Page 51 of Howl You Doin?
I set the tea kettle on to boil and rub my hands down the apron tied around the front of my waist.
Pushing my worries away, I head through the door to the dining room just as Maria is opening the curtains to the large bay windows. Bright sunshine fills up the place and illuminates the flurry of disturbed dust motes, making the room glitter.
I smile at the mesmerizing scene and the way the sunshine makes her brown hair glossier than normal, giving it an auburn hue. Her deep-olive skin tone and distinctly Romanian features always strike me as beautiful, even more so when she smiles back and her dark brown eyes crinkle with joy at seeing me.
Maria wipes her hands on her dark blue work shirt to remove the dust and turns to me. “Good morning, pretty girl,” she says in her usual greeting, always making me want to blush. “I’m guessing breakfast will be ready soon?”
“Yeah. I’ve just put the coffee on, and I’ve already been brewing the tea,” I answer, before a smile lifts my lips. “You’re quick to move around this morning.”
At my tease, Maria tosses her hair over her shoulder sheepishly. “I probably shouldn’t be making you do my job in the morning, should I?” she says with a laugh.
I wave my hand down at her. “It’s fine. I really don’t mind.”
As we are talking, Maria starts wiping down tables in the dining room, getting it ready for the guests. After she puts tablecloths over them, she also places little jars of jam and honey onto each square table, followed by salt, pepper, and sugar shakers.
A pouty huff comes from her. “Anton’s alarms kept going off. I had to kick him out of bed, but it meant I was already awake.”
I know exactly what she means. Trevor used to do that every morning for an hour and a half, and it made me want to scream.
With a laugh and shake of my head, I start helping her with her duties since I can’t keep still when I’m at work. Plus, the kettle hasn’t finished boiling yet, but I can hear it starting to whistle.
“By the way, have you seen Mr. O’Doyle this morning?” Maria asks, lifting her gaze to me after throwing over another tablecloth. “I wanted to ask him about the dress rehearsals we have this afternoon.”
I can almost see her bouncing with giddy joy, and the youth of her early twenties shines through in that moment. I couldn’t think of anything worse. Playing dress up and dancing around like the teacup from Beauty and the Beast makes me want to throw myself into the fireplace.
My brain short circuits on how to answer where Connor is.
What am I supposed to say? He was sleeping in my bed this morning, but we aren’t sleeping together? Then again, I can just say I don’t know where that pompous ass is.
“Good morning,” Connor’s voice comes from behind me.
My shoulders go rigid at his unexpected appearance. I turn around and paste a smile on my face, completely at odds with how my heart is thundering in my chest.
He never comes to the kitchen or dining area this early, and my startled stare falls to the white box he has in his gloved right hand.
“Mr. O’Doyle!” Maria exclaims, pausing her duties to approach him with a demure grin that tells me she’s up to no good. “I was wondering if I could skip the dress rehearsals this afternoon?”
Connor cocks a sharp brow at the much shorter, slender woman. “I thought my email to all employees was clear. None of the rehearsals or events are negotiable.”
My lips part in surprise. I thought he was only an ass to me! Why do I feel a little jealous? I was beginning to think that was just our personal tango. How dare he cheat on me like this?! Or maybe I’m just difficult.
Maria tucks a lock of her brown hair behind her ear. “Since I know all the moves and have been practicing, I was hoping it would be okay just this once?”
One side of his lips pulls like he’s trying not to smile. “Well, you have been the most enthusiastic about the event, and you are the only one who knows everything, unlikesomeemployees.” His gaze slides to me, but it lacks the general hostility like usual, as if he merely wants to play with me. “I will permit it just this once. Enjoy your evening with Anton.”
Maria’s lips part in surprise. “How did you know?”
Connor laughs, and it’s warm and bright. “I know everything that happens in this hotel.” Then he dips his head toward me. “Do you mind if you continue your duties elsewhere? I need to speak with Whitley privately.”
Maria casts me a concerned look, but quickly goes to leave. “I’ll be back in a little bit to finish the table set-up.”
“It’s fine. I can finish the last few for you,” I answer as she makes her way out of the dining room, leaving me alone with Connor. I spin to him and blurt, “What are you doing here?”
The delighted look on his face morphs into an accusing scowl.
“Looking for you, obviously.” He holds the white box in his hand out to me. “I brought you new shoes since you’ve been complaining how much your feet hurt.”
My brows come together, as I don’t remember ever telling Connor about my shoe dilemma. Sometimes I feel like he has super hearing abilities.
