Page 40 of Trick's Trap

“What is this?” She was staring at shelf after shelf full of toys.

Tahlia picked up a small brown teddy bear from the nearest one. It was one of dozens in different colors. There were also trucks and dolls, a few handheld video games, and lots of books. On the other side of the room was another shelf stocked with nondescript black backpacks. Each appeared to be filled.

“These supplies are for our special gold shield rooms. At every Caislean hotel, the reservation desk holds back a couple of rooms for women in difficult circumstances. Most of them are leaving an abusive boyfriend or husband. They’re referred to the hotel by their local domestic abuse hotline when the circumstances are extreme enough. It’s usually when they don’t have room at the local shelter, or their partner poses too high a risk for that to be a safe option.”

She indicated the bear Tahlia was holding. “It was Trick’s idea to keep new toys on hand. When they run, it’s often a woman with small kids. Often, they’re forced to leave everything behind. It happened so frequently Trick started stashing toys in his office. Eventually, we got organized and set up this closet. The backpacks are for the moms. Each is filled with toiletries, underclothes, a t-shirt, and track pants. There’s even a preloaded disposable cell phone in there.”

“Wow.” Tahlia blinked as a sudden thought occurred to her. “Does Liam know?”

Peyton’s grin was wry. “Everyone always asks that. They assume, and I don’t blame them, that because he’s such a bottom-line kind of guy that he either doesn’t know or puts up with it because Maggie and Trick teamed up on him.”

She settled against a shelf and crossed her arms. “Let me tell you a story. A couple of years ago, a new hotshot assistant manager started here. It was a busy conference week. The holidays were approaching, so the hotel was at capacity. This guy had been warned that the gold shield rooms were off limits, but both Trick and Maggie happened to be out of town overseeing events at other hotels. The new guy thought he was being smart by renting out the rooms. He thought Liam would approve—right up until we got a call that a woman and her daughter needed a place to stay and it was an emergency.”

“Wow. What happened?”

Peyton leaned in. “Her psycho ex was right on their heels. One of the supply vans went to pick them up, only for us to discover the rooms had been rented out. Not five minutes later, Liam was down in the main office tearing the guy a new one. They could hear him yelling all the way down to the kitchens. That manager never made the same mistake again. No one does.”

She broke off and pointed to the backpacks. “Those were actually Liam’s idea. Trick is great at figuring out ways to help, but he’s not detail-oriented. Liam’s the practical one. He’s the one who realized a woman in those circumstance probably needs an extra pair of clean underclothes. Liam is also the one who makes sure the toys are reordered when we run low. Trick sometimes forgets. Liam doesn’t ever mention it of course. The one time I thanked him for doing it, he looked at me as if I were crazy. Then he told me not to bother him unless it was an emergency.” She sniffed. “He’s at his rudest when you’re trying to be nice to him.”

Tahlia felt terrible. “I’m sorry I misjudged him.”

“Oh, don’t be.” Peyton laughed. “Most of the time Liam deserves to be judged. He can be an ass.”

Her friend’s bright demeanor didn’t last. When they went back to Peyton’s control center, the video feed showed Liam in close conversation to a woman in a tight tailored skirt suit. The elegantly coiffed stranger was touching his chest possessively.

All the light faded from Peyton’s face.

The change was so dramatic, Tahlia knew something was wrong. “Who is that?” she asked softly.

Peyton turned away, shutting off the feeds before filling her screen with a series of commands Tahlia couldn’t make sense of.

“Her name is Caroline Wentworth. Her father owns a small boutique chain. She and Liam see each other on and off. Mostly on, recently.”

“Oh.” Tahlia didn’t know what to say.

Maia had once mentioned something over coffee one day at work.Peyton only has eyes for one man, and he is the only one who doesn’t know how she feels.

That conversation had taken place after they all met for drinks one night, right after Peyton tossed the number of a hot guy who’d hit on her into a street bin.

Maia hadn’t mentioned any names, but Tahlia guessed she knew what it was now.

“I don’t suppose you want to go up to the tearoom and get a scone?” She wasn’t hungry, but anything seemed preferable to staying here where Peyton could watch the man she loved with another woman in a few keystrokes.

“I think you’re going to be busy.” Peyton’s eyes were shiny, but she made a half-hearted effort at smiling.

Tahlia followed the other girl’s gaze to see Patrick entering the security room.

She took a moment to admire how well his tall, muscled form filled out his blue suit.

Dear Lord, I’m actually salivating.She hurriedly turned back to Peyton.

The other woman nudged her lightly. “Don’t worry. Now that you’re staying here, I’m sure we’ll get many chances to hang out.”

“Okay, if you’re sure. Unless you want to go get a manicure now—Patrick won’t mind if we hit the spa, do you?” she asked as he joined them.

“No, go on with Trick,” Peyton replied, an amused glint returning to her eye. “I suppose I should try and get a little work done,” she added airily.

“That’s what we pay you the medium bucks for.” Trick grinned at her before offering Tahlia his arm. She took it instead of the cane, turning back to Peyton when they reached the door.

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