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I wasn’t surprised to discover there were only two hotels. One was decidedly nicer than the other, so we headed to that. The woman standing behind reception gave us a dour look and took her sweet time sorting rooms. Or she did, until Drake lost his patience and asked for someone competent. The insult to her pride ensured she dealt with us much more swiftly.
Drake slapped down a black Amex card (I’d never seen one before) and paid for the rooms. Undoubtedly, she’d run it as soon as our backs were turned to ensure it was not stolen.
Drake handed out keys to everyone’s room and sent them off with the order to meet in reception in an hour. Savage grabbed mine and the girl’s bags and helped us to ours. The kids chatted happily, oblivious to the tension.
Savage tried to reassure me, but I honestly didn’t care. These small-minded townspeople needed to get off their high horse.
After cleaning the girls and quickly showering, I gathered them up and walked downstairs. Considering the woman’s attitude at the front desk, I was surprised at how clean the hotel was.
The men were all waiting when I arrived, and they offered smiles at us and then dark looks at those watching us.
“There’s a diner down the road, or we can walk two blocks to a decent restaurant,” Savage announced.
“Diner is fine with me. Grace, are you okay eating there?” Drake said, surprising me with his courtesy.
I frowned as I realised Gunner and Texas were missing.
“Diner’s good; where are Gunner and Texas?” I asked. “Shouldn’t we wait for them?”
“They’ve gone to protect Earle. Who’s going to argue with those two big bastards?” Drake answered, and I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. It was a release of the tension inside me.
“That’s true,” I finally said as Savage’s hard face softened, and he moved to take Harper and Isla’s hands—one a little awkward with his cast.
The girls clung happily to him, babbling away.
As we stepped out, the guys surrounded me and the kids, and we walked down the main street.
I couldn’t help but notice the looks people were giving us. It made me very uncomfortable, especially with the children present.
Savage grew more tense as we headed into the diner, too. Not that I could blame him. Everyone stopped eating and talking and stared the moment we walked in.
“Why are they staring?” Isla’s little voice pierced the silence, and I noticed both girls had closed in on Savage, having picked up the vibes.
“Because they’ve never seen such beautiful ladies before,” Savage replied.
“Are you sure it’s not because they want to eat us?” Harper demanded. “It feels like we walked into the witches’ house.”
Harper’s words must have struck home because people began talking again, although their eyes remained on us.
“What do you want?” a woman asked.
“Service without an attitude; think you could manage that?” Drake snapped, and the woman looked shocked. I guess she hadn’t expected Drake to call her on it.
“How many?”
“Can you count?” Drake questioned, now giving her attitude.
“This way,” she groused and led us to a row of tables. “You can push them together.”
“Thanks for your help,” Drake responded, and Apache laughed.
“Just eat and go; we don’t want trouble,” the woman stated, and Drake’s eyes narrowed.
“And what would that be? Have we not been perfectly polite while you’ve been as rude as fuck? Did we walk in here and throw shit around, or did everyone all stop and stare at us? What drama are you referring to?” Drake challenged.
She blushed at being called on her behaviour again, and Drake stood up.
“We’re not eating here. If they can afford to push away paying customers who tip well, then good for them. Move out,” Drake ordered. “What idiot throws out a guaranteed three hundred bucks? Probably more than what they earn in a day.”
