Liz awoke to sunlight burning her eyelids. She blinked into the brightness, bewildered. Slowly, she sat up and rubbed the remaining sleep from her eyes, the pull of her slight exhaustion begging her to go back to sleep.
She was sure she had drawn the curtains closed last night… did she?
It all came rushing back. The call from Marcus, followed by the gorgeous Michael showing up at her room door with the smell of whiskey on his breath and drunkenness in his stagger. The things he had said to her last night rushed through her head, filling her with an odd emotion she couldn’t name. Her body shivered at the memory of their lovemaking—over and over and over again. That must be the reason she was so exhausted.
But something was wrong.
The curtains… Hunter.
Heart sinking, Liz jumped out of the bed, almost tripping onto her face when her legs got tangled in the sheets. As quickly as she could, she pulled them all closed, until the room was plunged into darkness.
“Michael?” She hated how scared she sounded. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Michael!”
No response. He was gone. For some reason, that made her heart sink.
Liz pulled her shoulders back, shedding her disappointment. He was gone. So what? He could do whatever he wanted to do. She couldn’t hold him here. In fact, it’s a good thing he wasn’t there. That way, she could sort through these weird feelings.
First her odd reaction to his performance, then last night. Things were changing in her and Liz didn’t like that she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
She gathered her discarded robe from the floor and wrapped it around her body as she made her way to the bathroom. The door was closed, a small note taped to the surface.
Don’t worry. I’ll be right back. – Michael.
Short and to the point, save for the tiny doodle of him winking at her on the bottom. The sight of it made her smile.
With the note now sitting on the bed, Liz felt a bit lighter. She began humming a tune she couldn’t recall the source of, going through the haze of her morning routine with a pep in her step. She came out of the bathroom feeling fresher and more alive than she had ever felt, just as a knock came at the door.
Liz was halfway there before it hit her that it wouldn’t be Michael. He wouldn’t have knocked. No, after last night, she was almost sure he would walk right in as if it was also his room. That had her excited smile falling and her usual defensive mask moving into place before she opened the door.
She took one look at the person standing outside her room and swallowed the urge to groan aloud. “I’m going to have to put a big ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign so you people don’t think it’s okay to come and bother me.”
Melody flipped her hair over her shoulder, smirking disdainfully. She ran her eyes down the length of Liz, taking in her lack of clothing, and her chin lifted a bit higher. “You must be Elizabeth.”
“And you must be Melody.” Liz regarded the tall woman coolly, watching the way she looked down her slim nose at her. Well, this should be interesting. “Come in, then. Let’s get this over with.”
Liz stepped to the side, allowing Melody to breathe past her, bringing in the scent of her expensive perfume. Liz had to admit she smelled lovely. That annoyed her.
Melody strolled all the way to the couch, the sound of her heels eaten up by the carpet underfoot. Amused, Liz closed the door and came to sit across from her.
Melody was looking around, taking in her surroundings. “This is a nice room,” she noted.
“Expected me to stay in a fleabag motel?”
Melody turned her eyes to her. “I thought you were a stagehand, but stagehands don’t make this kind of money.”
“Then maybe I’m not a stagehand.”
“I suppose.” The words seemed to take a lot out of her to say.
Liz leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “I don’t have much time to sit here and stare at each other, so why don’t you cut to the chase and tell me why you’re here?”
“You know me, then. You know who I am.”
“A friend of Michael’s. No, I’m sorry. A past friend.” The other woman bristled, a crack in her perfect mask. Liz shouldn’t care, but the sight gave her a bit more satisfaction than it should have. “Don’t tell me you’re here to go on a jealous rampage. Maybe threaten me to get me away from Michael? If you are, don’t waste your energy. I don’t have the time for it.”
“I do want you to stay away from him.” Melody was calm, confident. It piqued Liz’s interest. She reached into her flashy purse and pulled out a cheque book. “Name your price.”
Liz’s amusement deepened beyond containment. She clenched her fist to keep from laughing out loud. “You’re going to buy me off?”
“Everyone has a price, Elizabeth. It’s just a matter of finding it. Tell me what you’ll need to stay away from him.”
Liz cocked her head to the side. “Why are you so adamant to get rid of me? Last I recalled, Michael wasn’t interested in starting anything back up with you.”
Melody closed her open cheque book and released a loud sigh, as if she was a teacher forced to be patient with a dense student. “As long as I’ve known Michael, he’s never actually known what he wants. He’s never known what’s really good for him. Which is me.”
“Oh?”
“Michael has a bright future ahead of him, brighter than his present. I can make him into the person he’s destined to be. You, Elizabeth Harley, can’t.” She crossed her legs, pursing her lips thoughtfully. “Before coming here, I did a bit of research on you. Seeing this room, I can tell you’ve made quite a name for yourself in your business, but you have no place in Michael’s life. You must know that by now.”
“By all means, Melody… what was it?”
“Kellier.”
Kellier. A name that screamed old money. Old oil money. Now, Liz had no doubt in her mind Melody would be able to provide whatever price she gave up. She was tempted to throw a random number out there, just for fun, to see Melody’s reaction.
“Miss Kellier,” Liz said evenly, not letting her recognition of her name show. “Do whatever it is you want. Michael isn’t mine to control and I’m certainly not his. He can do what he wants.”
“Then what is he doing here with you?”
“We have sex, Melody,” Liz said, watching with satisfaction when the other woman stiffened. “Incredible sex.”
“It doesn’t matter what you do.” Melody flipped back open her cheque book. “Name your price and get of his life.”
“I can’t be bought, Melody.”
“Everyone can be bought.”
“What a small world you live in.” Liz rose to her feet. She was done with this conversation. “You’ve said what you wanted to say and I responded accordingly. It’s time you leave.”
Melody shot to her feet. Even without heels, Liz was sure she would tower a good head over her. “I’m not done here.”
“But I am.” Turning, Liz made her way to the door and opened it. She faced Melody again, noting the way the woman’s face reddened with anger. “Leave now before I call security to remove you from my room.”
That got her moving. “Have fun with him, Elizabeth Harley. It won’t last long. He’ll come back to who he really belongs.”
“If he does, I’ll tell him to send my regards.” Liz waggled her fingers in farewell and closed the door before Melody could say anything else.
For a few seconds, she didn’t move. She listened to the woman stomp her foot loudly, groaning in frustration before her heated steps clipped away. Then it was silence, nothing but her and her thoughts. And something else that was slowly creeping up and her.
Jealousy.
It didn’t hit her hard and fast. It was a slow killer, consuming her thoughts until it was all she could focus on. It had her pacing, stomping around the room herself in anger. Images of Melody and Michael together flashed in her mind, provoking her fury.
The feeling scared the hell out of her.
And a small fear remained in the furthest corners of her mind. All she thought about was Michael going back to his ex, the woman who was made for him. The thought should have been a relief but it only had her steaming.