Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
“Nice hair. It’s a good fit for Lanai, all spun gold and bits of blue. Very colorful.” It just slips out and I instantly regret it, even as her cheeks turn red and she looks away from me.
I clear my throat.
“Obviously, I meant nothing else by it. I’m not blowing smoke up your—yeah.”
Do not picture her peach of an ass, man.
Hit the brakes on the brownnosing.
She drums her fingers against the table. I can’t blame her for being annoyed.
“Look, Brock... I’m not quite sure how to say this, so I’m just going to be blunt. I appreciate that you’re nice enough and trying to make up for last night, but I’m only in Lanai for a few days. The way we met was weird enough. You showing up for breakfast feels even weirder.”
I hold up my hands. “Guilty as charged. Understand, I couldn’t leave you high and dry after what happened. How’s the foot?”
She doesn’t answer and looks down at the mug in her hands, fidgeting.
“Have I insulted you?” I venture. “I promise you that was never the intention—”
“I just...are you stalking me? Watching my every move?” She looks up with her lips pursed. “We both might be better off if you just leave me alone.”
Well, fuck.
The best-laid plans of mice and men collapse before my eyes.
“I’m the manager,” I say, sitting up straighter. “Your stay at my hotel got off to a dreadful start, all because of an outrageous employee error—”
“I thought you said it was a computer error?” She raises an eyebrow.
“That was half of it. The software shouldn’t have allowed the same room to be booked twice. However, a new employee was trying to be very helpful to me and make sure my room got booked, so when the computer wouldn’t allow him to book the reservation, he overrode it and booked it for me anyway. The code was changed this morning. Staff will now call a manager if they ever need an override. It’s definitely never happening again, and I’m sorry as hell you had to give us the kick in the cock we needed.”
Oops.
That makes her giggle, at least, this bright sound that startles me for a second.
“Pardon my French. Anyway, glitch or human error, it’s my job to make it right,” I tell her.
“That’s nice and all. But the problem wasn’t the bug. It was thinking I’d be murdered in the middle of the night in my fancy room.” She sits back in her chair and sighs. “Honestly, I’m not sure you can make up for that. There’s no way to fix running into each other like we did... This place sure is beautiful and I’ll do my best to be fair. But I’d be lying if I said it isn’t pretty tainted for me.”
Shit.
Overreacting much?
Somehow, the scars my stupidity left on her psyche feel worse than a bad review.
If she keeps dwelling on it, this could be a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Miss Renee closes her mouth, but the way she grinds her teeth into her lip makes me think she has more to say, and none of it’s good.
“What else? Let me have it, lady. Everything,” I demand, curling a fist on the table.
She stares at me intently.
I’m slightly grateful her cup is empty by the time the waiter returns with refills. He puts a small container next to Piper’s coffee.
“Liquid Monk fruit.”
“Thanks!” She looks up at him.
I nod at the kid and he walks away.
“Well?” I repeat.
“Well, what?”
“I don’t think you’re done, and if you’re holding back any punches, there’s no need on my account,” I say firmly. “Hit me, Piper Renee. Bruise me.”
Her eyebrows go up.
“Okay, martyr man, I didn’t want to get into it but... It’s annoying that you’re this crazy about making things right, and I think it’s only because you’re scared of getting lit up online. I may be just another travel vlogger in a thousand, but my stuff is authentic.” She tears open the monk fruit packet and dumps it into her cup, stirs, and sips. “FYI, I’m not into massive suck-ups coming after me with baskets of goodies and comps purely because they’re afraid they won’t measure up.”
Shit.
I’d better tell Shelly to cancel the Love Lanai basket. I also need to choose my next words very carefully.
“Miss Renee, I never asked you for anything less than authentic. I simply don’t want anyone jetting off from my resort after a damn Halloween funhouse experience rather than a world-class luxury escape. If I went about repairing the damage wrong—”
“Which time? Which time, Brock?” The way she says my name sends fire through my blood. “Was it when you carried me across the room half-naked? Or when you practically shoved a free lobster down my throat like you think it’d make me forget what happened? Like I could ever forget stepping on broken glass and seeing you buck flipping nak—never mind.” She takes a fast gulp of coffee.