“Yes, that’s right.”

“It’s direct bill. Everything’s set. If you and Mr. Franconi will just fill out these forms, I’ll ring for a bellman.”

As he scrawled the information on the form, Carlo glanced over. From the profile, she looked lovely, though perhaps a bit tired. Her hair was pinned up in the back, fluffed out on the sides and barely mussed from traveling. She looked as though she could head a three-hour business meeting without a whimper. But then she arched her back, closing her eyes briefly as she stretched her shoulders. He wanted to take care of her.

“Juliet, there’s no need for two rooms.”

She shifted her shoulder bag and signed her name. “Carlo, don’t start. Arrangements have already been made.”

“But it’s absurd. You’ll be staying in my suite, so the extra room is simply extra.”

The desk clerk stood at a discreet distance and listened to every word.

Juliet pulled her credit card out of her wallet and set it down on the counter with a snap. Carlo noted, with some amusement, that she no longer looked the least bit tired. He wanted to make love with her for hours.

“You’ll need the imprint on this for my incidentals,” she told the clerk calmly enough. “All Mr. Franconi’s charges will be picked up.”

Carlo pushed his form toward the clerk then leaned on the counter. “Juliet, won’t you feel foolish running back and forth across the hall? It’s ridiculous, even for a publisher, to pay for a bed that won’t be slept in.”

With her jaw clenched, she picked up her credit card again. “I’ll tell you what’s ridiculous,” she said under her breath. “It’s ridiculous for you to be standing here deliberately embarrassing me.”

“You have rooms 1102 and 1108.” The clerk pushed the keys toward them. “I’m afraid they’re just down the hall from each other rather than across.”

“That’s fine.” Juliet turned to find the bellman had their luggage packed on the cart and his ears open. Without a word, she strode toward the bank of elevators.

Strolling along beside her, Carlo noted that the cashier had a stunning smile. “Juliet, I find it odd that you’d be embarrassed over something so simple.”

“I don’t think it’s simple.” She jabbed the up button on the elevator.

“Forgive me.” Carlo put his tongue in his cheek. “It’s only that I recall you specifically saying you wanted our relationship to be simple.”

“Don’t tell me what I said. What I said has nothing to do with what I meant.”

“Of course not,” he murmured and waited for her to step inside the car.

Seeing the look on Juliet’s face, the bellman began to worry about his tip. He put on a hospitality-plus smile. “So, you in Chicago long?”

“Two days,” Carlo said genially enough.