Unveiling Love

Chapter Ten

Sandro parked the truck and ran inside to get us checked in. He came back out with the keys to our rooms, so we grabbed our bags before heading inside. When he'd said the hotel was huge, I didn't picture something quite so large. It honestly looked as big as a football stadium, although I couldn't be sure about the size. I'd only ever attended one pro game in my life. The Bengals are a big deal in Ohio but try as he may, Dad could never get me into sports.

"I have to go get ready so that I can be down in the lobby in less than an hour. You can come to listen to the auction," Sandro said. He handed me my room key, and we took the elevator to the eighth floor.

"That's okay. I'll probably go hang out at the shopping center until it gets a little closer to six-thirty."

Sandro sighed.

"I'm going to ignore that," I said. "Stop acting like I'm a child."

"We're in another state, Sweetheart. Far from anyone either of us knows. Is it the worst thing in the world that I want to make sure you're safe? I'm not acting like you're a child; I'm simply trying to make sure I return with you when I go home."

The 'sweetheart' sounded snarky, so I don't let it do anything to my heart or my hopes.

"I get it, but I also have a lot of hours to kill, and I don't have the slightest interest in attending an auction I'm too poor for."

"They have a game room in the lobby," he offered with a smirk.

"Are you teasing me because I like to play games?" I asked.

His smirk turned into a grin. "Absolutely not. I've always been a video game fan, so there's no judgment coming from me."

The elevator doors slid open as I said, "My brothers taught me when I was little. Some of my favorite memories are playing Halo with them."

"So, you're a Halo girl, huh?" he asked. We stepped out, and he pointed down the hall. Once we stopped, he handed me the key card for room 8016 before he swiped his card for room 8009. We'd be a hallway apart.

"I was. But I'm not a little girl anymore, Sandro," I said before turning and leaving him behind. I felt him staring after me until I turned the corner.

***

As much as I hated to admit it, I ended up in the game room and couldn't force myself to leave. I ended up playing foosball with a few teenage girls that were cracking me up. Every time one of them got a goal on me, they would all do a very insane dance where they twirled their arms and wobbled their legs. Ah, to be that young again.

Actually, no. I thought, almost laughing out loud. To be that young again would be my worst nightmare.

At five-thirty, I admitted defeat and excused myself from the game, heading upstairs to get showered.

I decided to curl my black hair, so instead of falling mid-back, it rested just below my shoulder blades. I lined my eyes with a gold eyeliner and used the best mascara I could find. I threw on my all-black outfit and grabbed the small ID the front desk had given Sandro for me before taking the elevator back down to the lobby.

People were rushing back and forth throughout the entire conference hall, which was completely astounding. Balloons were hanging in waves all over the wall. The chandeliers that were hanging low when I walked in were being lifted higher, toward the ceiling, causing the room to grow a little darker.

I was still staring at the decorations when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and looked up into Sandro's eyes, smiling when he grinned down at me. "I see you made it," he said.

"I couldn't get past the game room," I admitted.

"Come on, and I'll take you where you need to go." Like it was second nature, Sandro grabbed my hand and began to pull me in the direction of the far wall. I could see waiters in the same outfits I'd worn, but my brain was short-circuiting because Sandro was holding my hand. Every time I blinked, the day of my twentieth birthday.

Sandro taking my hand.

Sandro pulling me around the corner of the house, so we were hidden from view.

Sandro's hand moving my hair from my face.

His lips lightly pressing against mine.

My eyes closed. The wind roared in my ears. My hands shook. My heart exploded.

"This is Christian," Sandro shouted over the growing sound of chatter in the room, effectively pulling me out of one of my most cherished memories.

I stuck my hand out and shook Christian's. "I'm Rosa," I said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Rosa. Just head in the back and take a seat. I'll be there in about ten minutes to give some quick instructions. Don't worry, it's not much, just a few pointers."

It was then I realized Sandro still had a grip on my other hand. I looked down at our clasped hands and then up at him, giving him a questioning look.

"If you need me at all, I'm over at the south door," he said, pointing. I nodded and smiled, slowly pulling away from him.

It wasn't the most sound logic I'd ever had, but I wondered if Sandro was the type of man to want to chase rather than be chased. It was apparent there was something he was trying to run from when it came to me, but he also seemed attracted to me.

We just needed to figure out what to do about all of it.