Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [89]
“Here you are, Ms. Dunbar,” the hotel receptionist said, reclaiming Sage’s attention as she slid a door key-card to her across the counter. “Your room has been ready since noon.”
Sage nodded. “My plane was delayed. They had to de-ice the runway.”
The pretty young woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties, gave Sage a warm chuckle. “Boy, I can’t imagine something like that while suffering from this Texas heat. Where’re you from?”
“I flew in from Anchorage,” Sage responded, smiling, glancing down at her key-card to see what floor she was staying on.
“Well, welcome to Texas.”
“Thanks.” Moments later Sage stepped into the elevator. Her thoughts shifted to Erol. She knew he was staying somewhere in this same hotel, attending a business meeting that ended today. She hoped the two of them would be able to sit down and discuss the past, clear things up for the final time and walk away friends.
More than anything, she wanted to get back to Anchorage and be with Gabe.
After a quick shower, Sage slipped into a mint green dress. She applied her makeup, combed her hair, and picked up her purse to leave the room. She glanced at the huge arrangement of flowers that had been delivered an hour ago, a gift from Erol. She didn’t want to remember what the card said. She knew from his words that he was thinking that by the end of the night the two of them would have patched things up.
Upon reaching the lobby, she noted a number of people were checking in. According to someone who’d ridden down with her in the elevator, there was a big rodeo in town, and a number of the riders were staying at the hotel.
“Sage?”
Sage turned to the sound of her name being called and drew in a long breath. There was nothing about Erol that had changed except it appeared that he had lost a few pounds. He was still nicely built and good-looking.
A keen feeling of finality passed through her upon remembering what they once had and what they would never have again. He stopped in front of her and took her hands in his, leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You look good, Sage,” he complimented, looking her up and down.
She smiled wryly. “So do you.” She glanced around. “Do you want to stay here and eat or do—”
“I’ve made reservations elsewhere. My rental car is outside.”
She nodded. She remembered her mother mentioning that was how Erol’s mother had learned the two of them would be meeting in Dallas, because she’d overheard him making dinner reservations. “That’s fine.”
“How was your flight into Texas?” he asked as they began walking toward the glass doors that led outside.
“It was fine, but I’m missing Anchorage already.”
He raised a dark brow. “You’re missing all that snow?” he asked, as though the very thought of it was pure crazy.
She decided not to tell him that snow had nothing to do with it. She was missing a certain individual.
“The weather reports say snow has been coming down practically every day there,” Erol added when she didn’t say anything.
Sage shrugged. “You get used to it.”
“I doubt if I could.”
Then, it’s a good thing you don’t have to, she thought as they waited for the valet attendant to bring Erol’s car.
During the drive over, he had done most of the talking, telling her about their friends and what they were doing.
“Patty is upset that you don’t call her anymore, Sage,” Erol said, breaking into her thoughts. She glanced over at him. She was sure he knew why she had stopped calling his cousin.
“I’m sure you know why I thought it was best if Patty and I cool things for a while, Erol. She’s your cousin and she loves you. She couldn’t understand why I did what I did.” Sage knew that deep down neither did he.
“Yeah, but still, she was your friend,” he said, as if it shouldn’t matter that Patty had started getting on her last nerve. And as far as them being friends, Erol’s cousin had been her friend whenever it was convenient for her, like whenever she got behind