The Attraction between Them

An angry Natalie re-entered the hotel for the second time that day and stomped her way across the red carpet. It was impossible not to become self-conscious with the trail of sand her boots left behind and her day couldn't possibly get worse than this.

"Brother? More like Cinderella's stepmother. Traitor... Coward...Idiot..."

She continued muttering curses directed at Kevin until she reached the reception where she had spoken earlier. Leaning on the elegant counter, she cast a lethal stare at the receptionist.

"Hello again, Ma'am," he greeted Natalie with the same insincere smile.

"The booking under my name, is it still there?"

The man's eyes shot up at the next person in line waiting behind Natalie before drifting back to her again.

"Let me check, Ma'am."

While she drummed her fingers impatiently on the counter, the person behind her reached around and left a very inviting long glass of orange juice with a couple of twirling ice cubes. She didn't need to look back to know who it was since a wave of his perfume had wafted along with his arm.

"That's for you," Alonso said from behind her. "Your handbag has already been sent to your room."

Was it that obvious that I would come back then?

Ignoring Alonso and the tantalizing glass of orange juice, she narrowed her eyes at the receptionist who was undoubtedly taking his sweet time verifying her booking.

"Natalie, will you talk to me?"

she pivoted and glared up at Mr. Moneybags.

"Just so you know, I'm cutting all ties with Kevin for what you and he subjected me to. You wanted a chance? The next time I see you in the street I'll make sure to change my path completely!"

She turned her head around fast and hoped that her ponytail slapped him, preferably on the face.

"Noted."

"What's noted!" She snapped without turning to face him again.

"That you have a temper."

Is he seriously keeping a list of my personality traits now? "I am warning you," she seethed with anger, "Leave me alone!"

The receptionist cleared his throat, "Here you go, Ms. Harrison, Suite 302, have a pleasant stay!"

When he finally placed a card for her suite on the counter, she snatched it and started walking towards the elevators. She was about to press the button that would open the door when Alonso's manicured hand covered the slide.

Natalie spun around in frustration, but all her anger evaporated seeing how close he was and how cornered she was by his chest. She made the mistake of looking up and seeing a domineering look in his eyes.

"Natalie."

She breathed through the attraction between them and blinked, feeling confused and vulnerable all of a sudden. The atmosphere changed when he visibly swallowed, and she felt like an adolescent all hot and bothered until he removed his arm and straightened up, leaving her personal space.

"They will serve your lunch at the suite, but dinner is served in the restaurant. I will be waiting at the table for you at 6:00 PM."

Her lips opened to give him a witty retort but the intense look on his face made her forget what she was about to say.

"And just so you know. I am comfortable around women, yes. But I never chase them."

She tried to subdue the butterflies but couldn't, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you should have dinner with me."

The tall, mysterious man who effortlessly cornered her was either genuinely honest or deserving of an Oscar for the performance he put on. Her heart leapt into her throat when his arm reached up again thinking that he would touch her, but he only ended up pressing a button on the panel behind.

She hurried inside the elevator when the door opened then turned to face him. Despite the increased distance between them, the magnetic pull she felt towards him was similar to the descriptions she had read in romance novels. The lingering sensation stayed with her even after the door closed on his hopeful expression.