Ruby Red, The Sequel - The Romance Story Continues (Complete)

Chapter 34

Sam stood at the hotel door and waited, the sound of his knock echoing down the empty corridor.

He could hear Scout whining on the other side of the thin wood separating them. He didn't know if Ali was in there or not, but when Sam saw the light shift under the gap in the door, his stomach tightened in anticipation.

It had been too long since he had laid eyes on her. Too long since he felt the warmth of her skin, heard the lilt of her laugh, been in her presence. The coldness of text messages left him hollow and missing Ali. Tonight, he could not take it anymore. He had to see her.

It had taken a few hours and the help of his assistant to track down where Ali might be. Ashely had stayed late after work to narrow down the hotels allowing dogs as permanent guests as well as humans. It had taken most of the evening to drive around the city visiting the ones with the highest potential. Sam had struck out time after time, returning to his motorcycle dismayed and disheartened.

Sam had decided this hotel would be his last stop, giving up hope of finding her when he struck gold. As he was parking his bike, Sam saw Noah strolling through the lobby. Of course, the gallery owner could have been visiting anyone, but the connection to Ali was enough to boost Sam's confidence.

He approached the hotel reception desk and zeroed in on the lone female occupant. Concentrating his boy-next-door smile on her, Sam wove a tale of wanting to surprise his girlfriend on the unsuspecting girl. It took a bit of convincing but eventually he was able to worm Ali's hotel room number out of her after showing her a collage of pictures of the two of them on his phone.

Brimming with hope, Sam rode the elevator to her floor and bounded out of the open doors. Only as he approached Ali's hotel room did Sam begin to doubt himself. Ali had asked for space. He had promised to give it to her. He had given her days. Was that enough?

Driving forward, he decided he had to find out. He told himself he just had to see her with his own eyes.

And then she was there. The hotel door had swung open to reveal the love of his life standing in front of him. All doubts flew away as he looked upon her. She was as radiant as ever, dressed in a shimmery white blouse and blue pencil skirt matching the sapphire blue eyes he missed staring into.

He took a step forward, calling her name. He wanted to pull her towards him, kiss her and beg for forgiveness.

But he didn't get a chance. Scout pushed in between them, slamming into Sam and stopping his trajectory. At the same time Ali stepped back. Well more like wobbled back, clutching the door for support. It was then Sam noticed that not everything was right with his Ali.

She was normally a lesson in perfection. He had seen Ali take on the wind tunnels masquerading as the streets of New York without letting a hair get out of place. But now, her locks, which were pulled into a tight bun, had errant strands escaping in a very un-Ali like way. Her form-fitting clothing was slightly askew, giving her a rumpled look. Her eyes were rimmed with red and seemed to be having trouble focusing on him. Both her hands clung to the door as if it alone was responsible for keeping her upright.

After what seemed like an eternity, Ali finally spoke. "What are you doing here?" Her words came out slightly slurred.

Was Ali drunk?

The question was on his lips, but he fought to keep the words in. The way Ali looked at him, it was like she was daring him to comment on her state. He could see her resolve hardening before him. A fight was the last thing he wanted. That was not why he had come.

Sam swallowed hard. Of all the scenarios he had run through early this afternoon in anticipation of this moment, Ali being intoxicated had never entered his mind. How had this happened? Sam remembered seeing Noah in the lobby. Then he had been hopeful Noah meant Ali was near.