I walked through the small hallway that led from the dressing room to the bathroom and found myself standing in the middle of an Italian marble creation that took my breath away. Along one wall was a bamboo counter with two immaculately white sinks and a mirror that ran the entire length of the wall. Each side of the sink was split into several cupboards, and when I opened them, I found shelves, lazy Susan trays, and a host of drawers in a variety of sizes already neatly holding brand new boxes of cosmetics and bottles of hair products. Next to each sink was a stack of fluffy towels that were so thick and soft, I had the urge to wrap myself in one.
But it was the tub and shower combination that took my breath away. I’d been raised by wealthy parents and had stayed in nice hotels over the course of my lifetime, but I’d never seen anything like this before. The entire wall behind the shower and tub was made of windows so that you had a wide view of the lake whether you were standing or sitting. Cream-colored marble formed the base of the shower, which was slightly raised and then enclosed on all four sides by glass with wide, round shower heads mounted on opposite walls. Several feet away was a recessed tub that looked almost large enough to do laps in and next to it was a cabinet full of salts, oils, and bubbles. I felt like I’d stepped through the looking glass as I walked out of the bathroom and back into the suite.
A king-size, square, platform bed occupied the center of the room and was covered with a simple duvet and loaded with pillows in calming shades of tan, chocolate, and cream. Underneath the bed was a thick, fluffy rug that looked like the softest lamb’s wool. I slipped off my shoes and stepped on it to confirm my first impression. On either side of the bed was a sleek nightstand made of dark wood, each with a selection of the latest New Yor
k Times bestsellers. I chuckled as I saw that one of the books was an unauthorized biography of Dax written and published by a gonzo journalist from L.A. I set that one on top of the stack and moved to the sitting room off to the right of my new bed. Opposite my bed was another wall of windows that looked out over the lake, and I stood marveling at the view before moving to the sitting area.
This part of the room was on the outer edge of the suite, and was surrounded on two sides by the floor to ceiling windows. It was small and cozy, with an L-shaped sofa that I imagined would be perfect for curling up under a blanket and reading, and several plush chairs with footstools. The only thing that bothered me was that all the furniture was white and I wondered how long it would take before I got something on the fabric since I wasn’t known for my neatness. I rolled my eyes as I reminded myself that, in this house, there were probably cleaning people who took care of stains before they even happened.
I chuckled softly as I imagined a team of pre-stain treaters sweeping in to preserve the pristine environment.
“Is there something funny about this room?” Dax said.
“What the hell?” I yelled as I jumped back and hit my knee on the coffee table I was standing in front of. “Jesus, Connor! What are you doing sneaking up on me?”
“I wasn’t sneaking, I was coming to see if everything was to your liking,” he said.
“Well, you’re too quiet,” I scolded as I reached down and rubbed my knee. “Don’t do that.”
“I’ll never do it again,” he said so solemnly that I couldn’t help but smile. Dax grinned back at me, “But seriously, do you have everything you need?”
“The whole place is stocked with all kinds of goodies,” I said. “So, yeah, I think I’ve got everything I need.”
“I didn’t know what you’d want, so I just ordered one of everything that looked good,” he shrugged. “Anything you don’t like, let me know and I’ll send it back and get you something you do.”
“This wasn’t part of the deal,” I said eyeing him suspiciously.
“Yes, it was. I said I’d pay all of your expenses and I’m nothing if not a man of my word,” he said before looking over his shoulder down the hallway. “And on that note, would you like to come have some dinner? I think the chef has finished preparing our meal.”
“You’re kidding? You didn’t just call Grub Hub and have them deliver?” I deadpanned.
“They didn’t have anything that sounded good, so I had to bring in the big guns,” he teased.
“Fine, let me wash up and I’ll join you in…”
“Join me in the dining room,” he said. “You know how to get back there?”
“Very funny,” I said. “Yes, but don’t put your phone down. If I get lost, I’ll text you.”
He chuckled as he left the room, closing the door behind him. I shook my head as I went into the closet, unzipped one of the garment bags, and pulled out a casual, olive-colored, silk summer dress and took it into the bathroom with me.
I quickly showered and twisted my wet hair into a loose knot at the back of my neck before dusting a bit of blush on my cheeks and swiping inky, black mascara on my lashes. I finished my look with a touch of red lipstick and then pulled on my dress. I smiled at my reflection.
If Dax was going to treat me like an honored guest, then I was going to behave like one.
Chapter Nineteen
Dax
By the time Payton finally joined me in the dining room, I’d grown irritated by her lack of punctuality, but it was all forgotten when I saw why she’d taken so long. The silky dress clung to her in all the right places, and the wisps of blond hair that framed her face gave her an ethereal appearance that made me swallow hard before I could speak.
“You look…like you’re settling in just fine,” I said searching for the words that would convey how I felt without actually saying it.
“I love that bathroom; in fact, I might just camp out in there,” she smiled as she moved toward me and accepted the glass of cool white wine I held out. Her fingers brushed my hand as she took the glass, and I turned to look out the window in order to mask the effect of her touch.
“To new beginnings,” I said, holding up my glass for an awkward side toast. She smiled and clinked her glass against mine before taking a sip.
“Mmm, that’s delicious,” she said turned and followed my gaze asking, “Pinot?”