3 - Aurora

3- Aurora

I wake up before dawn too excited to be near the ocean to sleep more than a few hours. After some thought and pacing in my room, I decide it is probably a safe bet that everyone drank far too much last night and I should be able to run on the beach as the sun rises this morning. My boss and her daughter are never up this early, I can only hope the Westfield guys are the same type of night owls. I need to get out of this room and move.

I shoot an email off to Gabriel, letting him know how everything is going.  With the time change and the schedule Lady C likes me to keep, I probably won’t have an actual conversation with him the three days I am here. I sigh as I scope the hallway before walking out towards the elevators. I don’t know where any of Westfield’s team is staying and I don’t want to be caught in my workout gear by any of them. Lady C would lose her mind. If there was access to a service elevator, that is what I would use.

Once I’m safely hidden away heading down to my morsel of freedom, Gabriel comes back to the forefront of my mind. We’ve gone more days than this without talking or seeing each other when I’m at home in the city. He doesn’t seem to mind. His schedule is almost as packed as mine. He knows of Lady C through family connections and likes that my working for her helps bring him closer to people in the upper society circles. 

His job is similar to mine, but not as high profile.  He’s always aspired to be a part of that upper echelon group, I'm not sure why, it’s a bunch of fake rich people one-upping each other every chance they can get. He says the connections will allow him to create a better life for us later. I don’t know what that means, since Lady C probably doesn’t know who he is , or cares. Whatever.  It’s not like he is struggling financially, his family is among the rich, but not the super rich and that’s where he wants to be.  I’m not going to stop him from chasing his dreams any more than I let him dictate my life.

One more deep breath and I start my run on the beach, the view is beautiful.  The crystal teal water draws my eye out to the horizon where the pink and yellow haze begins to show the sun’s ascent into the sky.  I can smell the salt in the air and I feel light and happy for the first time in a long time.  I have been so caught up in my position with Lady C’s company and making a name for myself in the marketing world I haven’t really stopped to take a breath and enjoy my accomplishments.

Just as I  finish my thought, I run into a solid wall of a person, bounce off and onto my ass on the hard water packed sand.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry.” I sputter from my heap on the ground. “I was so caught up in the sunrise I didn’t think to stop and admire it.” I get up awkwardly as I grab the hand stretched out to help me up.  Embarrassed and still not making eye contact, I brush the sand off of my butt and legs.

“Not a problem.” a deep husky voice says and my eyes fly up to meet his. Light green eyes framed with thick dark brows look at me with concern. ”Are you ok, that fall looked a bit rough.” He chuckles.

He looks at me, head tilted, crooked smile getting wider and I realize I’m staring and he asked me a question that requires an answer. I shake my head to get my brain to function enough to speak. “My ego is more bruised than anything really, but when you run into a guy who’s built like a brick wall, not much else can be expected.” I look up at him smiling, taking in his whole form. 

He’s got to be the biggest guy I have ever seen. At least six foot four and 300 pounds of muscle wearing a white sweat soaked t-shirt with the arms cut off and part of the side open to reveal very defined side abs and a scripted tattoo on his left ribcage. Black Basketball shorts on his tanned, toned legs and running shoes complete his outfit.  His hair is sweaty, like he’s already been running for hours. Somehow he makes sweaty post-workout look hot, while I probably look like a hot mess.

I check my watch, just to give me something to do other than stare at this adonis. “I really should get back, I’ve got a meeting I need to prepare for.” I say pointing a thumb over my shoulder.

“Me too actually, where are you staying?” 

“At the Grand.” I say as I start to turn around to finish my run back and live in my mortification alone.

“Me too, let me jog back with you.  It’s rare anyone else is up to run with.  It’ll be a nice change. Copyright ©️ 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

“Ok.” I give him a small smile and we head off. It’s a comfortable silence running side by side.  Conversation is not needed with the views surrounding us.  The pace is slow so it takes about twenty minutes to get back, but it feels like we come upon the hotel too soon.

“Can I get your number? It would be nice to have an early run again.”

“I’m only here for one more day, and I don’t know how my boyfriend would take to me handing out my number to strange guys while I’m on business trips.” I say with a smile, trying to let him down gently, squinting up at him in the bright morning light.  I have never had to do this before, guys don’t ask for my number.

“I’m not the one running while looking in another direction, if anything you are the strange one.” He chuckles “And I don’t mean any harm, really, I just enjoy running early and it’s rare to find someone else that does the same.  Most people don’t know when to shut up and just look around, it’s the only time I get any real peace.  It‘s nice to share.

I roll my eyes, “Fine, give me your phone. If I can make my schedule work we can meet up in the morning.” I say sticking my hand out. He hands me the device with smiling eyes. I roll mine. He clearly is used to getting his way. I plug in my information and send a text to myself then hand it back. “So who’s name am I putting in here?” I say, not trying to flirt, but it definitely came out that way.

He chuckles again. “Nathan.”

“Nathan? That’s it?”

“Yep. There’s no complications if there’s no last name.” He winks at me.

“Well that would have been nice to know before I gave you mine.” I say with raised eyebrows as we begin to head to the elevators.

“I know, Aurora Montgomery.” He says with a sly smile.

“You know that’s not fair. You can g****e me, but I can’t return the favor.” I half yell at him as he enters the special elevator that goes to the high end suites in the hotel. So fancy you need a special keycard just to activate. He’s one of the VIP guests, interesting.

“I’ll see you later Aurora.” He says, giving me a smoldering look and chuckling as the elevator doors close.

Damn I think the temperature just went up like ten degrees.  I’m sweating again like at the height of my run. My legs are weak and my core is throbbing. He did that with just one look.  Gabriel can’t even do that with hours of foreplay. I am so glad to be leaving tomorrow otherwise I would be in so much trouble right now.