The Bartender's Daughter

Chapter Nineteen

(Back to Alli's POV)

Nate dropped me off outside the hotel and promised to text me the details as soon as he got home.

The doorman opened the door with a smile and the lady at the desk gave me a nod. I rode the elevator up by myself and watched as the number slowly ticked by until I had reached the top floor. My first couple steps out of the elevator were confident ones, and then as I saw the door at the end of the hallway get closer I started to slow down and my heart started to pound. What was going to happen when I unlocked that door? Was it going to be like Pandora's box? Except I guess there would be little to no hope inside. There might as well have been a sign on the door that said "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

 When I finally reached the door I looked back and forth from the key in my hand to the lock for maybe two minutes before taking a deep breath and pushing it in. I turned it and open the door to see Emmit and Anderson sitting on the two love seats across from each other, Anderson with his laptop and Emmit with some papers and charts. Emmit stood quickly when he saw me and I was instantly filled with anger when he smiled like everything was alright between us.

He opened his mouth to say something but I held up my hand. "Before you say a word, I will not listen to a thing you have to say unless it's an apology."

He closed his mouth and rubbed his chin. "I'm sorry for what I said Alli, I didn't know it was going to have the effect that it did. I don't think you're worthless, I think you're just safer and more valuable here than with us. Your father wanted you to return back to California in one piece alive, and I'm pretty sure Jack plans on making that happen." He smirked at me as my cheeks grew red. "I didn't run around London all day with Jack looking for you, so I could call your father and tell him you died because you were too stubborn."

My eyes grew wide and I glanced at Anderson who gave me a small nod of confirmation. "You did what?"

"Yeah, Jack didn't take you running off too well."

I nodded, looking at the ground as my face grew redder. "Right, well, I'm fine. And I made up my mind today without your help and rude comments. I'll stay here, but stop treating me like a god damn child Emmit. I'm 21 not 12."

Emmit nodded and I walked towards my bedroom and closed the door softly behind me. I sat on the edge of the bed and slipped off my shoes. Walking around all day in heels might look glamorous but they hurt like a bitch after a few hours. I flexed my toes and stood up and gave a small sigh of relief.Oh how I loved flat ground.

"That feels amazing..." I muttered as I strolled over to the closet and pulled out a robe. I unzipped my dress and stepped out of it and tied the robe around me. It felt like a comforter was wrapped around my body, except all the softness that was on the inside, was now on the outside and covering me like a cloud. I took the phone that Nate had given me and hid it in the closet with my dress, and turned it on silent. I took my PJ's and made my way over to the bathroom door.

I knocked, opened it, and yelped in surprise. Jack was standing in the middle of the bathroom, completely butt naked, with his back to me. I yelled again and covered my eyes. I almost ran into the door frame as I tried to run out of the bathroom. I slammed the door shut behind me and took a small step into the room, my head buzzing and cheeks growing hot with a blush. As soon as the door was closed I opened my eyes and I'm sure they looked like saucers as I stared blankly out the window, the images I had just seen flashing through my mind.

One of my first thoughts? Jack had a really nice ass. Second, his legs and back looked so fit. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for good looking backs and shoulders, it's weird. It's like I can judge someones physique from just their back, and Jack was killing it. My third thought? Well, the censored version was: Holy cow I just saw Jack naked! The uncensored version should never be spoken aloud in public or private settings. You can use your imagination all you want.