My sister Sienna walked by carrying a stack of towels and wiggled her brows behind the guest, and I hid a chuckle.
He glanced at the brochure rack. Then at the mounted antlers on the wall. Then at me.
“You’re not going to try and hug me at some point, are you?” he growled, and I suddenly liked the idea.
“Not unless you request it on the form,” I deadpanned. “There’s a checkbox. Right next to ‘Would you like extra pillows?’ and ‘Are you emotionally available?’”
His eyebrow twitched again. We wereso closeto an actual expression, I couldtasteit.
“Available for what?”
I stepped around the desk and reached for the key off the hook. This time it was my turn not to answer his question.
“You’re all set. Just head upstairs…”
He reached for his bag at the same time I stepped closer, which resulted in an awkward shoulder brush, a near trip, followed by his very strong, very warm arm grazing mine.
I gasped. He froze. We both backed up, as if we'd accidentally touched a live wire.
Cool. Normal.
“I…I meant to say I’ll be in your room later,” I blurted, and then immediately wanted to fall into a deep hole and never resurface.
His eyes locked onto mine.
Sharp.
Startled.
My soul left my body.
“I mean….I meantfor turndown service!” I waved my hands like they might erase the sound waves. “To refresh towels and pillow fluffing! Not me fluffing your…no, notyou. I mean, yes,you,but notme with you. I—”
He blinked.
Once.
Slowly.
Like his system had gone into diagnostic mode.
I handed him the key in complete defeat.
“Here. Just take this before I say something about folding your underwear or grooming your beard with artisanal conditioner.”
He took it. His fingers brushed mine.
I died again.
Another moment passed. Then,then, he exhaled, and I swear there was something in that breath. Something suspiciously adjacent to amusement.
“See you later then,” he said, deadpan. “I’ll try to be fully fluffed by the time you arrive.”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Considered moving to Peru.
Instead, I plastered on my best business-owner smile and gave him a thumbs-up. Athumbs-up, like a camp counselor who just accidentally walked into the wrong cabin.
“Enjoy your stay,” I managed.
