“Well, that sounds promising.”
“He’s also considering whether or not to tear the place down.”
“Oh no.” Emily’s face filled with concern. “I’m sure you’ll convince him otherwise.”
I made a humming sound and felt the pressure build. So many people and their jobs depended on me. “I’ve been to a couple of Langston Hotels. They’re classy and glitzy, but that wouldn’t suit Windward. I’ve showed him all the best spots in the hotel, tried to explain the charm, what it means to people.”
Emily came over and stroked a hand over my hair. “My smart girl. All you need to do is what you do best.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well, it sounds like you told him all the good things about the Windward Resort, but you need toshowhim. Give him the experience so hefeelsit.”
Oh. I chewed on my lip, my brain firing. “Have I ever told you that you’re amazing?”
Emily smiled. “I don’t think you can ever tell me that too many times.”
I hugged her. “Well, you are. That’s a brilliant idea. Ro won’t know what hit him.”
“Ro?”
“Yes, that’s his name.”
My aunt studied me. “You like him.”
“What? Um… like I said, he isn’t quite as bad as I’d expected.”
My aunt made that humming noise that always annoyed me. Like she could read my mind and knew every naughty thing I’d done with Ro Langston.
“Aunt Em?—”
“Mom!” Caleb raced into the kitchen like a whirlwind. “Haley took my Pokémon cards. She messed them all up.”
Haley sauntered in, looking eight years old going on eighteen. “He called me a bad name. I’m not allowing that.” She crossed her arms.
Emily sighed. “Haley, give your brother his cards back. Caleb, don’t call your sister names. Both of you be nice, if you have a problem, discuss it.”
Haley slapped the cards on the counter with an aggrieved sigh. Then she spotted me. “Tessa!”
The next minute my arms were full of sweet little girl. “Hi.”
“Are you staying for dinner?”
I glanced at my aunt over Haley’s head.
“Stay,” Emily said. “There’s always plenty, and I feel like we never see enough of you lately.”
A cozy evening with the family was just what I needed.
An evening of not worrying about silly pranks at the hotel. Or a hot, annoying boss I couldn’t stop thinking about.
“I’ll stay.”
* * *
Oh God,he was wearing jeans.
Standing outside the hotel, near the bike tracks, I watched Ro walk toward me. The bright morning sun gleamed off him. He wore the denim well. The jeans hugged his long legs, and he wore a dark-blue polo shirt that was snug enough to cling to his lean chest and muscled biceps.
