. “You what?”

  “It’s like you said.” Her tone was more sincere now. The voice she used when she wasn’t playing a part, just talking to him straight. “We’ve worked together for five years, and it’s hard not to notice after all that time what a great guy you are.”

  That was weird. “Thanks?”

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She exhaled into the phone. “It’s killing me to see you out there, hitting on other women and not even noticing me.”

  The words took a moment to sink in, their full impact pounding in his skull as they did. He had to be misunderstanding. “We have a great business relationship. If I’m not saying thank you enough, I can try and be better about it. I appreciate everything you do for me.”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  Shit. He hadn’t misunderstood. “Okay?”

  “I don’t want to be relegated to being your agent. I want you. I like you. A lot. I think over the past few years I might have even fallen in love with you.”

  He rubbed his face, shock coursing through him. Love. He couldn't even imagine. Except he could, it just wasn’t Michelle dancing through the fantasy. “Even if I felt the same, it’s not professional. You can’t represent me and date me.”

  “So I’ll quit.” Hope clung to her offer.

  “No, Michelle.” Dammit, he didn’t want to do this. She was a good agent. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t feel that way about you.”

  “So what are you going to do instead?” An icy edge slid into her voice. “Spend the rest of your life picking up fan girls in hotels? Survive off one-night stands until you’re too old to catch anyone’s eye? What kind of self-respecting woman, besides me, is going to understand your travel schedule? And even if you did manage to convince someone to put up with it, could you really do that to her in return?”

  The words hit harder than he wanted. Could he? Someone like Jade—or Jade specifically—deserved better than a guy who couldn’t be home for her when she wasn’t traveling just because he played a cartoon character on TV. “You lied to me.”

  “I did it for us.” The sugar was back.

  “No.” He snarled. “You did it for you. As far as I’m concerned, we don’t work together anymore.”

  “Brandon, sweetie.” She didn’t sound sweet at all. “I can fuck your career if you leave me. Keep that in mind.”

  “Good night, Michelle.” He disconnected. Back to the wall, he sank to the ground and set his phone next to him. How had he not seen that coming? And even worse, he should be terrified about the impact firing her would have on his career. But he was good at what he did, and his cousin was a lawyer.

  Besides, all he could think about was how heading up to Jade’s room would be the biggest mistake he could make. A woman like her needed an anchor to keep her stable when life tossed her about. He needed to sever ties right now and let her get on with her life.

  * * * *

  Energy and excitement thrummed through Jade, making it impossible to sit still. She plopped onto the edge of her bed for all of about two seconds and then resumed pacing her room. The ambient energy from the concert still raced across her skin, and anticipation tingled in her gut. Brandon would be there any minute. She should relax. She was acting like an anxious first-timer. But her nervous feet wouldn’t listen, carrying her to one side of the room and then the other.

  An hour later, the excitement had faded to anxiety, and the adrenaline of the night sat heavy in her stomach. She pushed herself to the top of the bed, rested her back against the headboard, and clicked on the TV. Every time a sound echoed from the hallway she hit mute. Was that a knock?

  Something must have tied him up, kept him longer than he meant. She should’ve given him her phone number. But that didn’t make any sense. Not for something he’d only need for the night.

  The minutes ticked away, and an ache spread through her shoulders and neck. The long week seeped into her bones, tempting her eyelids farther down. Almost two hours. Dammit, what had she been thinking? Hurt and frustration flowed through her. She never should’ve gone down that path, taking the free passes. Or maybe her first mistake had been letting him join her for breakfast.

  Her eyes drifted shut against her will. Not like he was going to show up anyway.

  She jerked up with a start at a scratching sound outside her door. Her gaze flew around the room as she struggled to figure out where she was, reality sinking in when she saw the bright red numbers on the clock telling her it was a little after five in the morning. She stretched and worked the kinks from her neck. Falling asleep sitting up? Stupidest thing I’ve ever done in a hotel.

  And then the rest of the memories rushed back. Of Brandon, of being stood up, of letting herself believe there was more to their relationship than a single night. Falling asleep sitting up had only been the second stupidest thing she’d done in a hotel.

  She pushed out of bed in resignation. Her flight wasn’t until two, but she couldn’t stay in this place another minute longer than she had to. She’d get breakfast somewhere far away, hit up a couple more tourist spots, and crash at the airport for several hours if she had to.

  Anything that didn’t require her to be surrounded by memories of a mistake she should have known better than to make. She stripped off her now-wrinkled silk blouse, jammed that and the clothes from the night before into her suitcase, and grabbed the biggest, most oversized shirt she could find to change into after her shower.

  Half an hour and she could be gone. She would put the failure of the weekend behind her, and maybe after throwing herself into work for the next week—or three—the ache in her chest would finally go away.

  Chapter 9

  Brandon stared at the ceiling, blinking occasionally to keep his eyes from feeling so dry. He wouldn’t look at the clock again. It wouldn’t do him any good. It would only be
a minute later than the six-ten it had been last time he’d looked. Sleep wasn’t happening. Every time he closed his eyes, images of a gorgeous woman with straight black hair taunted him. Even with his eyes open, he still felt every inch of her curves pressed against him. Heard her moans. The soft gasps she made when she was about to come.

  He pushed out of bed, the sleepless night making him feel careless. Even though he was about to do one of the most selfish things he’d ever done, he couldn’t convince himself it was a bad idea. He had to tell her how he felt. That even though it had only been a few days, he couldn’t imagine never seeing her again.

  He was out of his room before reason could set back in. Hesitation gripped him as he paused in front of her door. He breathed deep, slid the card into the lock, and pushed inside.

  Shit. The comforter was wrinkled, but still intact on the bed. The bathroom counter was empty. There were no bags on the floor, no clothes hanging in the closet, and the other key sat on the nightstand.

  She was gone. Fuck.

  He shuffled out of the room, letting the door swing shut behind him, and leaned against the balcony overlooking the middle of the hotel. The lobby was empty except for a staff member watering the plants. Which made sense. Who would be up at this hour on a Sunday morning?

  A gnawing pain grew in his gut. Maybe it was a good thing she was gone. Telling her how he felt might have been just as awkward for her as it had been with him and Michelle.

  Except he refused to believe that. There was no way she’d been faking interest the last few days.

  A movement caught his attention. A flash of black six floors below. He whipped his head toward it in time to catch what had to be Jade, vanishing out the front doors.

  He was moving before his brain finished registering the sight, sprinting down the stairs as fast as he dared without tripping over his tired feet. He pushed into the lobby and didn’t slow, still racing for the front entrance. He paused once he was outside, scanning the parking lot. Please let her still be here.