Marry Me

Chapter 4

     After Alondra talked to her friend at the front desk, she walked out to my car, dangling a key card out towards me. With a smile, she said "King sized bed, for their basic rate." I took the card from her and asked "Wow, how did you swing that?" 

     "I told her I would get her a date with my brother."

     "Wow, pimping out your brother just to help a stranger?" I asked, laughing. She shrugged and said "Mario thinks she is hot anyway, so I know it can be done." 

     We stood and looked at each other for a few moments. I was crazy tired, but I didn't want her to leave. Alondra looked like she wanted to say something, but every time she took in a breath to speak, she looked away. Finally, I said "So, um do you want to show me to my room? This place is huge, I may get lost."

     Alondra grinned and looped her arm through mine. 

     "Come on, stranger." She said with a laugh. 

     " You need rest. You still look like you have been hit by a truck."

     This was the nicest Holiday Inn I had ever seen. The lobby was brightly lit and littered with arm chairs. The breakfast bar lined the back wall, waiting to be covered in food in just a few short hours. On the far right, water streamed down the wall into a large pool that sat behind some tables. The tiles were green and blue and glittered behind the falling water.

     The floors were pearly white, and must be a bitch to keep clean, but damn if there weren't any scuff marks to be seen. The elevators sat straight ahead. Their doors were gold and shined like they had been freshly wiped down. As we walked by the check in desk, the woman behind it waved at us. Her hair was up and she wore a white shirt under a blue blazer. I nodded in her direction and followed Alondra to the golden doors.

     She pressed the up button and we waited in silence. The doors opened a few moments later and we stepped into the box. The walls were covered in floor to ceiling mirrors, which also were free of fingerprints or smudges. Leaning across me, she pressed the 9th button, and the doors closed.

     "I never stay on the first floor in hotels." She told me. 

     "Too easy for bugs and burglars to get in the windows." I responded. She looked up at me with a smile and said "Exactly! Some people think I am crazy, but I think you are crazy if you don't think people are dumb enough to bust into a hotel room from the window!"

     The elevator dinged and the doors opened to my floor. Alondra pulled me out and to the left. At the very end of the hall on the left, was the room. I fished the card out of my pocket and slid it into the card scanner. The lights turned green and I heard the door unlock. I opened the door and reached inside for the top latch. I flipped it and closed the door again, so that the latch stuck out and kept the door from closing. 

     I looked over at Alondra and said "Well, I guess I better let you go before Mario thinks I kidnapped you. She laughed and said "He knows I can take care of myself. " In silence we stared at each other again. I wanted her to stay. I didn't feel like being alone with my thoughts.

     I opened my arms and asked "For being so nice and helpful to the loser who wandered into town?" She smiled and stepped into my arms. I held her close for a few moments, and into my shoulder she said "It was my pleasure."

     She pulled away, but only far enough to look up at me. She didn't let go, and neither did I. She was staring at my lips. That damn voice in my head whispered "Do it." So, leaning down slightly, I murmured "You can stay, if you'd like to." Alondra's breath hitched and she pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth for just a moment. Pushing up onto her toes she whispered "I'd love to."

     I slid my hands down her back and grabbed her hand. I kicked the door open and pulled her into my room, this time, I moved the latch and let it slam shut behind us.