“Maybe we could do something after?”
I grin and give in to the urge, bringing my hand to the back of her head and slotting my lips over hers. I thread my fingers through her wavy hair, and she lets out a tiny, pleased sound as she kisses me back.
Ending the kiss quicker than I’d like to, I take a step back and smile. “We can definitely do something after. Anything you’d like.”
She laughs. “I don’t know if you can promiseanything.”
“Well. Probably not. But anything I can make happen in this small-ass town and on a chef’s budget.”
She laughs again, though not unkindly. Still, the reminder of the differences in our wealth and lifestyles sours the mood a little. Even if she didn’t mean it in that way.
“How about we grab a drink?” she suggests. “Maybe walk around town a bit? Unless you have a better idea.”
All the ideas that come to my mind in this moment involve her being naked, so I don’t offer them.
“Sounds good.”
I give her one more quick kiss, then tell her I really need to get downstairs. She steps around me and opens the door, peeking her head through to check that the hallway is clear before I slip out. Now I only need to make it downstairs and sneak past the lobby without someone spotting me.
“Did you just come from upstairs?” a voice calls out right as I’m hitting the bottom landing and turning in the direction of the kitchen.
Oh, fuck me.
Reluctantly, I spin around to find Brenden standing there looking annoyingly smug.
“No,” I say automatically. Then I cringe, because he obviously saw me on the stairs. “I mean, yeah. Someone from housekeeping had a question, and she couldn’t find you. I was here early and had time to help. No big deal.”
“Interesting.” He places one hand on his hip and studies me intently like he can read the lies right off my face. “Because I’ve been here at the desk all morning, and Annabeth hasn’t seemed to have any issues. And I also didn’t notice you come in through the front doors. I’m pretty sure I would’ve seen you.”
“You must have been busy texting sentimental love crap to your boyfriend.”
“You’re also wearing the same shirt you had on yesterday.”
Okay, fine.
He might have me there.
“I plead the fifth,” I try.
But of course he’s not going to let me get away with that.
“Addison.” His tone is less teasing now. “You don’t have to tell me if you happened to spend the night with someone. But I want to say that you look very happy this morning. And whatever has made you so happy, it must be a good thing.”
We stare at each other for a few long, drawn-out seconds. I don’t really have a rebuttal for him, since I’m standing here like a fool in a day-old T-shirt that might as well havei fucked the country starprinted across my chest.
I can’t out Riley, though. Even if Brenden thinks he’s so smart and has already figured it out. I can’t confirm it. She’s trusted me, and I’m not going to betray her.
“I guess I am happy,” I finally say. “And I’d be happier if you’d let me get to the kitchen to do my job.”
“By all means.” He gestures behind me. “I’ll just pop in with you to get some coffee.”
“Don’t you bring your own coffee in the mornings?”
Shrugging, he says, “I drank it.”
“Christ, how long have you been here?”
“An hour,” he says, grinning proudly as if needing another caffeine fix already is some sort of accomplishment
