He turned back to Brittney. “It’s complicated.”
She licked her lips suggestively. “If you want to make it even more complicated, you know where to find me.” She headed to the stairs, a sway in her steps, and sent him a last look over her shoulder. “I hope to see you at dinner.”
That hope was going to be disappointed. But he wouldn’t mind being friendly to her during Riley’s shift. Being friendly to guests was part of the manager’s job.
CHAPTER 14
Over the next three days, Riley found herself gritting her teeth a lot. When she first checked Brittney Livingston in, Lucas had strolled by in his crisp black suit looking more like some well-dressed celebrity at the Oscars than a small-town inn manager.
Did the guy have to wear a suit every day? They were distracting when she was trying to get work done.
Ms. Livingston had stopped checking in to check Lucas out, then leaned closer to the desk. “Is he in charge of bringing towels to the rooms? Because if he is, I need a couple extra. On an hourly basis.”
Riley had handed the woman’s key to her stiffly. “He’s the manager. Housekeeping is in charge of the towels.”
Since that conversation, not only did Ms. Livingston extend her stay, but the woman practically parked herself in the lobby. She was like a cheetah waiting for the gazelle to show up at the watering hole.
Although in a metaphor about animals, it was hard to think of Lucas as being prey. He was too lion-like. Strong. Powerful. Great hair.
And he didn’t seem to mind taking time out of his day to chat with the oh-too-eager-blonde-cheetah. Riley was forced to witness Brittney find excuses to flirt with him.
On the day before she checked out, Ms. Livingston showed up in the lobby in a bikini and a hardly-there coverup to ask Lucas if the inn had a heated pool. It didn’t. Anyone who’d looked around the grounds would know that. Brittney spent the next fifteen minutes trying to convince Lucas to leave with her to go hot-tubbing at the Hampton in Lark Springs.
When Brittney finally left, thankfully alone, Lucas watched her go with a smile on his lips.
Jealousy turned in Riley’s stomach. He’d used to look at her that way. Now he was wasting his admiration on a woman like that.
Riley rolled her eyes. “If her car breaks down on the way to town, she’s going to freeze to death.”
“If her car breaks down,” Lucas said, drifting over to the front desk, “I’m sure someone will stop to help her.”
“Isn’t using another hotel’s hot tub illegal?”
“Yep. That’s why I didn’t go with her.”
Was that the only reason? “I notice you didn’t give her that good-citizenship-is-a-duty lecture you give me every time I break the law.”
“You’re my employee. It’s my job to lecture you.”
Riley tapped her finger against her lips in thought. “What did you tell me about having conversations with friends on company time? I’m pretty sure it was don’t do it.”
“She’s not a friend.” He smiled, enjoying her jealousy. “She’s another satisfied customer.”
“Is she?” Riley hated that her voice came out too high.
“Yeah. Some women appreciate what this inn has to offer. Warmth, hospitality, style…”
He was definitely talking about himself. “She must not have appreciated it too much. She just ditched your inn for a Hampton with a jacuzzi.”
Lucas laughed and strolled off to the office. “She’ll be back.”
She undoubtedly did come back, but Riley had gone home by then. For the first time, she wondered what Lucas did at night after she left. Did he eat in the dining room with the guests, or did he grab something from the kitchen and eat in his room like Mr. Ross had?
At three o’clock when Sara showed up, Riley casually asked about it.
“I’ve seen him do both,” Sara said. “Why do you want to know?”
“Just curious.”