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“No.”
Mel inhaled a steadying breath, grabbed the fresh glass of wine—liquid strength—then said, “I better get back.”
“You’ll get through this.” Caroline squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll be here if you need me.”
“I know.” Mel placed her hand over Caroline’s in gratitude before she made her way back to Craig and her children. “Karen,” she said in greeting.
“Oh, hi, honey. I’m glad you’re back. Those canapés are calling my name.” She winked at Mel, then hustled off, oblivious to any awkwardness.
“So far, your coworkers seem nice,” Craig said.
“They are, for the most part.” Mel forced a smile, but it was hard when she didn’t feel it.
“The kids were telling me you’re moving,” he said, and based on the tone of his voice, she couldn’t tell if it was an accusation or not. Regardless, leave it to her kids to spill the beans.
She glanced over at the three of them, then back again. “That’s right,” she said, but Craig barely seemed to hear her. Instead, something behind her had stolen his attention.
When he waved, she turned and followed his gaze to the doorway, wondering who he could possibly know. But the only person she noticed was . . . Mr. Garwood. His presence didn’t surprise her as this was his hotel, but. . .
Frowning, she glanced back to Craig again. “Do you know him?”
“Yeah. I probably should say hi in a bit. I could introduce you.”
Mel shook her head, not understanding. “No, that’s not necessary, but how do you know him?”
“That, my dear, is the owner of one of the largest hotel chains in the country.”
Mel waved him on, growing impatient, and ignoring the term of endearment which made her skin crawl.
“And,” he drawled, “he’s my new boss.”
“Your new boss?” Mel nearly choked on the words.
Craig nodded.
“Since when? How?”
“Get this. So, a week ago, I’m still recovering from the accident, and up and out of the blue, this hotshot calls me and offers me an upper management job. Just like that.” Craig snapped his fingers. “Said he saw my resume on LinkedIn or some crap like that.”
Mel’s blood ran cold as she glanced back toward Mr. Garwood, who was watching them far too intently for her liking. One week ago. Just like that. Funny how it coincided with Blake’s ending his relationship with Jen.
But Mel had bigger problems than a vindictive old man as the meaning of what Craig just told her fully sunk in. A dry laugh escaped her as she stood and waved Caroline over, catching her eye by the appetizers, and pinching her mouth shut until she arrived.
“Caroline, would you mind taking the kids to get some food for just one moment? I’ll be over in a second,” she said, and based on the tone of her voice, Caroline nodded and hurried to take the kid’s hands.
“Come on, guys, there are pigs in a blanket.”
“Ew,” Peter said.
“What’s that?” Kinsley wrinkled her nose as Caroline led them away.
When Mel turned back to Craig, her blood boiled. “You didn’t move back for us, did you?”
“Of course, I did,” he said, his forehead wrinkling in confusion.
“No!” She slapped the palm of her hand over the table, making him jump. “You didn’t,” she said, angry with herself for being so blind, so stupid. “You’re moving back because you got offered a job, which by the way, I suspect has nothing to do with your crap resume and everything to do with something else entirely.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Craig’s face turned blood red. “Okay, so maybe I did get the job, but I had been wanting to come back anyway. What does it matter how I got here?”
