He either believed her or they were done. He wanted to tell himself he needed a minute, only he knew he didn’t. For whatever reason, she got to him and he couldn’t resist her. Until that changed, he was going to have to see how it all played out.

nineteen

Unity felt good. Not just because she’d forced herself to do something unexpected, but because she’d been brave enough to come over and see Thaddeus. After telling him they couldn’t go out, she’d been unable to stop thinking about him. That had to mean something.

Later, there might be guilt and recriminations, but today she was going to enjoy every moment and see where it all took her.

After he called his friends to say he was bringing a plus-one to dinner, they went down to her car, which took only three tries to find, then he drove it out of the parking garage and over to the valet parking in front of the Westin hotel.

“Why here?” she asked. “It’s expensive.”

He handed the keys to the valet and gave her the parking receipt. “It will be easier for you. Just give the guy a tip when you leave. The parking will be added to my account.”

They collected the small overnight bag she’d brought with her and went into the hotel. “But you shouldn’t pay for my parking.”

“It’s fine, Unity. I promise.”

Once in the lobby, they went to a bank of elevators that required a special fob to activate.

“I’ll get you a spare key and fob when we’re upstairs,” he told her. “You can take a skybridge over to the mall.”

“You live in a hotel?”

“Above it. From the twenty-fourth floor to the top are condos.”

They exited on the forty-fifth floor and walked to a double door. Thaddeus let them inside. Unity stepped into an elegant marble foyer and saw a dining room in front of her, along with floor-to-ceilings windows with a perfect view of Lake Washington and downtown Seattle.

“The kitchen is in here,” he said, leading the way.

She trailed after him, spotting a half bath before finding herself in a huge gourmet kitchen. The cabinets were gleaming cherry, the miles of countertop were covered in the most beautiful patterned granite. The upscale appliances were brands she’d only ever read about in magazines.

“Butler’s pantry,” he said, pointing around the side of the kitchen. “Wine cellar. There’s food in the refrigerator. The cleaning service keeps it stocked, so help yourself.”

He showed her the living room, with windows on two sides, the media room and a laundry room that was bigger than the master bedroom at her house.

They went down a different hall and he pushed open a door. “The guest room.”

She went inside. The space was large, with a king-size bed, two nightstands and a TV mounted on the wall. In the corner was a chaise covered in a faux leopard print. She saw a closet with built-in drawers, enough hanging space for a boutique and a full-length mirror, before heading for the luxurious en suite bathroom with double sinks, a spa tub and a walk-in shower.