Heart Song Anthology Carolyn Faulkner (rooftoppers txt) 📖

spacious lobby with high ceilings, the plush couch in the middle of the lobby, always stirred a warmth within her. As she made her way across the marbled lobby floor, she caught a scent from the large floral arrangement in the heart of the lobby, right beside the couches. It made her smile.

The fragrant floral scent always reminded her of Tony Marino. Tony was the long-time manager of the Dominion Hotel, and more recently, the reason why her husband Matt Warrington was a part owner. Tony had always been very particular about what floral arrangements greeted the hotel guests. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, the floral perfume had to be perfect: subtle yet noticeable, never forward, always in the background.

The bouquet was again perfect, and it is with sadness that Alison noticed this. The bouquet did not make her sad. She was sad because its smell brought back memories of Tony. Tony had died last summer, shortly after the Lover’s Ball. There wasn’t a day that went by when Alison didn’t miss him. The floral tradition of the hotel had now fallen to Miranda, Tony’s widow. Miranda is also Warrington’s ex-sub and Alison’s best friend.

Miranda strode across the lobby towards Alison. “Here to see Matt?” she asked.

Ever since Tony died, Warrington was spending more time at the Dominion. He’d set up an office there, making it his work base when in town. Warrington was a part owner of the Dominion, part of the consortium Tony put together to purchase the hotel. Tony’s ownership stake fell to Miranda upon his death. Warrington had taken it upon himself to mentor Miranda in all aspects of hotel management.

The Dominion Hotel was one of the thirteen hotels Warrington had a stake in. He also owned the Broadstone Hotel, having acquired it from Alison’s father. Warrington owned the Broadstone as well as Alison. Alison had come along with the purchase of the family business, professionally as the hotel’s general manager, and personally as Warrington’s sub.

“Have you seen him?” asked Alison.

“Same place as always, in his office.” Miranda was dressed in a business jacket and matching skirt. The middle button of her jacket was done up, tight around her tiny waist, while tight across her chest, accentuating her ample bosom. The skirt was short, stopping above the knees, made to look shorter by her long legs. Her white open-collared silk shirt and a string of pearls showed off her long neck. She’d tied her long, thick blond hair back as best she could, but it still looked wild and free. Her makeup was subtle, hiding her freckles while enhancing the paleness of her skin. Her lipstick was fiery red. Try as she might, the business-woman Miranda could not completely mask the free-spirited wild child. Miranda was fine with that.

Alison noticed the large binders Miranda had tucked under her arm, awkwardly shifting them from one side to the other, never finding a comfortable spot for them.

“What’s he got you working on?” Alison asked, indicating the binders.

“Budgets, forecasts. Spreadsheets.” Miranda’s face showed displeasure.

“Well, if you ever get tired of the paperwork, you can always come back and drive the hotel car for me again.”

Miranda flashed a half smile. ‘No, thanks, I’m good.” With a nod, Miranda continued across the lobby towards the ornate mahogany front desk and through the door hidden in the paneling. Her office, Tony’s old office, was behind the front desk.

Alison watched her go, noticing how confident her step was. Miranda had always possessed a self-assuredness, but this was different. There was a new kind of strength in her. She was coming into her own.

Alison crossed the lobby in the same direction as Miranda had gone, going past the front desk to the elevator bank. She pushed the call button for the express elevator to the Penthouse level. Once the elevator arrived, she stepped into the car, waving her key card across the security pad, simultaneously pushing the button for the Penthouse level.

The Penthouse level was restricted access. Only guests registered to the floor were allowed access. Warrington maintained his office on the Penthouse floor, therefore Alison also had access to the floor. He’d set up shop in Tony’s old living quarters, not much more than a sitting room and a bedroom. There was no kitchen. Tony had either dined in the hotel restaurant or gone out. When Tony and Miranda married, they rented a small apartment a few blocks walking distance from the hotel. Tony gave up the hotel suite soon after.

Alison swiped her key card once again, gaining access to Warrington’s office. She entered, stepping into the suite, the door closing quietly, automatically behind her. She stood in the entranceway, looking across the suite at Warrington, his head down as he made notes while sitting behind his desk. Even after five years of marriage, she still got excited upon seeing her husband – her Dom – her Matt. His masculine, musky cologne filled the small suite. Alison breathed him in, watching him work.

Warrington sensed she was there, looked up and smiled. His deep blue eyes, little wrinkles at the corners, looked directly at her. Amanda wasn’t sure what disarmed her the most, the intensity with which he looked at her, or the curling lips of his smile, perfect white teeth showing through. It didn’t matter. Either way, she loved being in his presence.

She stepped into the suite. “What are you working on?”

Warrington’s smile disappeared. “The Lover’s Ball. It’s tomorrow.”

“I still don’t know why you’re organizing it. You’ve got enough on your plate already.” Alison asked. “Isn’t there usually a committee for this sort of thing?”

“It kind of fell through the cracks this year. Tony usually spearheaded the committee.” They both paused, not wanting to go on in that direction. “Miranda seemed to want to avoid it altogether.”

“Too many memories of Tony associated with it, I guess.” Alison finished Warrington’s thought.

Warrington carried on. “By the time the holidays came and went, nothing was done, so I picked it up.”

Alison placed a hand and her