Mad for you in Madrid (Building Love Book 3) Read online

  The hotel’s old luggage room was in a worse state of disrepair then the lobby. The floor needed many new tiles, a re-grout, and some serious cleaning. The walls were bare, other than one small web-infested window, making the closet-sized space claustrophobically small. It was in an inconvenient location, too. Off by itself along a corridor. Doubtful this area was going to be the piece de resistance that would lure American tourists.

  Deciding to leave her laptop in her carry-on bag, she grabbed her tablet instead. Her mission, to uncover all she could about the hotel. If she were going to get ideas for her mother’s publicity campaign, she’d need to know the important parts of the space. Snapping pictures with her tablet would be a great way to start.

  Device in hand, she wandered throughout the building. It was comprised of two main corridors. Glass-and-steel elevators connected these corridors, their locked doors covered with yellow caution tape. Lori trotted up the marble and iron staircase with care, avoiding pits and cracks in the stone. In its heyday, the staircase would have been elegant and stately. Maybe Daniel could restore it. She held up her tablet to snap a picture.

  Adjacent to the elevator on each landing was a third, miniature corridor that led to only one door. She guessed it opened to a large suite and made a mental note to ask Daniel about it later. If she were right, more elegance and luxury could be offered to travelers.

  A white-haired man wearing paint-spattered overalls walked past her. “Excuse me,” she called out to him in Spanish, praying her poor pronunciation wasn’t butchering the words beyond recognition.

  The man stopped and wiped sweat from his brow. “¿Si, Señorita?”

  Lori hesitated until she simply pointed to the suite’s door. She made a key-turn gesture in the air.

  “Ah, sí.” The man picked out a key from the many hanging around his waist. He let her in, and disappeared.

  Lori entered the room and grinned widely. The space was perfect. Sure, it was dirty and in desperate need of repair, but still perfect. The main door opened into a surprisingly large living room. She guessed a ten-by-ten foot square. French doors flanked the living room to both the left and right. She tried the French doors on the left-hand side. The handles were stuck. After rattling them a few times, she gave up. Daniel was angry enough with her without her breaking his property.

  She peered out the door’s grimy windows to see a small outdoor space. A terrace had been created either by utilizing the top of another building or somehow by a jut-out of this edifice. A wall of brick surrounded the terrace, but she couldn’t tell how high. This suite was probably the only unit to have this unique feature. The tiny outdoor area would be adorable if decorated correctly. Café tables and some flowers would give the terrace European flair Americans would love.

  Lori bounced over to the other set of French doors. Like Alice in Wonderland, she felt each door would open up to a surprising new world. The right-hand doors were not a disappointment. After a hard tug, albeit a careful one, the doors opened directly onto Grand Via. How the hotel had twisted around to get this view was baffling and fabulous. The hotel must be bigger than she had thought. Americans would love the view of the breathtaking boulevard. In fact, the street’s nickname, Spanish Broadway, would do wonders for pulling in Americans.

  Lori made a mental note to thank Elias for this tidbit of information during lunch. She also now knew the name of the Metropolis Building, pronounced as Edificio Metrópolis. That large, stately, and ornate building could be seen from her terrace. Lori admired how the Metropolis’s colonnades and statues graced its building. The dome was even more magnificent, gilded in gold leaf and topped with a statute of an angel. Lori’s toes practically curled from architectural ecstasy. The building deserved its landmark status. Daniel’s hotel located in such proximity to it would be yet another boon for tourism.

  This terrace was too narrow to do anything other than take a single step out, but the view was fabulous. Gingerly, she inched her way onto the concrete balcony. Since Daniel’s building was in major disrepair, there was no sense in stepping out too far.

  She carefully peered down at the bustling street. Gran Via’s many lanes of traffic were filled to capacity with cars. The boulevard’s wide sidewalks were crammed full of pedestrians. People were shopping, strolling, or stopping into restaurants and cafés. Hundreds of trees and ultra-modern stores lined the street. Many of the stores were familiar American chains. Quite a few stores, however, were decidedly European. Those she’d have to check out later, although for personal reasons. She closed her eyes, imaging all the beautiful clothes she could buy. Then thoughts of her checking account also floated into her mind and she snapped back to reality.

  She hurried back inside after taking a few photos with her tablet. Exploring the suite’s spacious bathroom was next. A claw-foot tub, old-fashioned toilet, and a bidet sat atop black-and-white hexagon tiles. The retro-design still worked well aesthetically. She hoped Daniel’s plan was to restore instead of remove.

  Lastly, she explored the bedroom space. A warm wood tone covered the floor, scratches and gouges marring the appearance. The bedroom space was smaller than the living room but could probably fit a queen-sized bed.

  The sound of the front door banging open made her jump. She hurried back to the living room to find the cause.

  Daniel appeared before her, his angry presence large enough to fill up the living room. His eyes were narrowed, his cheeks red.

  “What,” he demanded, “are you doing in here?”

  Chapter 12

  Daniel’s angry expression rendered her mute.

  “I’m waiting for an answer,” Daniel demanded.

  “I-I wanted to . . .” What had she done that was so wrong? It was her job to get to know every aspect of this project. The more information she could give her mother, the better the chance for a successful publicity campaign. Exploring a closed-off area was going beyond the level of work required of her, as far as she was concerned.

  Lori placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. I am tired of always defending myself. When will people appreciate my hard work? “You hired Cayne Corporate Communications to create a publicity campaign. I’m exploring your hotel to learn what will draw in Americans. You told me I could look around.”

  “Look around, yes. Not have you open locked areas. If a room is already open, you can access the space. If it’s locked, you can’t.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

  “Why didn’t you ask?”

  “Listen, I’m not here to fight. I’m trying to do my job. Finding out about this hotel is important. That’s why I’m here in the first place.”

  Daniel let out a hard breath of air. “Okay. I hear you. I’m not actually mad—”

  “You could have fooled me.”

  Daniel breathed in deeply. If his shirt buttons were alive, they’d beg for mercy.

  His rippling muscular chest could not have looked better. If the hotel’s construction was half as good as the construction of his body, there was no need for a publicity campaign. Of course, his personality was less enticing. The man had a hair-trigger temper. Worse, he took everything personally. Did he still hold a grudge? If so, she was going to be pissed off, too. Perhaps intent counted for nothing with this man. Maybe the PR campaign should be: Mad at you in Madrid.

  Dealing with him was not going to be easy. The situation needed to deescalate. Staying calm would help both of them. It was worth a try. “I’m sorry, okay? I thought I was helping. Clearly I wasn’t. I will not enter locked areas again.”

  Daniel’s body went stiff. Tension seemed to vibrate off him like electrical pulses of energy. “I apologize, too. I shouldn’t have chastised you. My concern is that you can get hurt. Not every area in this building is safe. My construction workers are very busy. I can’t vouch they’ll notice when you’re
in danger. And they might not care as much.”

  “Oh, okay,” she said, softer. Maybe he had forgiven her, after all. “I’m sorry I violated your policy. I didn’t know. I won’t do it again.” She gave him a small smile. “I’ve got to admit, though, I’m glad I saw this space. I think once you rehab this hotel, American tourists will love it.”

  He arched a single eyebrow. “You base this on . . .?” he prompted.

  Lori walked him over to the French doors on the left-hand side. “Add a café table, two chairs, some flowers, and presto! This tiny space offers old-world charm. A private oasis to relax after touring a fabulous city.” She left the doors open and strode to the other side of the living room. She tugged opened the French doors with a hard pull. The metal hinges groaned in protest. “Part of this hotel overlooks Gran Via. What a prime view of the city. I had no idea the hotel was this big.”

  “Long,” he corrected her. “Not big. Given the limited amount of rooms, this hotel will be marketed as a micro property.”

  “Micro sounds intimate and cozy. I’m sure each guestroom will radiate the same feeling once the building is fully renovated.”

  He leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “I appreciate your confidence in my project. Your ideas are not far from my own.”

  Lori beamed. When he wasn’t being a temperamental jerk, he was the man she met in Las Vegas. Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hotel.

  If he could be generous, so could she. “Thanks. I’ve learned a lot from my mom and she’s the best in the business. This hotel will be quite the draw. I am positive about that. I’ll be celebrating your success when the guest registry proves me right.”

  For the first time since Las Vegas, Lori noticed Daniel’s expression warmed. When he smiled at her this way, he made her heat up too.

  ~ ~ ~

  Daniel wondered what exactly it was about Lori that made her so appealing. Especially when she usually annoyed the hell out of him. It was as if she magically knew what aggravated him most, and did just that. She was also a magnet for trouble. Worse, she undermined his ego three times over. First, she had stood him up. Second, she’d joined Elias in an extra-long lunch instead of working on his project. Third, she’d wandered around his property as if she owned the place.

  He was the one who held all the power. Not her. So how had she managed to pull off a power swap? He’d bet a million euros she didn’t know herself. Just one glance at her big, brown, doe-like eyes, and it was obvious she’d made unintentional mistakes.

  Power was something he’d struggled with all his life. Now that he had finally wrested it away from his parents to successfully run his own company, he’d be damned if he’d surrender it. How could a young woman yank it all away? Without even trying? Or apparently wanting to? If someone like her could pull off this power swap with aplomb, his stature in life must be slipping. No, that can’t be. I’m reading way too much into this. She doesn’t mean any harm. I need to stop being angry at her and start acting polite. “I’m pleased you appreciate my project. Given the state of the disrepair, I’m surprised you can see the building’s assets.”

  “I’m interested in architecture. If I didn’t have to work for my mother I would have become an architect. I read a lot about design plans in my spare time. From what I’ve seen this afternoon, this hotel will be fabulous.”

  The eager expression on her face tugged him in a persistent yet intangible way. “Thank you.” Even his mother remained unenthused about his projects. Usually, his parents nodded politely when he talked about his work. Then they’d tell him what they were working on—always something better. Bigger. Both in terms of square footage and construction cost.

  He watched her eyes dart around the suite. Absorbing the architectural details like a true industry professional. What was she seeing? For once, he wanted to crawl into someone else’s mind. “Are you sure you never formally studied architecture in school?” he teased.

  She grinned. “I’m quite positive. I wish I had. My business classes weren’t nearly as interesting.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You’re still young. Why not go back to school? Study what you love?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve got to work for my mom.”

  “Why? Are you unhireable?” he joked.

  “My mom will kill me if I don’t work for her.” She let out a tight laugh. “I value my own life.”

  “More than your own independence, I see.” He watched her stiffen. His comment must have hit close to the mark. “Sorry. It wasn’t my intent to offend you.”

  “No, I’m fine,” she said, fidgeting.

  Was talking to him making her uncomfortable, or was she stressed from staying awake the past twenty-four hours? Jetlag seemed the more likely cause. She had worked diligently for the past several hours despite apparent exhaustion. Dark circles blossomed under her eyes. Her hair bun migrated from the back of her head onto her shoulder. In fact, her condition matched that of his hotel—a solid foundation, in need of a lot of renovation.

  Lori’s personal renovations would be harder to pull off than the building’s. The foundations she needed, strength and confidence, were not items a lumberyard could supply. Fortunately, these traits were clearly inside her already, albeit buried. Lori was her own unique powerhouse. Funny, interesting, and smart. Definitely an out-of-the-box thinker. She would be a success in her own right if familial shackles stopped restraining her.

  Clearly, she should follow his path in life. Independence, however, was not an easy route to traverse. Especially with powerful, demanding parents.

  Lori’s large brown eyes gazed at him. Maybe she was hopeful he’d say something nice. Anything to smooth over the awkward bump.

  His earlier behavior had been beastly. And for what? A bruised ego? She obviously wasn’t mean-spirited. Hardly the type of person to ditch him on purpose. Maybe his own insecurity had caused him overreact.

  It was time to stop demanding people cater to him simply because his parents didn’t. Ass-kissers and other sycophants were superficial. They only desired his money. Yet, if he were being honest, he wasn’t better than any of them. He also used people. Including women, by relegating them to arm candy. Whether any of those women could have been more to him, he had never bothered to find out.

  He had built a wall around himself. A wall solid enough to belong in his historic hotel. If only his heart could have installed doors which knew when to open automatically. “Let’s start over again, shall we?” he asked. “Pretend we’ve never met before. A fresh start for both of us.”

  A smile stretched across her face. “Okay. How exactly do you want to start over? We can both leave this room and pretend I never walked in here.”

  “No, that won’t be necessary. I enjoyed hearing your comments. I’m going to let you wander wherever you want. That said, please be sure to ask me before entering a locked area. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “No problem.”

  “After you’re done exploring the building, I’ll show you the city. Let you experience more of Madrid.”

  Her grin expanded, threatening to take over her ears. “I’d like that very much. Thanks.”

  “On second thought, forget about working any more for today. Go back to your hotel and check in. Get some rest. Traveling can be quite the ordeal.” He coughed. Perhaps a dry throat was the price to pay for eating his words. “I know how hard traveling is, considering I’m recovering from jetlag myself. Thank you for starting your work quickly.”

  Her extra broad smile made him respond in kind. Somehow, her happiness was contagious. “We’ll meet at nine o’clock in the morning,” he instructed.

  “I really appreciate it. I just want to make sure you can spend the time. Maybe one of your employees—”

  “I’ll have my schedule rearranged to accommodate you. See you t
omorrow.” Before she could refuse, he turned and left.

  The thought of an employee spending time with her—or worse—Elias spending more time with her, made him rush to offer himself. He only wondered how many levels of himself he was offering.

  He headed downstairs to assess more renovation costs. If he were lucky, work would occupy his mind. Not her. At least not until nine o’clock tomorrow morning.

  He should keep his distance from Lori. He needed a relationship like an extra hole in his head. Lori would be the equivalent of two extra holes. More than enough empty space for his common sense to leak out.

  Chapter 13

  The hotel’s wake-up call roused Lori from a restless night’s sleep. The phone’s fast-paced ring tone sounded strange. Her body ached from over-exhaustion. Jetlag taking its ugly toll. She stretched, lifted off the sheets, and blinked her way into consciousness.

  The blandly decorated hotel room was hardly bigger than the queen-sized bed. Mass-produced floral prints hung in plastic frames on the walls. An old-fashioned air conditioning unit sat in the window. The air conditioner, operating on its lowest setting, groaned in protest, a beast in pain. The hotel’s accommodations were adequate, albeit unremarkable. Nothing compared to what Daniel’s hotel would be like. The only perk of her hotel was proximity, located directly across from Daniel’s site. He would have no competition from this location. The two hotels would be vying for very different clientele. Hers screamed, “budget.” His, on the other hand, would quietly exude elegance. How loudly his hotel’s message would be broadcast would depended entirely on her mother.

  Sunlight poured through the hotel room’s tiny window. In her haste to fall into bed last night, she had forgotten to draw the shade. Given the sun’s brightness, the day would be beautiful. Fabulous for sightseeing. Too bad sightseeing was business related.