The drive from the conference venue to the hotel took barely fifteen minutes, yet Denisse spent most of it replaying the image of Lesley laughing with that poised woman. The city lights blurred past the windows as traffic hummed softly around them. Lesley drove with one hand on the wheel, relaxed, as if nothing unusual had happened at all.
Denisse sat stiffly beside her, hands folded in her lap, posture far too proper for someone who had been up since dawn.
When the hotel finally came into view, Denisse felt a small wave of relief.
At least this part was under control.
The lobby was elegant and warmly lit, with polished marble floors and soft instrumental music floating through the air. The scent of fresh flowers lingered faintly, calming and expensive. Denisse stepped forward, shoulders straight, assistant mode fully engaged.
"Good evening, ma'am," the receptionist greeted them with a bright smile. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes," Denisse said promptly. "Reservation under Lesley Ashford."
"Just a moment, ma'am."
The receptionist turned to her computer, fingers tapping quickly on the keyboard. Denisse waited patiently, hands clasped in front of her. Lesley stood beside her, unreadable, eyes wandering lazily around the lobby as if she owned it.
"Got it," the receptionist said cheerfully. She slid a keycard across the counter. "Here's the key for room 201. This will definitely suit you and your girlfriend. It's one of our best lovers' rooms."
Denisse blinked.
"I'm sorry, wait—lovers' room?" Her voice rose slightly despite her effort to stay calm. "And... where's the key for the other room?"
The receptionist glanced at the screen again. "Your booking is only for one room, ma'am."
"What?" Denisse's stomach dropped. "No, that's not right. First of all, we're not lovers, and I booked two rooms. Can you please double-check?"
As the receptionist frowned and typed again, Denisse risked a glance at Lesley.
Lesley was smiling.
Not openly. No. It was subtle. The kind of smile that looked like it took genuine effort to suppress. Her lips were pressed together, eyes amused, shoulders relaxed like she was enjoying a private joke.
Denisse's face heated.
"Ma'am," the receptionist said apologetically, "I double-checked. I'm really sorry, but it seems another receptionist mistakenly assigned another guest's reservation to yours."
"Oh my God," Denisse murmured, rubbing her temple. "Fine. Can you just give us another room, then?"
"I'm very sorry, ma'am," the receptionist replied. "We're fully booked tonight."
This is not happening, Denisse thought.
Before she could say anything else, Lesley reached forward, casually snatching the keycard from the counter.
"We'll take it," Lesley said smoothly, already turning away.
"But Ms. Ashford," Denisse said quickly, hurrying after her, "it's good for one person only."
Lesley didn't stop walking. "I drove for hours, sat through a conference for even longer, and I want to rest now, Ms. Moore."
Her tone was calm, final.
Denisse pressed her lips together and followed silently.
The elevator ride was quiet, filled only with the soft hum of the machinery and Denisse's rapidly spiraling thoughts. She stared at the glowing floor numbers, willing them to move faster.
When they reached the room, Lesley swiped the keycard and pushed the door open.
They both froze.
The room was unmistakably romantic.
Rose petals were scattered across the floor, leading toward the bed. More petals rested on pristine white sheets, arranged carefully into a heart. A small table nearby held two glasses, a bottle of wine, and a plate of strawberries. Soft lighting bathed the room in warm amber tones. Two plush robes hung neatly by the bathroom door.
Denisse's brain short-circuited.
"I didn't expect our honeymoon to be this early," Lesley said lightly as she stepped inside.
Denisse turned to glare at her. "This is not funny."
Lesley laughed and flopped backward onto the bed, arms spreading out as if she owned the place. "If you wanted us in one room that badly, you could've just said so," she teased. "No need for the elaborate act." She punctuated it with a wink.
"Of course not," Denisse snapped, the words leaving her mouth a second too fast. "Why would I want to be in one room with you?"
Only after did she catch herself—caught the edge in her tone, the way she'd spoken without rank or restraint. For a brief, irritating moment, she'd almost forgotten that Lesley was her boss.
Lesley only shrugged, that maddening smirk still in place, before disappearing into the bathroom.
Denisse stood there, hands clenched at her sides.
She's impossible.
And yet, despite the irritation twisting in her chest, the thought of them sharing one room sent her heart thudding faster than she cared to admit.
Minutes later, after showers and a careful routine of drying her hair and completing her nighttime skincare, Denisse approached the bed and snatched up a pillow, her movements sharp and purposeful.
"Hey," Lesley said, half lying, half sitting against the headboard, tablet in hand as she scrolled through documents. "Where are you going?"
"The couch, Ms. Ashford."
"The couch?" Lesley frowned. "No. Sleep here."
"I don't want you to be uncomfortable," Denisse said stiffly. "The couch is fine with me."
Lesley lowered her tablet and looked at her properly now. "Is that really the reason? Or are you just afraid of what might happen if we sleep next to each other?"
"What? No!" Denisse protested instantly.
"Then sleep here," Lesley said, patting the space beside her. "No more arguments. It's an order from the CEO."
Denisse hesitated.
Then sighed.
She placed the pillow back and climbed onto the bed, carefully leaving a respectable amount of space between them. She turned onto her side, facing away from Lesley, her heart pounding unreasonably loud.
She could feel her there. Just inches away. The warmth of her body. The faint scent of soap and something unmistakably Lesley.
A few minutes passed. Then more.
The bed shifted slightly as Lesley settled in, movements slowing, breathing evening out.
Denisse assumed she was asleep.
Slowly, cautiously, Denisse turned around.
She froze.
Lesley was awake.
They lay face to face, separated by only a few inches. Lesley's eyes were soft now, unguarded, her expression calm in the dim light. Denisse's heart thudded so hard she was sure Lesley could hear it.
"Good night, Denisse," Lesley said quietly, smiling.
Then she turned away.
Denisse lay there, stunned, staring at the space where Lesley's face had been.
Good night, she replied silently.
The words lingered in her chest, warm and restless, as the room settled into quiet. Outside, the city murmured softly through the windows, distant and alive, while beside her Lesley's breathing evened out, slow and steady.
Denisse stared into the dim glow of the room, heart still refusing to calm, aware of every inch of space between them and how small it felt. She turned onto her side again, this time not to escape, but simply to exist in the moment.
Somewhere between the hush of the city and the warmth of another body so close, sleep finally found her—gentler than she expected, carrying with it a feeling she wasn't ready to name yet, but knew she would remember in the morning.