Naughty Nights: A Bad Boy Romance Read Free

and I stared at each other with something bordering on panic, but then Mrs. T. snapped us both out of it. She turned to me and said, “What are you waiting for, girl? Go hide in the shower!”
    * * *
    That next Friday, I stayed at work later than I’d meant to. It’d been a really long day, and just as I was finally gathering my things to go home, Mr. Grant had shown up with a long list of complaints about the dining hall. That was surprising. I ate with the residents a few times a week, and the food was pretty good. As I listened patiently to his complaints, it became clearer what the real issue was.
    “And then yesterday,” he continued, “my roast beef was so rare that it could have walked off the plate. And the ladies at the table next to mine, their chicken looked bone dry. They didn’t really notice, they were too busy talking and laughing. But I noticed. And this morning, my toast was burnt. Every time I picked it up, black crumbs fell all over my newspaper. And the guys at the next table, the ones who play poker after dinner, had very runny eggs.”
    I gently stopped him. “I’m really sorry this happened, Mr. Grant. Maybe on Monday, I could eat lunch with you and you could show me the food?”
    “Oh. Yeah, I guess I could do that.”
    “And maybe Mrs. Stinson and Miss O’Leary could join us. Have you met them? Mrs. Stinson’s a great cook, and Miss O’Leary used to work in the restaurant industry, so you can ask their views of the food. You’ll have a lot to talk about.”
    He left much happier than when he arrived. I certainly understood his unspoken desire to share mealtimes with others. I hated eating in my room by myself on nights that Luke wasn’t at the hotel. Meals were much more fun with friends, and I was pretty sure Mr. Grant would like the women I was going to introduce him to on Monday. Plus, they’d probably defend the food around this place, which would be a bonus.
    I wished that all of the residents’ problems could be resolved that easily. Also, I hoped that next time he was upset, he’d come find me a little earlier in the day. I was anxious to start my weekend. And, okay, I could admit it—anxious to see Luke. I’d already planned what I’d change into, and how I’d fix my hair. Not that it was a date. I knew that, and I dutifully answered “Not tonight,” when John asked me if I had a hot date on my way out the door.
    * * *
    A half dozen guests crowded around the front desk when I got to the hotel, so I decided to take my time. I took a shower, brushed my hair, and put on a rose-colored, scoop neck sweater and my favorite jeans. And just for the hell of it, I slipped into some sexy sandals with a three-inch heel. Luke was tall enough for that. Not that it mattered since we spent so much time separated by a counter.
    It was after nine by the time I caught him alone. He looked tired when I approached, but his eyes lit up. At least I thought they did. At least I hoped they did.  
    “Chicago-style deep dish pizza?” he said, which was not his usual greeting. “Please say ‘yes.’ I’ve been craving it all day.”
    “Yessss,” I said, dragging the syllable out. “But I hate to break it to you that we’re not in Chicago.”
    “Never fear—I know a place. What do you want on it?”
    I knew the proper answer when sharing a pizza with a guy. “Pepperoni.”
    “You’re perfect,” he said, and fortunately he was too busy dialing to notice my involuntary smile. By the time he’d finished ordering, I’d managed to wipe it off my face. Mostly. “It’s going to be over an hour.”
    I looked at the large clock on the wall behind him. That would make it well after his shift ended. “Can you stay that late?”
    “Of course, dummy. I don’t turn into a pumpkin after ten.” He grinned when he said it, but then his face fell. “Shit, I forgot.”
    “Forgot what?”
    “I was thinking earlier that maybe we should cool it on eating in the office in the evenings. For a