Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Months?
I’m sorry, did he say months?!
He was giving me heart palpitations. My stomach was twisting and turning. Now for a fun game of “is it gas or is it anxiety?”
Probably both.
Mr. Lee nodded toward Aiden in understanding. “Makes sense. We have more than enough room for you here.” He placed his hands on his hips and glanced around. “Let me get someone to help with your suitcase.”
Not it!
I took a nosedive behind the couch in the sitting area before their eyes could locate me. My breaths weaved in and out as I placed my hand over my mouth to somehow muffle my state of panic. I wondered if they could hear my erratic heartbeats, too. My heart pounded against my rib cage as if it was trying to escape to Narnia. Far, far away where Aiden would never find it. Where was a cupboard to walk through when you needed one?
“Don’t you worry, Mr. Walters, I’ll help you with your bags,” Henry said, probably tripping over his feet as he hurried back into the inn. “My name’s Henry J. Peterson. I am the bellhop for Starlight Inn. Anything you need, I’ll get it for you. If you’d like, I can even give you my cell phone number. You can dial me up day and night, Mr. Walters. Truly. I am at your beck and call.”
“Fewer words, more working,” Mr. Lee told Henry, waving him away. “Take Mr. Walters to Room thirty-four. Best room in the inn, Aiden.”
A wave of nausea hit me as I realized that for the next few months, I’d be working for my famous ex-boyfriend. Or even more so, my ex-best friend.
Good grief.
“I appreciate that. Thank you,” Aiden said to Henry. He sounded so grateful for the help, and I knew he meant it. Aiden was one of the humblest guys in the world. When people in the tabloids called him one of the kindest guys, I knew it was true and not some role Aiden was playing up. Gratitude could’ve been his middle name.
As Henry started rolling Aiden’s suitcase toward the staircase near the sitting area, I held my breath once more as they chatted their way up the stairs, allowing my cheeks to look as if they were storing nuts for a great winter harvest. A sigh of relief hit me as I heard Aiden thank Henry before he closed the door behind him.
“What are you doing?”
I jumped out of my skin as I turned to see Mr. Lee staring at me behind the couch. I stood and smoothed out my outfit. “Dusting.”
“Dusting the… carpet?”
“Yes.”
“With your body?”
“Uh-huh.”
He narrowed his eyes as if trying to figure me out. Good luck, Mr. Lee. I can hardly figure myself out.
He shifted his weight to his left side and crossed his arms. “Are you okay, Hailee?”
I pushed out a fake grin. “I’m dandy.”
“Great. I need you to be on top of your toes these next few months with Aiden staying here.”
“Few months?” I questioned, trying not to sound too nosy. “I actually wasn’t aware he was staying here.”
“I know, right? I logged him into the system under a fake name. Totally what Hollywood actors do, you know.” He winked my way as if he pulled a fast one on me. “I never thought I’d get to do that. Pretty cool, huh?”
“Yeah, totally neat,” I muttered, pretending that my panic wasn’t rising with each passing second. “He can’t really be staying for months, though, right? He’s a busy actor. He must have to go back to California at some point.”
“Who cares? As long as he’s here, it’s great for us.” He looked toward the front window of the inn, where a crowd was still stationed due to the arrival of Aiden. “We’ll need to make sure his stay is safe, with all the fans around. Do you know what this could do for our business? Having an Oscar-winning actor staying with us?”
“Oh, I don’t know, give me a heart attack,” I muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, Mr. Lee. I’ll make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible for Mr. Walters’s stay.”
He smiled, pleased. “Great. I’ll let you get back to work.” He glanced back over his shoulder toward me and narrowed his eyes. “By the way, for future reference, we do have vacuums. You don’t have to dust the carpet with your body.”
“Right. Vacuums. Funny how I didn’t think of that.”
“You’re a smart girl who just had a dumb moment. Happens to the best of us.”
He walked away, leaving me alone with the silent storm forming in my head. Aiden Walters was staying in town for the next few months at the Starlight Inn.
How was I supposed to avoid him when I was also in charge of making sure he was comfortable?
24
Aiden
* * *
Playing the role of the social butterfly outside completely drained my energy. The moment I reached my room at the inn, I collapsed onto the bed. Shockingly, the mattress was one of the most comfortable beds I’d ever laid on, and I’d slept on a lot of beds. Especially during my last worldwide tour press conference.