Todd kept trying to make eye contact with Blair for the duration of the flight, but she wasn't having any of it. His eyes penetrated her very being, and she felt a sense of shame whenever she did look over at him. It would take a miracle for her to forgive him for all that he had done to her. True, she was still attracted to him- this afternoon had proved that. Apparently that would be her fatal flaw. He knew how to prey upon her weaknesses and he did so without remorse. So the best course of action for her to take would to pretend that he just didn't exist- which would soon prove almost impossible to do.
"What do you mean there are no reservations for a Blair Cramer?" she demanded as she stared down the hotel clerk. "I made these reservations over a month ago. Do you know how hard it was to find a reservation during this season?"
"I understand your frustration. And there is a carnival in town, which means that all of the hotels are taken. I apologize for your frustration. Let me see if there is any other way that I can help you." The clerk played around with his computer and then looked at it, puzzled.
"We do have one room for a Blair, but this is probably unlikely…you would not happen to be a Mrs. Blair Manning, would you?"
Blair's jaw dropped and then her icy gaze turned to focus on the true object of her frustration. "Todd, what did you do? How could you do this to me? You had no right to mess with my reservations! Just who in the world do you think you are? You must have been planning this for months, you son of a…"
"Yes, we all are aware of what I am. But look at it this way, I was trying to save you costs. It is cheaper in the long run for a single than for two rooms. And since you invited me, I was only trying to save you costs."
"I did not invite you! You invited yourself. You just turn around and get on that jet of yours and don't come back until I call you. Do we have an understanding?"
"That's kind of impossible, Blair."
She folded her hands against her chest. "And why would that be? You got yourself here now I suggest you make yourself disappear."
"Well you see I kind of told my pilot to head back to Llanview," he grinned wryly. "Now you see you can't just leave me abandoned out here in a foreign country with no place to go. You heard the guy, there are no rooms anywhere. Please, Blair. I wouldn't turn you out."
"Ha!" she shouted, and everyone turned to stare at her. "You've done worse to me. You would pick me up and drag me by the back of my head and physically throw me out of the hotel if that's what you wanted. Give me one good reason I should help you."
Todd, in one quick swift move, with one arm, pulled Blair close against his chest so that she could barely breathe let alone try to escape. They were nose to nose, and the clerk held his own breath in anticipation of what might happen next.
"You want to help me because you know you're mine, Blair. You belong to me. We belong with each other. Nothing has to happen, but I think you would feel safer with me there beside you. Think of the jet- when you were afraid who was it you turned to? I.."
"Only because there was no one else around," Blair scoffed. "Trust me, if there were another man within a five mile radius I would have picked him."
"Why do you do that? " Now it was Todd's turn to raise his voice. "Why must you bring your other men into this? This isn't about another man or another woman. It's about you and me and what we want. You want me as much as I want you. You just don't want to admit it because you're too damn proud. We belong together, Blair. Just stop fighting for once in your life."
Blair looked at the clerk. "I'm sorry about this. We won't be causing any more scenes. "Todd if I let you stay with me there are going to be a couple of ground rules." She grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
Shocked, as he wasn't expecting her to give in so easily, he nodded. "Sure. Anything you like."
"Number one, you're sleeping on the couch. There will be no physical contact of any kind. You so much as try to kiss me you will be out on your butt. Got that?"
He nodded. "I can handle that."
"Now here's the big one..no more talking about us getting back together. I don't want to hear it Todd. I am not here for you. I'm here for my friends. This isn't about us and our dysfunctional whatever you want to call it. I want you to back off. Capeche?"
"I have a question."
"Yes, now what?"
"About the wedding…you will need an escort won't you. That's kind of why I'm here. Do you still want me to not touch you, even during the dancing?"
Blair frowned. "Yes you may dance with me. But no funny business. I mean it."
She held out her hand and he took it and shook it slowly at first and then pulled her close to him, so close that she thought he was going to kiss her. Without realizing it she pursed her lips and shut her eyes. Todd watched her for a second before walking away.
"Where are you going?" she demanded.
"To get the key to the room. I want to freshen up. I'll be in the shower if you need me. The door will be unlocked. " He looked at her and all sorts of images ran through her mind. She shook her head, silently berating herself. It was going to be a very long week.