Page 24 of Trouble Walked In

“Hello, Mr. Webster, was it?” Carrie held out a hand for Renic to shake.

He shook her hand and gave her the smile he used to charm musicians and influence lawyers to make deals. “Renic. Jackson Renic.”

“Carrie Collins. Head chef. Very nice to meet you, Mr. Renic.” Carrie sounded a little too enthusiastic. “Welcome to the Belhurst. You need anything to eat, just let me know.”

“Later.” Lizzie bumped Carrie’s shoulder. “I need to show him to his room, and you need to organize for the wedding.”

“Oh, the delivery’s done for the day, and the menu’s all planned,” Carrie said. “I can help if you want. I can carry his bag or something.”

Carrie flashed a wide, inviting smile at Renic.

“We got it, Carrie.” Lizzie glared at her friend. “You have dishes to wash.”

“Ouch,” Carrie said, looking amused. “But fair point. I’ll see you later, Mr. Renic.”

Renic’s smile deepened. “Just Renic. Pleasure to meet you, Chef Carrie.”

“Pleasure isallmine.” Carrie winked at Lizzie. “I want details,” she whispered.

Lizzie ignored her.

“Follow me.” She brushed past Renic.

Lizzie could feel his penetrating gaze on her back. It made her back prickle. She needed to put him on the defense for a change.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Tell me something. How’d you know I needed the money?”

“You mentioned plumbing,” Renic shrugged. “I don’t care what went wrong, that’s expensive. My parents had a small pipe burst once in the garage, and they ended up having to fix the foundation. Cost over twenty grand, and that was a fairly new house.”

She stopped climbing so she could give him the glare he so richly deserved. “It was a jerk move.”

“It’s the only move you left open to me.” He looked satisfied with himself. “I told you, I need to talk to Della. I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

“You know, from this angle I could kick you in the head if I wanted.”

He smirked. “You won’t.”

“Give me one good reason why not.”

“You’re too nice.”

“That’s what you think.” Lizzie continued up the stairs, annoyed that he was right. She’d rather see his face when he saw the room.

She reached the landing and stopped at the linen closet for a clean set of sheets, which she handed to Renic. He raised his eyebrows but took them without comment.

“It’s been three years, Lizzie. How long are you going to hold this grudge?” Renic asked.

“It’s not a grudge.” She picked up two new pillows from the top shelf and shoved them at her unwanted guest, then continued down the hall. “It’s a genuine assessment of character. Or the lack of it, really.”

She stopped at the door to his room, unlocked it, and pushed it open.

“Welcome to the Rose Room.” She put the key on the little table just inside the door and took a quick look around.

The bathroom had smudges of something dark and disgusting around the toilet and black marks on the floor. Trash was piled in the corner of the tub. The entire east wall was down to the studs. The mattress was bare. The windows were wide open to let in a breeze, which did very little to diminish the remainingeau de toiletthat remained in the air.

A satisfied smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

Perfect.

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