Chapter Four
Alice picked up her phone and then put it down. She'd call her mother after she checked into the hotel. She handed over the SUV keys to the valet and ignored his nose curl. She'd still tip the man, but so what if she didn't drive a Maserati like the customer behind her?
She filed the paperwork and tucked her phone in her purse as the late afternoon sky suffocated the air. Her mother had told her to call right after the wake, but if she dialed, Ellie would chirp louder than the wild parrots in the palm trees above her head. Ellie Collins could wait.
The tropical paradise of this deluxe hotel offered a stark contrast to the funeral home. The clear blue sky with spots of white clouds and happy birds in palm trees helped steal the tension from her body.
She strolled past the fountain and into a marble-floored lobby. The Biltmore was iconic old Miami, built in the 1920s with lofted ceilings, an inner courtyard famous for its outside seating, unlimited Bellinis for Sunday brunch, and one of the best spas in the country. Her heels sank into the plush red carpet as she walked toward the mahogany desk to check in.
She gazed through the French doors to the outside tropical paradise which enticed her with the sound of bubbling water. For one night, she was living it up, and she intended to take a long swim in the morning in that perfectly blue pool.
A dip in the waters would help her forget all about John Morgan and that wake. Tonight, she'd dream that John Morgan's lips touched hers. Of course they hadn't, but her lips tingled with a long-ago high school memory.
Her mother would tell her to never see or think about John Morgan. Ellie had serious issues with the House of Morgan that extended to all of their children. Mom hadn't even been sad when Vicki died. Instead she'd been stoic and not said a word as Alice cried that her childhood friend was dead.
She sighed. Perhaps she needed to think of happier moments.
Above her head the pillars to the high, painted ceilings overwhelmed her sense of awe. This place smelled like money, which was strange for her, since Alice needed to budget.
With a nose twitch, she shook her head and realizedthatthought came from Jennifer's little jab about her black dress. Normal people budgeted and, once in a while, splurged. The super starlet didn't get to judge her life.
She reached the desk and waited for the man behind it to finish his phone conversation and then speak to her.
Finally his gaze met hers as he ended his call, and she told him, "I'm checking in. Alice Collins."
"Ms. Collins." Another man behind the counter stepped forward as the original clerk stepped back. He wore a red uniform, but his was more formal. The clerk stepped aside, and the hotel manager with a pin on his name badge waved his hand to his right. "We're happy you chose our hotel for your overnight stay. There is a gentleman here to see you."
Impossible. Her dad was in Homestead packing up his house, and her brother was still in the Marines. As that was the extent of the men in her life, she shook her head, "A gentleman? Who is he?"
"I'm not at liberty to answer, ma'am."
"Did you ask what he wanted?"
He averted his gaze. "It wasn't my place."
She swallowed. With a thump, she released the handle of her black rolling suitcase and leaned on the counter. "And you didn't get his name to share with me?"
"I cannot say."
It had been a tiring day. She kept her tone even and said, "So he could be some crazy person."
"I assure you, he's not."
Clearly she wouldn't get anywhere with this manager. She crossed her arms and stepped backwards. "I don't want to go meet strange men. I'd like to just check in, please."
The man's expression fell, but Alice stood tall. The manager typed into the computer and said, "Your room won't be available for another hour. I'm very sorry, miss."
How convenient. She wasn't fooled. "How much did this man pay you to get me to talk to him?"
The clerk averted his face and stared at his computer as his manager said, "I don't know what you mean."
Lies didn't invoke trust. She pressed her lips together. "Of course you don't. It was only perfect timing."
He stayed silent.
There was no other choice. She was in no danger except being annoyed with whoever delayed her. "If I go, will my room be ready sooner?"
"I will see to it that your room is ready upon your return."
