Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Wow,” I said, letting my eyes take in every bit of her.
“Do you like it? The saleslady said every woman needs a little black dress.”
I tried to say more than one word, but I’d apparently lost the ability to do so. “Wow.”
Mallory giggled. “Is it too much?”
“No, it’s perfect. You’re perfect. You look beautiful, Mallory.”
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and she looked down at the floor. “I feel beautiful,” she said.
Making my way to her, I placed my finger under her chin and tilted her head so I could look into her eyes. “I’ve never met a woman as beautiful as you are.”
Her mouth opened, then shut just as quickly. She swallowed hard and whispered, “Thank you.”
“We should probably get going, Georgia texted to let me know she and Sheila are already at the bar.”
The entire time we rode down the elevator, I had to keep myself from pulling her to me and kissing her. I wanted to bury my fingers in her hair and see if it was as soft as it looked.
Another couple rode down in the elevator with us, and when the woman smiled at Mallory, she returned the gesture.
“What brings you to town?” she asked us.
“Research,” Mallory stated, as she looked at me and winked. My heart felt like it tripped over itself.
Once the doors opened, I took her hand in mine, and we made our way through the hotel lobby and into the bar.
What happened next was something neither of us could have ever predicted.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Mallory
It felt like I was walking on air as Liam and I made our way through the beautiful hotel lobby. There was a huge display of flowers that filled the air with the most amazing scents. I was pretty sure I’d never experienced anything like this place in my life. From the little we’d found out about who I was, I most likely wasn’t staying at The Drake while in Chicago, more like a motel on the outskirts of town.
As we approached the bar, it dawned on me that I didn’t have an ID. What if they didn’t allow me inside? My heart started to beat rapidly in my chest as we walked up to the door. I would be so embarrassed if they declined to let me in. What would Liam’s friends think?
But the guy at the door simply nodded to us both, and we walked into the bar without an issue. Liam must have felt me relax because he gently squeezed my hand.
The bar was dimly lit, but I could still see how beautiful it was, with the dark wood everywhere. It was crazy how the bar was just as stunning as the rest of the hotel.
Liam kept hold of my hand as we navigated through the patrons, and it felt so good to just touch him. I was falling for him more and more every day, and that worried me. I knew nothing about my past. Had I had other boyfriends? Was I a virgin? Was there a guy waiting for me in this very city? That part I didn’t think was true. If I had a boyfriend, he would have surely reported me missing, right? And one of the first things we did when we got to Chicago was check with the police department to see if a Mallory Wilson had been reported missing.
“There they are!” Liam shouted over the noise in the bar. As we weaved our way to a table in the corner, I saw two women sitting close together. One jumped up and started clapping excitedly as she called out Liam’s name. She had to be Georgia. The other woman, Sheila, was smiling—but when she saw me, her smile faded, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.
Georgia hugged Liam after we got to the table, then pushed him back at arm’s length. “Look at you! You’re as handsome as ever! And who is this?”
Before Liam could introduce me, Sheila stood. “Mallory! Where have you been?”
It felt like my entire world suddenly stopped.
Liam looked at Sheila, at me, and then back at Sheila. “Do you know her?”
“Do you know me?” I asked at the same time as Liam.
Sheila let out a confused laugh. “Um, kind of, yeah.”
“How?” I asked.
Sheila’s brows drew down. “What do you mean, how?”
Liam shook his head. “Georgia, Sheila, would you mind if we left the bar and headed up to our room? We have a lot to talk about, and it’s noisy as hell in here.”
Both women looked confused, but Georgia nodded. “Of course. Let’s go.”
After they gathered up their things, Liam nearly ran out of the bar. It was hard for me to keep up with him wearing these heels.
“Liam! I can’t walk any faster in these shoes.”
He slowed. “I’m sorry, Mallory.”
I could see a mix of emotions on his face. I was positive I looked just as confused. Georgia and Sheila walked behind us through the lobby, none of us saying a word. I was praying the elevator was empty because I had so many questions for Sheila. How did she know me? Did we work together? Was she a friend of mine?