32. CHECK IN
"My name is Aiden Grayson. I have a reservation set that I'd like to extend by a couple of days, if possible," Aiden said to the concierge who – after taking off his shades to get a better look at the girl – just so happened to be a petite and busty ginger with bright green eyes and a bashful smile. Aiden glanced at her nametag and smiled. "Can you do that for me, Michelle?"
Michelle blushed and then absentmindedly placed a hand over her nametag as Aiden's eyes began to wander. He was undoubtedly the hottest man she'd ever laid eyes on, and that was saying a lot because plenty of celebrities passed through this hotel on the regular, but she'd yet to see a man as dazzling as Aiden Grayson.
"You okay, sweetheart?" Aiden knew what the woman was thinking – or for a better term, fantasizing about – just from the star-struck look on her face. This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last, that he looked someone in the eyes and left them speechless. He just had that effect on people. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"I-I'm not startled." Michelle's cheeks reddened as she turned away from Aiden and with much effort, walked over to the computer to dig up his information. Her hands were shaking slightly as she typed on the keyboard. "Did you bring any company with you, Mr. Grayson? Are you here alone?"
"I won't be for much longer," Aiden muttered under his breath, walking towards the end of the desk to where Michelle stood. "How long have you been working here, Michelle?"
"Just over two years," she answered, not making eye contact. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious." Aiden smiled, resting his arms on the desk as he eyed the timid concierge intently. He was only toying with the poor girl. She was making it so easy for him to get under her skin. Plus, he needed to do something to keep himself occupied until Julian arrived. Aiden didn't know how long he'd be out messing around with Cassie. "How old are you?"
"Old enough." Michelle finally turned around to see Aiden staring at her and when their eyes locked, she almost forgot how to breathe. "I-I was unable to pull up anything under your name. Are you sure you're the one who made the reservation here?"
"Sorry, you should try Julian McAndrew instead. He made the reservation," Aiden replied, leaning over the desk. "Why are you so jumpy, Michelle? Do I make you nervous?"
The girl turned away from him with quickness, purposely not answering his question because she was sure that he already knew the answer. As she did a new search for Julian's name, she couldn't help but wonder if she were dreaming or if this beautiful man was seriously flirting with her. It couldn't possibly be the latter, could it?
"I do see that a weekend reservation's been made under the name Julian McAndrew," Michelle said. "Unless you're him, which you aren't, I won't be able to set you up in a room until you supply some type of identification. It's hotel policy."
"You know who I am, right?" Aiden asked in a soft tone. The girl nodded. "Then my word should be enough to go by. Julian McAndrew is my bodyguard. He made the reservation for me because had I done it myself under my name, everyone and their mother would know that I'm staying here. It's sad when the littlest things about me somehow find their way to the press. Now, as much as I'd love to give your hotel the free publicity, I value my privacy more. So, with that being said, can you possibly give me a pass?"
"Mr. Grayson, I really can't—" Michelle started.
"If I have to wait in this lobby until my bodyguard gets here just know that you'll have me to deal with until then." Aiden winked at the girl. Her cheeks lit up. "Just let me sign in and give me the key to my room, Michelle. I won't tell anyone what you did, I promise."
"I could get fired for doing something like that." Michelle stared at him, unsure of what to do next. "What's in it for me, anyway?"
"Whatever you want, Michelle." Aiden chuckled. "And I bet I know exactly what you want. It's written all over your face. You're not hard to read, sweetheart."
"Hey, 'Chelle! Have you seen what's been trending on Twitter today? It's hilarious—" Trevor, a blonde haired older man the same height and build as Aiden, came out from a back room running his mouth, that is until his eyes landed on Aiden. "Holy shit, I know who you are!"
"Do you?" Aiden sighed, growing impatient. "Maybe you can help your colleague here and get me the key to my room. I've been standing here for almost ten minutes trying to check in."
"Really?" Trevor asked, looking at Michelle with a confused expression as he moved past her and took charge, brushing her out of the way. "I'm so sorry about that, Mr. Grayson. Michelle doesn't normally check people in. She only recently started running the front desk. We're kind of short on staff at the moment. Not like that's any interest to you."
"Please ignore Trevor, Mr. Grayson." Michelle rolled her eyes at her co-worker. "He tends to ramble with strangers."
"The reservation is under my bodyguard's name, Julian McAndrew," Aiden said, ignoring Michelle's small dig at Trevor. "And I'd like to extend my stay to Wednesday, if possible."
"Not a problem." Trevor typed away on the computer as Michelle muttered something under her breath. "All done!" He grabbed a key from off the wall behind him and passed it to Aiden. "Do you need a hand with your bags?"
"Yes, please." Aiden smiled, looking over at Michelle. "Care to give me a hand, sweetheart?"
Michelle's eyes grew wide as Aiden and Trevor both stared at her with an unreadable expression. "S-sure, I guess."
"Maybe you can give me a tour as well," Aiden went on after Trevor retreated behind the desk. And he knew that he should probably back off, but it was just too much fun messing with the girl. "I've never been here before, you know. It's a pretty big hotel and I'd hate to get lost."
"I'm not much of a tour guide, though." Michelle grabbed the handle to one of Aiden's rolling suitcases while he pulled another one along, carrying a different bag thrown over his shoulder. "I mean I can at most show you where the pool is, but I think a few of the suites on your floor is equipped with a Jacuzzi. Your room might actually have one."
"For what I'm paying, it damn well better," Aiden joked.
Michelle laughed as they reached the elevator, growing bold now that it was just the two of them alone with no one else watching or listening in. "You never answered my question earlier."
"What question?" Aiden replied.
"If you were here alone," Michelle said.
"And if I told you that I was?" Aiden asked.
"I wouldn't believe you," Michelle muttered; she desperately wanted to make a move towards Aiden to let him know that she was interested in him, but she was too afraid of being rejected.
"I wouldn't if I were you, either," Aiden replied.
"Why do you say that?" Michelle asked.
"Because I'm a very good liar," Aiden smirked. And then they rode the rest of the elevator ride in silence.
. . . . .