Dakota turned to Riley, extending his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Riley shook it, her smile bright. “Your wife was just telling me about your nursing skills. Very impressive.”
“She’s a terrible patient.” Dakota pulled out the chair beside Jayden and sat, close enough that his knee brushed hers under the table. “Keeps trying to take care of herself.”
“Imagine that.” Riley laughed, then glanced at her phone. “I should let you two enjoy breakfast. Nice meeting you both—see you later!”
She was gone before Jayden could respond, weaving through tables toward the exit.
Dakota watched her go, his expression unreadable. “New friend?”
“Just joined the tour. She had flight issues.”
Dakota flagged down a server and ordered coffee, then turned back to her. The playful-husband act dropped away, replaced by something sharper. More focused.
“So,” he said, “is wine on the agenda today?”
Jayden shook her head. “No. We need to find my suitcase.”
His eyebrow lifted. “How?”
“It’s time to inspect the hotel.”
Dakota stared at her for a beat. Then his mouth curved—slow, appreciative, slightly dangerous. “I knew you were trouble.”
The way he said it—warm, admiring, like trouble was exactly what he wanted—made her stomach flip.
“I have credentials,” she said, ignoring the flutter. “Hotel-inspector credentials. If this resort is part of the international inspection program—and a place this nice probably is—they’ll have to give me access.”
“Access to what?”
“Guest rooms. Luggage storage. Anywhere I need to go.” She met his eyes. “If my bag is on this tour, I’m going to find it.”
Dakota was quiet for a moment, studying her. “All right,” he said finally. “Let’s finish breakfast. Then let’s go see how much trouble you can actually cause.”
The front-desk manager was a crisp woman in her fifties named Margaret, with silver hair and the kind of professional smile that said she knew how to handle guests. Jayden approached her with credentials in hand and the confident bearing of someone who did this for a living.
Because she did. Sort of.
“Jayden Pierce, International Hospitality Standards Board.” She slid her credentials across the polished wood. “I’m conducting quality assessments for the Asia-Pacific region. I believe your property is enrolled in our inspection program?”
Margaret’s smile flickered—the briefest moment of concern before professionalism reasserted itself. “Of course. We take our participation in the program very seriously.” She examined the credentials, then typed something into her computer. “Yes, here we are. Fairview Estate Vineyard Resort, enrolled since 2019.”
“Wonderful.” Jayden smiled. “I’ll need access to several areas of the property. Guest rooms included, where occupants have given blanket consent through the program’s participation agreement.”
“I understand. I’ll assign you a manager escort—Mr. Harrington is available this morning. He can accompany you and provide access as needed.”
“Perfect.”
Margaret made a call, spoke in hushed tones, then returned her attention to Jayden. “Mr. Harrington will meet you in the lobby in five minutes. Is there a particular area you’d like to start with?”
Dakota edged up behind her—steady, silent, watching Jayden work.
“The guest cottages,” she said. “Starting with the room assigned to Riley Stewart.”
Margaret nodded, made a note, and handed over a master key card.
Five minutes later, Jayden stood outside cottage seven with Dakota at her shoulder and a nervous-looking Mr. Harrington—young, eager, clearly hoping this inspection would go smoothly—hovering behind them.
