Free Arms of Serenity (Rock Services) by Donina Lynn Page A

built kept her balanced both physically and emotionally.
    Her blue-eyed man was too much of a temptation. She could easily see herself slipping and letting her guard down around him. In his arms, she felt an ache for more. She got up from the bed and started toward the bathroom. That man was dangerous to everything she had come to rely on and believe. He was dangerous to her serenity, and she needed to run back home, as fast as she could, to where her emotions were safe. 
    Becca gathered up her things and placed them in her overnight bag. She put on her jeans, sneakers, and hoodie and did one last look around to make sure she had everything she brought.
    On the elevator, she pressed the button for the lobby and did a silent prayer that she made it out of the front door without seeing anyone. The doors opened, and she took a hesitant look around. Relief washed over her as the lobby seemed to be empty. She might make it after all.
    Becca hurried to the front desk and impatiently smiled at the clerk.
    “I’d like to check out please.”
    “Certainly, I can help you with that.”
    She handed him the room key , and he started typing away on the computer. He looked back up at Becca.
    “Just one moment, please.” He picked up the phone, and she listened as he said, “Yes, this is the front desk. Your friend is here.”
    Becca’s mouth dropped open. Was he talking about her? She was the only one in the lobby. Did he request a phone call when she showed up at the front desk? How did he know who she was? And why the hell did her pulse just flutter at the thought of seeing him? She glared at the man as he put down the phone.
    “Were you just calling someone about me?”
    Before the man could answer, she heard Victoria yelling across the lobby. “Rebecca , darling!”
    Becca turned to see her coming out of the doors to the ballroom and then back to the man behind the desk.
    He just shrugged . “She requested to be notified. Sorry, but her husband’s family does own the hotel.”
    They own the hotel? Becca didn’t know that, and she gave a sigh. Becca couldn’t be mad at the man for following the “boss’s orders”, but this was so not what she wanted to deal with right now. She turned as Victoria reached her and leaned in for the air kisses.
    “Rebecca , you forgot your frame last night. The hotel staff found it and gave it to me when the party had ended. I couldn’t find you.”
    Becca stammered, “Sorry, I ... I had a headache and went back to the room to lie down.”
    “Well I hope you are feeling better , and since I didn’t get a chance to introduce you last night, please join us in the ballroom.”
    Becca shook her head. “I really have to get going. Maybe some other time?” She added a silent not .
    Victoria put her arm through Becca’s and started leading her to the ballroom. “Don’t be silly. It will only take a few moments.”
    Becca repositioned her overnight bag on her arm and kept quiet as Victoria pulled her along. If she thought turning in the opposite direction would work without Victoria causing a scene, she would have broken out of her hold and made a run for it.
    When they walked in, Becca noticed that the hotel staff must have been working for hours to clean and transform the room back to winter decorations and lights. She had to give credit to the staff. It looked beautiful without being overly festive.
    There were tables full of people , and Becca hoped that the whole crowd wasn’t who Victoria wanted to introduce to her. She would be here all day. Her cheeks already hurt from the fake smiles she would need to freeze on to her face.
    Victoria steered Becca through the tables and in the direction of a larger one at the far end of the room. As she got closer, she recognized Brad sitting at the one end smiling at her. She thought he really did seem very nice with a genuine smile that went to his eyes. Looking much better in a grey suit than the white tuxedo from last night, he was handsome