Page 4 of Unpacking Secrets
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I replied, dripping sweetness. “I didn’t realize you had a degree in hospitality. Maybe a refund is in order—you don’t seem to have learned much from it.”
Something in his expression shifted toward amusement, then the flash was gone. He slid a thick ledger onto the desk and his manner turned business-like as he stood, spun the chair around, and gestured for me to sit.
“My background is in accounting, actually. Here are the records for the past five months, starting January first. The books for previous years are over there on the shelf. The computer system is fairly straightforward, showing reservations and openings for each date. Nan upgraded a couple years ago to accept credit cards, the machine can be a bit finicky but the manual is in the drawer below it. Maybe the heiress will invest in a tablet-based POS system.”
I continued to stand, ignoring the chair, and allowed myself to glare at him while I tried to control my response.
“I’m not here to steal your job,” I snapped.
“No, you’re just here to take over a family business you know nothing about,” he fired back.
“I didn’t ask for this,” I ground out. “I didn’t even know Ihada family, nevermind a business to inherit. What exactly is your problem?”
The longer I stood there, the closer my fury got to boiling over. What right did this jerk have to question me? With a sudden, devastating smile, Henry's bad attitude evaporated into . . . well, I wasn’t quite sure what, but I didn’t trust for a second that it was sincere.
“Nothing at all,” he answered. “Some of us have actual work to do. I guess we’re finished here, then?”
“I guess we are,” I replied tartly.
One corner of his mouth curved up again, ever so slightly, and I clenched my hands at my sides to keep from knocking the smile off his stupid, handsome face. With a final scowl, I whirled away from him, catching a whiff of some subtle cologne in the process.
He smells amazing. Too bad he’s such a dickhead.
“Have a nice day,” Henry called as I strode out of the office.
This was not how I imagined my introduction to the Lakeside Inn, not even a little. I was so fired up, I didn’t pay attention to where I was going and ended up in the hallway filled with old photos. Without Gerard or Mrs. Gregson there to distract me, I moved closer to the framed pictures, seeking solace in the unfamiliar faces.
Except . . . they weren’t all unfamiliar.
There was Nan, unmistakable with hair the same flaming red as mine, though she was slender and petite. Beside her was my mother, a teenager at the time, her blonde hair teased and crimped. Her curves were more like my own, even back then, and that resemblance soothed me.
Just as I lifted my hand to touch a finger to the image, Gerard stepped out from a door at the end of the hallway. His face broke into a smile when he saw me, but it faded quickly.
“Is everything all right? Did Henry do something to upset you?”
For a split second, I considered throwing Henry Walker under the bus, but that wouldn’t win me any favor around here. I was the stranger, the newcomer, the—what had he called me? Right, the long lost heiress.
As if I’d been appointed queen of this kingdom rather than its floundering, clueless owner.
“Everything is fine, I’m just tired after the drive. Can you show me to the cottage now?” I asked, forcing a smile that hopefully looked more sincere than it felt.
“Of course, dear,” Gerard replied. “Let’s get you settled so you can relax. I hope you’ll come for breakfast tomorrow, though. There’s nothing like it. You have to experience Sally’s genius for yourself.”
I mumbled an answer that sounded like agreement, wondering if there’d be any way to get out of that particular commitment, and followed along behind him as we left through the heavy front door—fortunately without passing Henry’s office along the way.
Well, Gerard’s grandson was right about one thing. Iwashere to claim my rightful place. He’d just have to deal with it.
Two
Henry
Whatthefuckjusthappened?
After Juliet stormed out of my office, I stared blankly at the computer screen for a good half hour. My grandfather would have my head if she went running to inform him how I treated her. And I wouldn’t blame her one bit if she told him about that little shitshow.
I didn’t even want to think about what Mrs. Gregson would do if she found out.
The housekeeper might be softer at heart than Nan ever was, but given her excitement about Juliet’s arrival, I was sure an insult to the heiress would earn me a stern lecture, at the very least.
