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“Just a moment,” the other person said, pointing at the screen.
“What?” Emily said bluntly, feeling all sorts of eyes on her as the clerk’s voice seemed to get louder and louder. “What are you pointing at? Does it show what happened? I mean, I still need a room for the convention. Do you have anything else?”
“We’ll get you taken care of. I apologize for any inconvenience, Miss Marks. Just a moment and we’ll get you some room keys with a little something to smooth this over.”
“As long as we have a room, that’s fine.”
“Yes, of course.”
The clerk began typing and doing something on the computer, before inserting two magnetized keys into a machine to code them to the locks, while the manager lingered over his shoulder, before quietly speaking to the attendant.
She hoped he wasn’t getting in trouble, but she was so anxious that this was an indication of how John’s visit would go… sure enough, he walked over from where he’d been standing with the bags.
“Is everything alright?” he asked quietly, hefting the bags with him.
“Yes. There was a mix-up with the room, and they are getting it handled.”
“Sir, can we get you someone to help with your bags?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Are you certain?”
“Just take care of my girl and we’re good…” he said candidly, not looking at Emily, who’s face turned towards him the moment he’d claimed her aloud. She was nearly bursting with happiness, and every time her handsome man did that, she melted into a big puddle of joy.
“Alright. Here we are….” The clerk said with a practiced flourish, pulling out a brightly colored paper map of the casino and hotel floor. He drew on the map with a marker to guide them.
“You are going to leave here, take the last elevator down this hallway,” the clerk said, pointing to their left. “And insert your keycard into the elevator slot. It’s programmed to take you to the floor. You are in the room at the end of the hallway. If you need anything, just press zero on your phone. The kitchen is open until two and…”
“Thank you so much for your help,” Emily said politely, glancing over the clerk’s shoulder, hoping his manager heard her. “You have taken a simple mistake, made it so much better, handling it with style and grace. I hope your manager knows what a gem you are on the front desk. I appreciate your help so much.”
The young man’s eyes widened in surprise – and she knew he was being chastised by the manager a few moments ago.
“Thank you, Miss Marks.”
“Of course. I’ll be sure to brag about you when I post a review as well…” The manager looked in their direction and nodded, smiling.
Emily had him pinned correctly – anything to keep the guest happy and earn a stellar review. She knew it, and hoped that the young man wasn’t in trouble after all. He looked like he was younger than her… and much more naïve.
Before she could say anything else, John took the keys and map in his free hand and nodded towards her, practically glaring at the man.
“C’mon,cher,” he said towards her. “Let’s get you settled so you can unpack.”
Stunned at the endearment, she looked up at John, to see him watching the man as he took her hand in his, pulling her towards the elevators, the keys and paper map crushed between their palms.
“John… John, is everything alright?”
“I didn’t like the way he was looking at you.”
“How he was…? What?” Emily started and laughed. “He was looking at me like he’d messed up our room. How did youthinkhe was looking at me?”
“Nothing…” John muttered, setting down their bags in the elevator and inserting one of the key cards in the slot. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Are you okay?”
“No, not really.”
“Is it something I did?”
