Chapter 20

Despite Jay’s suggestion that he could come with her, Billie just hugged and kissed him goodbye at the apartment, lugging her bag - newly purchased, and filled with newly purchased clothes - down to the lobby.  Even though the hospital had discharged him, she didn’t think he should be driving just yet.  In fact, if it hadn’t been for the fact that he had a date with Kadie, she’d have probably stuck around for another night, just to be sure he was really okay.  Somehow, though, Billie was pretty sure she’d be in the way.

 

The cab dropped her at the impressive entrance to the hotel, all white columns and looking very like the design had been stolen from some Grecian temple.  Inside, the flickering glance of query from the impeccably mannered receptionist was quickly answered as Billie gave her name, and he nodded in instant acceptance, not even needing to consult his register to know she was pre-booked.

 

“Of course, Ms Kelsall.”  He smiled professionally, laying a card on the counter in front of her.  “If I could just ask you to fill out your address details and sign the bottom, please.”

 

By the time Billie had done that, he’d swiped a room keycard for her, slipping it into a thick card folder and neatly printing her room number on the front.  Even in a hotel of this caliber - or perhaps especially in a hotel of this caliber, she thought - the security of their guests was paramount, and he offered the folder to her with a smile as he took the registration form.

 

“Thank you, Ms Kelsall.  This is your room key, and this - here - is your room number.  Fourth floor.  The elevators are just over to your right.”  He glanced toward a bellhop.  “Would you like some assistance with your luggage?”

 

“Uh, no, I’m fine.”  Billie smiled.  “I travel light.”

 

“As you wish.  Should you require anything, please dial zero on your room telephone and that will connect you directly to myself.  My name is Daniel, and if there’s anything I can do to make your stay more pleasant, please don’t hesitate.”

 

“Thanks, Daniel.”  Billie smiled brightly, turning toward the elevators.

 

She’d only taken a few steps, her attention on the folder she held, reading the room number, when she heard a familiar voice.  Familiar for many years, at a distance, but now a voice she’d heard at close quarters, and quite recently.

 

“Billie?” 

 

Turning around, she smiled at the surprised expression on his face.

 

“Mr Sa…….”  She giggled when he rolled his eyes, grinning.  “Sorry.  Richie?  That better?”

 

“It’s my name.”  He grinned again.  When he’d first met her, he’d been very cautious of her, but it was so obvious that she was trying to protect Jon that Richie had automatically to like her.  Hell, he’d been the one who had Jon’s back all these years, so to find someone else who was just as willing to do it was a nice surprise.  “How are you, darlin’?”

 

Leaning down, he kissed her cheek, then straightened to look at her.

 

“I’m good.  Jay got out of hospital yesterday, and because his place only has one bedroom, his - uh - Jon said he’d book me into a hotel.”  She rolled her eyes.  “I didn’t expect this, though.”

 

“Girl, you’re family - well, practically family - and Jon looks after the people he……cares about.”  Richie glanced at his watch.  “Sorry, Billie.  I got an interview to do here.  How long you staying in town?”

 

“Until……until everything’s out in the open I guess.”  She said quietly, knowing he knew perfectly well what ‘everything’ she meant.

 

“Well, I’ll see you later, then.”  Richie grinned, pulling out his phone.  “Gimme your number?”

 

“Sure.”  Billie rattled off her number, and he punched it into the phone.

 

“Got a pen?”  Richie asked, laughing when Billie produced a Sharpie from her purse.  “I forgot.  You’re a fan.  You girls are always prepared, huh?”

 

“I guess.”  She blushed.

 

Taking the pen, Richie also borrowed her room key folder, turning it over and scribbling on the back.  Billie couldn’t be sure if he’d taken a mental note of her room number - the glance he gave the front of the folder was fleeting at best, but somehow she thought these guys would be pretty damned practised at catching a room number in a millisecond if they wanted to.

 

“My numbers.”  He handed back folder and pen.  “Top one’s the cell, bottom is the apartment here in Philly.  Cell’s probably best, though.”

 

“Thanks.”  She dropped the pen back into her purse.  “You better go do your interview - don’t want you getting a rockstar-who’s-always-late tag, do we?”

 

“Nah.”  Richie bent to kiss her cheek again.  Something he liked about this woman.  “I’ll give you a call later, darlin’.  You take care.”

 

“You too, Richie.”

 

Billie finally made her way up to her room.  Well, not a room.  She silently gazed around the mini-suite Jon’s assistant had booked for her, wondering just what he’d told the woman.  Still, it was his dime, and she knew enough about him to know how stubborn he was, so she may as well just take the generosity as it was offered.  With that in mind, she unpacked her clothes and toiletries into the appropriate places and filled the coffee maker, heading into the bathroom while the coffee perked.  She had a few hours before her ‘date’ with Nick, so she decided not to bother starting to get ready just yet, but poured herself some coffee and settled down to read her book for a while, finding a rock station on the music system and turning it on low.

 

 

A few hours later, just before eight o’clock, Billie’s cellphone rang, and she thought the number looked familiar as she answered it.  She was right - it was Nick, just to let her know he was downstairs in the ’10 Arts’ Lounge, waiting for her.

 

“I’ll be right down.”  She promised.  She’d been just about to put on her jewellery when he called, so she was pretty much ready anyway.

 

“Well, I’ll be sitting at the bar, wearing a pink carnation and carrying a copy of the New York Times.”  Nick said, and Billie hesitated.

 

“You’re kidding, right?”

 

“Yeah, I’m kidding!  Come on, Billie - I’m hungry!”

 

“Okay, okay, I’m coming!”  She laughed, closing the phone too swiftly to hear Nick’s response to her words.

 

Down in the lounge, Nick finished his drink and ordered two more - one for Billie this time - having the bartender send them through to their table.  He was a creature of habit, and he’d always found that getting a few French Martinis into a woman tended to get him into her, too.  Why change what seemed to be a winning formula?  For himself, though, he stuck to his usual Salty Dog.  Again, why change?

 

He was leaning against the bar when Billie walked in, and he smiled in appreciation, for the first time seeing her not in jeans.  Instead, she wore close-fitting black pants, hanging low on her hips, and a simple red camisole, the plunging neckline displaying a healthy cleavage.  He could only hope it was all natural, without too much assistance from a padded bra underneath.  The heavy silver star pendant hanging on her chest seemed familiar, somehow, but right now all he cared about was how it drew his attention down between her breasts.  Not that his attention needed much help in getting there.

 

“Billie!”  He smiled in welcome, getting to his feet to wrap her in a hug.  “Good to see you.  You look gorgeous.”

 

“Thanks.”  Billie eased herself out of his arms, slightly uncomfortable with the fact his hands had grazed down over her ass on this first contact.  Perhaps it was accidental.

 

“We have a table in back.”  Nick said, holding out his hand to her, and Billie paused, then took it, letting him lead her into the lounge, dark and intimate, where couples could feel alone in a busy room.