Nefertiti Nights

Chapter 2

A restless night's sleep followed Bea.

The noises from outside were so foreign to what she was used to hearing.

She tossed and turned on the Egyptian cotton sheets. The bed was comfy enough. She was warm - but she had expected to be so had packed her skimpiest nightwear. She currently had on a pastel blue chemise, edged with delicate lace patterns and it was sticking to her damp skin.

She got up and decided maybe a shower to cool her down from the humid night may help.

As Bea stepped into the ensuite, she took a look at herself in the mirror. Her under eyes looked dark from how tired she was. She needed this break. Work had been hectic and this retreat was a "present" from her boss for all her hard work. Hardly a present, she thought, when you're there to research for work. She rolled her eyes and looked at the frizz of hair atop her head. Her curls did not like the humidity of Egypt currently and she was suddenly very glad she had packed her frizz serum and curl control cream.

She unpacked her toiletry bag so her lotions and potions were within reach of the decadent looking shower. She made sure she had the towels ready for her and stepped out of her chemise and into the spacious shower area. She turned the knob on the shower… nothing happened. She looked around in case there was a switch but she couldn't see anything.

"Fuck." She muttered to herself as she vacated the shower and pulled her chemise back on.

She walked to the phone in the bedroom and dialled the reception desk.

"Hello, Pine, here. How may I help you?" A deep voice she recognised answered.

"Ah… um, Mr Pine? It's Bea Tallow here. I appear to be having trouble with the shower not turning on. Is there a special knack to it or…"

"Bea! Hello! No, no special knack needed. I will see if…oh. No idea where Raul went. I will come up to assist now. I will be there in 5 minutes." The phone hung up.

Oh god! Jonathan Pine was about to be in her room! Her heart rate quickened and she ran into the bathroom to try and tame her unruly hair quickly. The door knocked with 2 short raps and her stomach flipped over.

"OK, Bea. Get a grip!" She said to herself. "He is here to do his job. No other reason. And you! Behaving like a schoolgirl with a crush! Mr Pine likely has a partner - or at least a list of people that aren't you."

She moved towards the door and opened to that beautiful smile and clear blue eyes.

"Thank you so much for coming, Mr…" she saw the look on his face and corrected herself. "Jonathan. Thank you, Jonathan."

"No problem at all, Bea. Some of these hotels are very beautiful but the local plumbing can leave a lot to be desired. May I?" He gestured towards the bathroom.

"Sure. Yes, of course." Bea followed him in. The air conditioner was humming and she felt her nipples begin to react to the cool air.

Jonathan was rolling the sleeves of his shirt up and she caught sight of his tanned and toned arms. She realised he was talking again and flushed red.

"I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me there!" She stuttered.

Jonathan smiled an easy smile at her.

"You seem quite the dreamer, Miss Tallow" and he chuckled. It was a lovely sound and she smiled in return. "I said that I will have to go to the boiler room to see what the problem is but I will be right back. Is that OK? I'm very sorry about this."

"No, no. Don't be. These things happen." She said,

His gaze seemed to linger on her a little longer and she was reminded of the very slight item of clothing she was wearing. She folded her arms quickly, hoping he hadn't seen her nipples and got the wrong idea… or the right idea. She was so tired now that she had little clue herself.

"I'll be right back." He said as he left the room and she closed and chained the door behind him.

A few moments later, she heard a noise in the bathroom and the shower was flowing with steaming water.

The door knocked with the same raps as before and she hurried to open it.

"Did it work?" He asked her.

"It did! Thank you so much. I can now shower before I try to sleep again." As the words left her mouth, she mentally kicked herself.

Jonathan smiled at her and his eyes seemed glittering with amusement… or something else. He licked his lips slowly and said "I will bid you adieu then, Bea. Enjoy your shower. Goodnight."

Bea slowly shut the door, her heart racing.

"No. We do not have time for this, Beatrice Tallow!" She scolded herself. "The man is just being polite and doing his job. That is all."

As she stepped into the shower, finally, she remained unconvinced that she had imagined him glancing at her body in her nightwear. It surprised her how much the thought excited her.

As she finally got back into bed, she fell into a restless sleep dreaming of the man with eyes like the ocean.