She smiled.
“No, she’s a wolf,” Caden countered. “Because she stalks her prey first, taunting them with their upcoming demise.”
She buffed her nails on her shirt. “You boys say the sweetest things.”
I dropped into an armchair, hating that my head was still throbbing. “And the bad news?”
“I’m going to kill the head of maintenance.” She scowled. “I think I can hide his body in the woods, if I can drag him that far.” She crossed her long legs. “I did up a memo about no flannel shirts and jeans being worn as a uniform. He laughed at me.”
I controlled my smile. Barely. “This is a small mountain town, Piper. Pick your battles.”
She let out a huff.
I glanced at Caden. “Do you have anything new for me?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.” And from the look on his face, he wasn’t happy about it. “Nothing happened today, at least. There were no pranks, dead animals, or attempts on your life.”
I pressed my fingers to my temple. “That’s something, I guess.”
“You’ve got a headache,” Piper noted. “Maldives?”
I nodded. “Tristan’s working on it.” I paused. “I’m taking the evening off.”
Piper blinked. “You are?”
“Yes. I’m having dinner here in the penthouse.”
Caden’s lips twitched. “With your lovely hotel manager?”
Piper gasped. “Ro, no, don’t tell me you’re sleeping with her.”
Caden snorted. “That ship has sailed. Surely you haven’t missed the raging sexual tension?”
“I’m not planning to do much sleeping,” I added.
My COO groaned. “This is an HR nightmare.”
“I don’t care.”
“I expected this from your father, but never you.”
I stiffened.
Piper’s face changed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that. You’re nothing like your father, Ro.”
“They slept together at the masquerade,” Caden added. “Without knowing who each other was.”
She shook her head. “Okay. Well, just make sure she knows that it’s temporary. Don’t let her fall in love with you. Or your bank account.”
“Tessa’s not like that. And we have ground rules. No expectations.”
Piper made a sound then rose. “I just don’t want to see you sued for sexual harassment.”
“It’s fine, Piper.”
She waved a hand. “I’m off to my room to raid the minibar.”
Caden inclined his head. “I’m installing a few additional cameras to tide us over until we do the upgrade.”
