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“I should have called out.” His grin is charming. “Mag was thirsty, and I needed to grab her bowl.” He motions with a hand toward the open door, where my cleaning cart is parked outside the room, and I see a big gray Husky sitting and waiting for him right next to it.
“Hi, Mag.” I smile at the beautiful pup, with bright blue eyes that remind me of Roman’s.
“She’s friendly,” he tells me, and I take that as permission to approach her. The moment I do, her tail begins to wag frantically, and she stands. Stepping outside, I rub the top of her head and laugh when she bounces.
“She’s so cute.” I smile up at the guy now standing over me with a bowl in his hand.
“She’s also a terror.” He grins back.
“I don’t believe you.” I turn my attention to Mag. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” I bend to rub her head and down her back. Her fur is slightly damp, and there’s sand in her coat. “Did she like the beach?”
“She loved it,” he says as she lets out an excited woof like she’s answering for herself. “She didn’t want to leave.”
“I never want to leave either.” I laugh when she tries to lick my face and back up to get away from her tongue. “Do you—?” I look up at him and start to ask if he needs anything before I move along, but his gaze is focused on something behind me.
Wondering what’s caught his attention, I turn to see Roman standing a few feet away, holding two paper cups. I can’t tell what he’s thinking with the blank look on his face, but his taut jaw makes him seem annoyed. Dragging his eyes off the guy standing next to me, he meets my gaze, his expression never shifting.
My smile slides away.
Okay, then.
I look down at Mag when she nudges my hand, obviously not happy with the loss of my attention. “I didn’t forget about you.” I give her a little more love before coming out of my bend and looking at her owner once more. “I’m finished in your room, but did you need anything?”
He drops his eyes to me and smiles. “I think we’re good.”
“Cool. Have a great day.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Grabbing the handle of my cart with one hand, I give Mag one more head scratch before I begin pushing my cart down the walkway toward Roman.
“Is everything okay?” I ask softly while his eyes wander over my face.
“Yeah.” He holds one of the cups out toward me.
“What’s this?”
“Coffee.”
“Oh.” I take it, ignoring my stomach fluttering from the sweet gesture.
“From Jeff,” he adds, and the flutter disappears as I frown.
“Jeff gave you a coffee for me?”
He shrugs.
Weird, but okay. I take a sip, and it’s creamy and sweet, just the way I like it. Actually, I’d prefer it over ice, but I’m not going to turn my nose up at a free coffee.
“Who’s the guy?” he asks quietly, walking with me. When I look up at him, I find his eyes pointed ahead of us, but I know he’s asking me about Mag’s owner.
“I don’t know, someone staying here.” I stop at the housekeeping room so I can drop off the dirty laundry that’s piled on top of my cart and restock it. When I get the door open, I push it inside, and he leans against the doorjamb to watch me. “What are you up to today?”
“I have some work to do this afternoon.”
“Oh, what kind of work?” I ask, and I’m almost sure he’s not going to answer, but he steps into the room and leans against the counter, where I’ve just dumped a pile of clean towels from the dryer.
“A deal I’m closing back in New York.”
