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Chapter 1
Jennifer
“Come on, come on,” I mumble then pound on the steering wheel of my car. I look over to see the time on the dash and realize that even if no one were in front of me, three minutes is hardly enough to make it to work on time. I continue riding the car’s bumper until I’m able to see the turning lane leading to the hotel I work for.
“Geez, doesn’t anyone know how to drive around here?”
Aggravated, I zip into the parking lot only to find that someone has already parked in my spot. Dang it! It’s not like the employees actually have their own designated spaces, but with our staff being small, pretty much everyone has one they like to call their own.
I drive around the lot trying to find a spot closest to the hotel’s front office. It’s not that I mind the walk, but I always feel better when I’m able to look out and see my car. I’ve been working the overnight shift at the hotel for three years now, and you never know what could happen in the middle of the night. It’s not the greatest job, but it pays the couple of bills I have, and it works for my college class schedule.
I squeeze in-between two cars, grab my lunch bag, jacket, and book from the front seat, and make my way to the office. As I pass by my “unofficial spot,” I notice it’s occupied with a rather run-down looking car. A couple of the hubcaps are missing and the paint has started to flake off on the trunk—a classic piece of junk. It’s a wonder some cars are even allowed on the freeway these days. I shake my head at the site and walk on inside.
“Sorry I’m running late, Rebecca. I got hung up behind this ridiculously slow driver, and I could never get around them. Then, I get here, and someone’s already parked in my spot.” I throw my hands up in the air as I apologize. She can tell I’m flustered just from the way I’m tossing my things away in the drawer. “Looks like you’ve been busy though—the parking lot’s full. Were there a lot of check-ins tonight?”
“It’s no big deal. Seriously, don’t worry about it. Just glad you made it. I was finishing up some paperwork.” Rebecca grabs up the couple of pages laid out in front of her on the desk and shoves them into a folder. “Yeah, we’re completely sold out for the night. I think there’s a group in town that’s working on the construction of the new mall. And, well, I might have checked in a couple hot guys, too.” Rebecca winks and heartily laughs while sharing this bit of information with me. It doesn’t help that she’s constantly pointing out my single status, but I know it’s all in fun, and she means well. I think she’d do just about anything to fix me up with someone.
“Well, I guess I’ll be checking them out in the morning then.” I giggle. “Literally. Unless they’re staying here for a while.”
“Come on, Jenn. You know good and well if there’s a good-looking guy in this town, he sure wouldn’t be trying to stay. He’d be asking for directions to leave,” Rebecca adds jokingly.
I nod my head in agreement. She’s right about that.
Rebecca and I both attended high school together in Morgantown and remained the best of friends after graduation. Now, it seemed that all the decent-looking guys had moved on to bigger and better things. I’d rarely dated in high school, and it was pretty much the same now. Rebecca, on the other hand, had continued her relationship with her high school sweetheart, Greg. After graduation, he decided to join the Army and is currently stationed in Georgia. She’s hoping he’ll be able to come home for Thanksgiving when he gets a few days’ leave.
Now that we’re both in college, not only have we shared a few classes together, but we also work for the same hotel. While she mostly works the late afternoon to evening shift, I work the overnight one five nights a week. We have a really generous boss, too.
We typically have Saturday nights off, so we pretty much hang out together. Rarely do we ever do anything special though. Sometimes we go down to the mall or go watch the latest movie that’s playing. And, if we’re both just feeling a little wild and crazy and need to unwind, we’ll get all dressed up and go out to Night Moves, the local club for college kids located next door. It’s always nice to hang out with my best friend, no matter what we decide to do.
Although the club mostly attracts garage-type bands trying to break out and get noticed, the owner always books a cover band we all know and love at least once a month, and everyone packs into the club. Greg doesn’t mind us hanging out together and is glad to see her doing something rather than sitting at home all alone while he’s away.
I pull up the guest registry on the computer and scroll through the list of names. Trying to make it a joke, even though it did irritate me, I ask, “Did you happen to see which guest came in driving that silver Honda that’s parked in my spot?”
She’s gathering up her things when she turns to look at me. “No, it’s been pretty hectic up ‘til now. I hadn’t even noticed it until you pointed it out. You’ll have to keep an eye open in the morning when you start doing checkouts. Maybe then you can politely inform them you didn’t appreciate it one bit.” She says this with a smirk on her face, then turns to walk towards the door. “Have a good night. Call me if you get bored. I’m going to finish up my report for history class before going to bed, so I’ll be up for a while. And I’m crossing my fingers I’ll have an email from Greg.”
“See you later, chick. Drive safely,” I tell her as the door closes behind her. I know Rebecca misses him and I don’t envy their separation. Thank goodness he’s able to send her emails regularly, and he’s remained here in the States. She’d go crazy if he ended up getting deployed overseas.
I walk around the office and straighten a few things. Not that there’s really anything out of place, but I’m kind of anal about stuff like that. Rebecca’s done most of the paperwork already, so the night’s going to pass slowly not having much to do.
I glance out the door and look over again at the car parked in my spot. From what I can see of the tag, it doesn’t appear to be anyone local. Not sure why it really concerns me, but I find myself staring out at it several more times throughout the night. The four-door sedan definitely is an eyesore and probably belongs to some old, fat guy. Even from this far away, I can tell how dilapidated it is.
Around two o’clock in the morning, while engrossed in the book I’m reading, I’m startled when a man walks in the door and asks if there’re any rooms available.
“I’m sorry, sir, we’re full for the night. You can always check with the next hotel over. It’s just a few blocks down the street,” I tell him, and he nods his head to leave. I always hate having to turn down guests, especially when I know they’re tired from being out on the road. But having no vacancy is actually good for the hotel.
Before the door shuts, I hear loud music playing. No doubt, it’s coming from Night Moves. I’m surprised to hear someone’s still playing at this time of morning. By now, they’ve usually shut down.
There’ve been a couple of times when a few patrons who’ve had a little too much to drink have ventured over to the hotel looking for a room. I’m always glad to help someone who realizes they don’t need to be out on the road driving. The ones I hate to see, though, are the one’s who’re just looking for a room for a couple hours because they think they’re going to score with some hot chick or random guy they happen to have picked up.
Regardless, I hate turning someone away.
I finish up the chapter of the book I’m reading, then nibble on some chips I’d tossed in my lunch bag—my comfort food to get me through the night.
Finally, the clock overhead reads five o’clock. I’m thankful to see Sylvia, another hotel employee, pull into the parking lot. It’s been a long night and I’ve struggled to stay awake. You’d think after working this shift for so many years I’d be used to it.
Sylvia works the early morning shift, preparing the continental breakfast and the clean-up afterwards. She’s married with grown kids and enjoys the extra hours the job allows her to have outside the house. Despite our age difference, Sylvia and I have a great work relationship, and I often look to her as a mother figure since my own family has moved away.
My father recently retired as a college professor. With his announcement, my mom decided she’d retire from her job as a loan officer at one of our local banks as well. They bought a pull-behind camper and a heavy duty pickup truck, sold our family home, and set out to travel the country. Why not? They had worked hard and had successful careers, so they should be allowed to enjoy their time together doing what they’d both dreamed of. The only thing they left behind, though, was me.
I find myself missing them from time to time, but it’s also nice not having them constantly looking over my shoulder. I receive emails from them regularly letting me know their latest expeditions along with some photographs of a few campsites. They both seem to be enjoying each other’s company—I hope one day I’ll meet my soul mate and share the same happiness my parents have had all these years. No doubt, growing up, we were the perfect role-model family.
Finding a soul mate might also keep them from worrying so much about me, too. Both my brothers live close by and are only a phone call away, but with me being the baby, I have a special place in their hearts. You know the old saying, daddy’s little girl. They’ve not been back for six months now, and it’s been over a week since I’ve spoken to them on the phone.
Before they left, as a going away gift to me, they paid a year’s worth of rent on a one-bedroom apartment downtown. I know this was a generous gift from them, but I hated knowing they still felt they needed to support me. After all, I do work full-time, and my scholarship covers most of my school expenses.
It’s not uncommon to find a little “gift” in the mail from them either. It’s usually no more than twenty or thirty bucks, and I always like to do something special with it, like treating myself to a manicure or pedicure. I do pretty good budgeting my expenses, and I’ve even started my own savings account. You just never know when you might get in a bind. Plus, I don’t always want to have to depend on them to bail me out.
“Good morning, Jennifer!” Sylvia calls to me as she walks in the door. This lady always has a smile on her face. She reminds me so much of my mother.
“Morning, Sylvia.”
A well-dressed gentleman walks in behind her. He’s tall and slender, probably in his late thirties. He passes his room keycard over to me, and I know he’s there to check out.
“Did you enjoy your stay, sir?” I try to be warm and friendly to all the guests, despite it being so early in the morning.
“Everything was very nice. Thank you,” he replies.
After getting his room number, I hand his receipt over to him and remind him of the complimentary continental breakfast.
“No, thanks. Got to get an early start.”
I watch as he walks outside in the direction of the silver clunker that I’d almost forgotten about needing to pay attention to, and climbs into a red pickup truck parked two spots down from it. I should’ve known from his neat appearance he wasn’t the driver of that piece of junk.
I busy myself helping Sylvia with the breakfast and checking out more guests. My office replacement arrives, so I gather up my things to leave. I say goodbye to everyone then walk out the door towards my car. Not that I really would’ve said anything, but I was a little disappointed knowing I wouldn’t get to see the car’s owner.
About the Author
Amy Stephens is a new adult/contemporary romance author. Originally from Greenville, Alabama, she now lives in Robertsdale, Alabama, just minutes from the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast beaches, with her husband and son. She is a graduate of Troy University with a Master’s in Human Resource Management. She works in retail management full-time during the day and pursues her passion for writing in her down time.
When she’s not working or writing, you will find her reading, watching her favorite football team, the Auburn Tigers, her favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, or watching NASCAR. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
She is the author of the Falcon Club series: Falling for Him (book one) and Falling for Her (book two). Both books are available now. Don’t miss her first series, Coming Home, re-releasing later this year. Don’t Turn Back (book one, available November 2015), Never Look Back (book two, coming soon), and Heart of the Matter (book three, coming soon). The Ride Home for Christmas (2014) is her first holiday romance story. A new stand-a-lone novella, Cooper: A Holiday Romance will release November 2015.
For more information, please visit:
www.facebook.com/amystephensauthor