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“Good morning, sir,” I called through the door. I should have asked his name last night. “I was wondering if you’d like to have some breakfast, if you’re feeling all right?”
I waited. There was no reply. I didn’t see much point in wasting time, so I unlocked the door with the spare key. The moment the door was open, I wrinkled my nose and took a step outside, coughing a little. I covered my mouth and walked further in, and sighed.
He’d gotten sick last night. There was vomit on the side of the bed, and even partly on the beddings. The whole room stank, and I wondered how he could have slept in all of that.
“Dammit,” I growled, heading for the window and pushing it open.
With how he’d fallen asleep, on his stomach with his face half buried in his pillow…it was better than if he’d slept on his back, but he might have suffocated himself. I was berating myself for not checking on him last night.
“Just give me a minute,” I murmured, more to myself than him, because he was obviously not awake.
I rushed out of the room to get some cleaning supplies. I put a mask over my face. I could deal with the mess, but if I had to smell and see it, it would upset my own stomach. Suddenly, though, I was so grateful I’d held back on my own breakfast before making sure all my guests were fed.
Once I had everything cleaned up on the floor, I turned my attention to the bed. I needed to change the sheets and wash the dirty ones. But I should probably get to the guest first.
“Excuse me, sir?” I murmured, shaking on his shoulder, trying not to jostle him too much in case his stomach wasn’t completely settled. “I’m going to need you to wake up, please?”
He grumbled, squeezing his lids before they pulled back and he was looking up at me.
“Hey,” he murmured, face still pressed against his pillow. “You’re the girl from last night.”
I sighed again. “Can you get out of bed? I need to remove your sheets. And your clothes…”
I’d probably have to throw those in the wash, too. I needed spare clothes to put him into. I glanced over to his suitcase, but hesitated. While there was a huge chance that he had clothes in there, I was worried about looking through it myself. If he happened to have something valuable, and it got lost, it wasn’t just me who would take the blame, but the hotel.
I could have just left him to look after himself…but I was moving before I’d even consciously made the decision. Because there was no way I could just leave him as he was. Even with the smell of bleach covering most of his spill from last night, it would only be more work for me if he caught the smell and fell sick again.
There were some clothes that would be perfect for him, or close enough. My brother left some stuff of his behind before he went and joined the Navy. My brother was maybe a bit taller and broader around the shoulders, but the clothes should be fine.
When I got back, he’d at least pulled himself off the bed. He was standing beside it, looking a bit drowsy as he undid the buttons of his shirt.
“Let me help you out,” I said quickly, rushing over.
I tossed the spare clothes onto a clean patch of the bed, and helped him with his shirt, making sure to avoid the mess. I left him to take off his own pants, feeling it would be too awkward if I helped with that. I went to the bathroom and put a cloth under the tap to get it wet. Then, I walked back over to him. My eyes dropped down his body for a second before I forced them up. I wiped up around his face and neck, and his hands. Then, I helped him get dressed.
“You don’t have to do this much, you know,” he murmured as I was pulling the t-shirt down over his head. Our eyes met, and I paused. “I can take care of myself just fine now.”
I pursed my lips. “That may be so, but there’s nothing wrong with me being here, is there?”
He didn’t argue, his eyes looking away from mine as I continued with my work, helping him shape up a little. I was tempted to sit him down to work on his beard and his hair, but decided that would be a little much. Instead, I had him stand to the side as I stripped the bed, dumping the sheets on the floor after balling them up.
“All right,” I murmured with a nod to myself. Then I turned to the guest. “First of all, I would really like your name. I think we’ve gotten way too close and I don’t even know that much about you. My name’s Scarlett,” I held my hand out for a shake. Only to wrinkle my nose and pull it back, sending him an apologetic look.
“Sorry about that.” I pulled off the glove, and held my hand out again.
He just stared at me for a moment, then huffed out a laugh as he slid his hand into mine. Only, he didn’t shake it, just held it.
“I’m Dan,” he said with a smile on his face.
Dan still didn’t let go of my hand.
“Well, Dan,” I said, taking in a deep breath. “Technically, you’ve missed breakfast. And I’m a little worried about what you can keep down. But if you think you’re up for it, you could come down for a glass of water, or tea. I don’t really have much experience with hangovers, so if you need anything, like painkillers…”
Like my mentioning it suddenly reminded him he should be in pain, he winced and raised his other hand to his head.
“Now that you mention it,” he murmured. “I could use some water. We’ll see about… anything else. I would really like to brush my teeth, though…”
I nodded. “I left your stuff for you over there,” I pointed behind him, and he turned to see where I’d left his suitcase. “But if you don’t have a toothbrush, there’s one, along with toothpaste, in the bathroom you can use. I’ll take your sheets to laundry, so when you’re ready, just come downstairs to the dining room. When you’re on the first floor, just go to your left, you can't miss it.”
I shot him a smile and went to turn, so I could pick up the sheets and leave him with some privacy. But I’d sort of forgotten he was still holding onto my hand, and he tugged me back. I turned back to him, looking up at him. Slowly, his hand slid out of mine.
“Do you mind if I ask, Scarlett, why are you doing all this for me?”
I blinked. There were so many responses I could have given him. He was a guest, and I was the only employee around. Even though I hadn't given anyone else quite this treatment. I opened my mouth to answer him, and accidentally told him the truth.
“You just…look as if you could do with some help, I guess,” I murmured.
I could feel my face start to warm, and I turned around quickly, picked up the soiled sheets, and left.
Chapter Six
Scarlett
I started making dinner in the evening, as usual. As I was serving up the food in the dining room, I realized it was roughly the time Dan had showed up the previous day. I hadn't seen him after the scene in his room this morning, though presumably, he got himself some food and some water. I was suddenly feeling self-conscious, I’d spent some time away from the dining room hoping to not meet him. I’d gone back to find an empty room and cleaned up. Then, I went took clean sheets to his room, only to knock on the door and leave them on the floor before running away.
If he’d opened the door to see me running…
I shook my head and put it out of my mind. The guests were arriving for dinner, and I made sure everyone was served.
Dan was a little late, and the room had cleared out and I was thinking of cleaning up. But he did come down for dinner. When I saw him, my breath caught, and for a moment, I almost didn’t recognize him. Because he’d shaved the beard and combed his hair back from his face. He’d also changed into some of his own clothes, and he looked like a whole new man. I only realized it was him, because he smiled right at me.
Well, that, and there really weren’t that many people staying at the hotel. I knew all the guests by face, so there was no one else it could be.
“Hey, Scarlett,” he said casually. “Can I get something to eat? Or is it too late?”
I found myself distracted as I couldn't get over how hot he was looking at the moment. It was as if h
e’d transformed himself in the last few minutes. It was a little unfair that my heart was starting to beat harder, my breathing coming a little faster because of him, especially when he’d been such a mess earlier.
“Um,” I murmured. “No, I can fix you up something. If you don’t like what’s already on selection…”
The few other guests we had must have gone back to their rooms already. No one really stayed out late, if they left, they were back for dinner and off to their rooms afterwards. There were no other employees right then. It was off season, so there wasn’t too much work around, and Dad usually kept this in mind, so he didn’t have any full time employees, besides me and himself. Of course, he was taking advantage of it himself to go off and visit his girlfriend. He hadn't said anything to me, besides that he would be away for a few days, but it wasn’t like I didn’t know he was seeing someone.
That kinda pisses me off, I grumbled internally. Even my dad has a life. Why am I the one that gets left here while he’s off visiting his lover…
