"Hale, won't you help Ashley take her bags up to her room?" Grandma said after lunch while we were trying to sort through the luggage.
"I'm sure I can take them myself." I said through clenched teeth.

"Don't be such a spoil sport." Hale said and grabbed my bags for me. I sighed and walked up the grand staircase after him.

"Which room?" I heard him yell and I rolled my eyes. I dangled the keycard and saw a little wooden piece with the numbers A13 painted in white font.

"You're lucky, Leilani doesn't often use that side of the hotel anymore." He said as we slowly made our way down a beautiful hallway to the room.

"Why?" I asked curiously, looking at the many more paintings on the walls.
Obviously not looking where I was going, I walked right into Hale.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled and took a cautious step back.
"She keeps this side of the hotel for her VIP guests." He said, taking the card from my hand and turning to unlock the door.

"All you need to do is take the side with the barcode and make sure the scanner does three beeps, then you'll surely be able to go in." He said, and I rolled my eyes at his failed attempt to show me how to unlock the door.

He stepped aside and motioned me in.
"Ladies first."
I snorted.
"So now you decide to find your manners." I say, picking up my backpack and heading inside.

The room was beautifully painted a pastel blue, with the same colour bedding and white pillows.

The bed was a queen size overlooking onto a small balcony with sliding doors and I found another door leading to an even more stunning bathroom with marble counter tops.

Hale brought in the suitcase and placed it next to the bed.
"Thanks, for helping with the bags." I muttered, loud enough for him to hear.

"No problem. Listen, I stay in the little cabin not too far from here. You should stop by to see the rest of my paintings." He said and I arched a brow as he leaned on the doorway.

"Is that an invitation?" I asked, crossing my arms and he laughed.
"Yeah, it's something nice people do." He said and I felt my face grow hot with anger again.

I threw my hands up.
"Just when I thought you were being nice." I said walking up to him and I had to look up to see his face.

"News flash princess, I don't need you here anymore than you want to be here." He said and backed me up until my back touched the wall.

He placed both his hands beside my head to cage me in. I swallowed and watched as his eyes grow dark as he looked at my face.

"So we're going to pretend to be nice to one another?" I asked shakily as his eyes bore into mine.
"We don't have to pretend anything." He said softly and I felt his breath over my face, making the hairs on my neck stand.

His face was so close. Our eyes met and just for one second heat flared, making my mouth dry.
I licked my dry lips and immediately he pushed away from me and stormed for the door.

"See you around, princess."

"Hale." He turned to look at me.
"Close the door on your way out. Please." I said and once the door clicked shut, I sank to the floor, using the wall behind me as a guide. 

What was that?

I felt as if I'd been given a jolt of electricity and still felt the tingling  aftershock. My face felt warm and I felt goosebumps form on my arms when I thought about the way his breath felt on my skin.

Like a little girl, I felt giddy. The adrenaline rush of having him so close still ran through my veins and I stood up slowly. 

From behind the glass doors, I saw Hale marching from downstairs, starting across the big field to a little building I saw in the distance. He shoved his hands in his pockets roughly.

I took a deep breath and picked up the key card. Maybe grandma has something I can do to clear my head.

"Grandma?" I called as I entered the crisp, white kitchen. People were busying themselves behind stoves and chopping boards. Probably getting ready for the lunch rush.

"I'm over here." She called and found her icing a cake.
"Hi grandma."

"Hi dear. Do you know how to make chocolate flowers?" She asked as I sat down in a chair across from her.
"I know a little bit, but I can try." I said, desperately needed something to keep my hands busy.

"Then you better get started, this cake needs to be done soon." She said and I began making the chocolate flowers.

"So why do you look so down?" She began and I sighed.
"My friends are going on their ski trip and I desperately wanted to go with."

"But your parents dragged you here to your crippled grandparents." She said dramatically.
"I've missed you so much grandma, I really have. I was just looking forward to that trip." I said and handed her the  chocolate flower I'd made so far.

She placed it gently on the cake and sat down, making more chocolate flowers.

"Well, tomorrow, I have to head into town. Why don't you come by tomorrow morning and you can tag along?" She said and looked at me from the rim of her spectacles.

"That sounds nice, thank you grandma." I said and began making leaves for the flowers.
"Be done at eight, then we can have breakfast before we go."

"Here they are!" My father yelled as he spotted us from across the kitchen.
"What's wrong dad?" I asked as I walked over to him.

"Your mother's been trying to get hold of you. Nearly got hold of me by the throat. You know how that woman is." He said, self consciously holding his neck.

I laughed and made my way back to grandma as grandpa joined us.
"Hale left in quite a huff." He said and rose a brow at me.
"Did you have an argument?"

"More like a lovers quarrel." Grandma said and chuckled with a smile on her face.
"Grandma!" I said loudly and she patted my hand reassuringly.

"I'm sorry, I won't get involved in your relationship." She said and smiled. I huffed and muttered a few curses, folding the delicate chocolate into rose petals.

After the cake was beautifully decorated and a few final touches were added, grandma handed it to grandpa who was taking it to a client in town.

It was already heading to five o'clock and the sun had began setting slowly, disappearing behind the horizon.

I wanted to watch it set but the light shining from Hale's cabin in the distance made me roughly shut the curtains.

I sat on the edge of the bed and buried my face in my hands.
I had prepared myself for a skiing trip. Not a holiday on the beach.

Sulking was not going to get me anywhere.

I stood up and dusted my jeans off. I crouched down to where the suitcase was sitting and zipped the bag open.

A dozen different t-shirts tumbled out and landed on the pale carpeted floor.
I'd eventually found my lilac and white pajama shorts and matching shirt. Tossing them on the bed, I had to dig for my panties.

I wasn't fussy with my underwear but I had a few pretty ones with lace trimmings that I absolutely adored.

I picked up my toiletry bag and gathered my clothes, heading into the bathroom for a well damn deserved shower.