Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
O n the Friday morning before the wedding, Lucas went to find Wendy in housekeeping to make sure the rooms for Carson’s guests were ready. As he walked through the lobby, Riley stepped through the front door.
He did an actual double-take.
Riley had always had a sporty, no-nonsense style, the sort of woman you’d see in an exercise equipment commercial. Pretty, toned, and with a smile that said she could take you on in half a dozen sports and win.
Today she looked like a starlet on the way to a photo shoot—eye-stopping and glamorous, even in a simple cream sweater and black pants. Her hair had shiny highlights to it, looked twice as thick, and somehow had grown six inches longer overnight. Her eyelashes had also grown longer.
He couldn’t decide whether he liked the changes or not. That was the only reason he couldn’t take his eyes off her, the reason he was openly staring. Yes, she looked like a knockout, but why? Who was she trying to impress?
It most likely wasn’t him. And that thought bothered him.
“Morning,” she said.
His gaze kept going over her, cataloging the changes. The skin on her face didn’t actually look like skin. It looked more like a smooth canvas to which she’d added blush. The few freckles sprinkled across her nose had vanished, hidden by makeup.
Were the bridesmaids doing some sort of early photos he didn’t know about? “You’re all dolled up,” he said. “What’s the occasion?”
She swept past him to go to the front desk. “I’m meeting hot football players at a wedding.”
That was the reason for the change? Riley had never been a football player fan. “You got…” he waved a hand in her direction, “new eyelashes for a bunch of guys you don’t know and will only see for a few hours?”
“Maybe I started believing in love at first sight. After all, I shouldn’t rule out the phenomenon.” She picked up the notes from the evening shift and read them.
He sauntered over to her. “So in this scenario, the football player is going to fall in love with you at first sight but only if you have great eyelashes?”
She tapped newly lengthened and painted nails on the desk. “That’s how love at first sight works. It’s all about the eyelashes. Also, I don’t want to talk to you about romance because you’re not at all romantic.” She returned her attention to the report. “Which is why we’re no longer dating.”
“Is that why we’re not dating? I thought it was because you dumped me.”
“Yeah, there was that too.” She put down the report and scanned the check-ins. “Two of Carson’s friends will arrive during my shift, so the eyelashes are totally worth it.” Most of his friends were coming later in the evening. “I can leave the rehearsal dinner early to help Sara check in the rest. She’s going to be busy. I hate to think of her here all alone.”
That was unusual dedication. “You want to leave Olivia’s rehearsal dinner early in order to do more work?”
“It’s not like anyone will miss me. In fact, your family will be more comfortable if I’m not around. That way, they won’t have to make awkward conversation with your ex-girlfriend.”
“It won’t be awkward. My family likes you.”
“In that case, dinner with me will be a painful reminder that I’m the one that got away. I’ll explain that I need to go back to the inn to help Carson’s friends check in.”
Right.
What did Riley really want? “Do you have a crush on one of the players, or are you just trying to make me look like a slave driver boss who’s forcing you to work instead of letting you enjoy your friend’s wedding rehearsal dinner?”
She smirked. “One doesn’t exclude the other.”
That was the problem with her. Since their break-up, she refused to give him a straight answer. She liked making a point that he was no longer privy to her thoughts.
He gave her a patient smile. “Sara can handle the check-ins just fine. Also, when Jared and Cole check in, call me so I can introduce myself and see if there’s anything they need.”
He left her and went to his office. A couple of hours passed.
Riley didn’t call him when Jared and Cole checked in. He wouldn’t have known they’d arrived except he happened to see Riley talking to them while he made his way across the lobby.
Even if Lucas hadn’t recognized them from watching the Broncos play, they were easy to spot. Both were tall and broad-shouldered, dwarfing Riley. She had come around from the desk and was speaking with them, all eager smiles, head tilts, and fluttering eyelashes.
Man, he hadn’t seen her flirting that hard since the time he pulled her over in front of the junior high, and she wanted to get out of her ticket.
She handed them each a pamphlet they used for advertising. “The Riverside Inn was first built in 1930 and has been home to Montana’s celebrities ever since. Truly, this inn is a hidden gem. I could give you a personal tour of the place and tell you some of its history.”
Lucas swept over to the group. “I’m sure our guests would like to go to their rooms and get settled.” He held his hand out to shake Jared’s. “I’m Lucas Clark, Carson’s brother.”
Jared’s eyes widened in recognition. “Carson’s little bro. Good to meet you.”
Cole looked him over and nodded in approval. “I see the resemblance. You ever play ball?”
It was a question Lucas was used to. “Just in high school. I was never as good as Carson.”
“Not many people are,” Jared said.
They chatted for a few minutes about Carson and wedding details. Riley stood there smiling and occasionally adding a comment, even though for any other guests, she would’ve returned to her work by now.
Riley with her glamour-girl hair. The eyelashes made her eyes look huge and doe-like.
Was she actually starstruck by these guys? The idea bothered him. Back when they were dating, Riley had made fun of the women who knew nothing about Carson but were hardcore groupies anyway just because he played football.
“Do you need help carrying your luggage to your room?” Lucas asked the guys. “Our elevator is really small.”
“Carson is doing some renovations,” Riley chimed in. “So eventually we’ll have a bigger elevator. You should talk to him about the inn. He was smart to snap up this place. Even after he’s done with his football career, he’ll have a profitable business.”
“Nice,” Jared said, probably humoring her. Or maybe he just didn’t care what she said. He was busy checking her out.
“Seems like he’s got some good employees,” Cole added, also humoring her. Or maybe humoring Lucas since he worked here too. “Don’t worry about the bags. We’ve got them.”
The two took their suitcases and went to the stairs.
After they were out of earshot, Lucas turned to Riley, eyebrows raised in question. “Since when do you offer personal tours to guests during check-in?”
Riley returned to the desk and began straightening a pile of papers. “They’re the owner’s friends. They get star treatment.”
Lucas snorted. “I’m the owner’s brother. You’ve never given me star treatment.”
She stopped sorting papers to give him a meaningful stare. “Oh, I definitely gave you star treatment.”
Yes, she had. And he missed it.
“Not lately,” he said. He had to force away the memory of how well she’d fit in his arms, snuggled up to his chest.
Riley pursed her lips. “Whose fault is that?”
“Yours.” He noticed another difference. “How did you get a tan in January?”
She deflated a bit. “Does it look unnatural?” She shook her head. “I knew a spray tan was one treatment too many.”
Half the time they’d dated, Riley had worn nothing but sunscreen and lip gloss. He’d liked her that way. She hadn’t needed anything else to be beautiful. “You got a spray tan for the wedding?” he asked. “I didn’t even get a haircut.”
“And that is one more reason why life isn’t fair. If someone falls in love with you at first sight, I’m going to demand my money back.”
Lucas knew he should return to his office instead of standing there staring at her, but his feet didn’t move. She’d gone to a lot of trouble and expense for what? Or rather, for who?
Was Olivia setting her up with one of the players? Suddenly that seemed very likely.
Riley met his gaze, and for a moment, a look of vulnerability flashed across her face. “Does it look orange?” She took a fortifying breath and some of the snarkiness returned to her tone. “An ex never spares your feelings, so I know you’ll tell me the truth.”
The truth was that she looked good before and she looked good now, just different. Fancier. “You don’t really need to ask. We both know you saw the mirror this morning. You just want to hear me admit that you’re beautiful. Fine. You’re beautiful, Riley. Get back to work.”
Her eyes fluttered wider at his words. She hadn’t been fishing for compliments after all. She’d been asking his opinion as a disinterested bystander because she wanted to look good for…he still didn’t know for who.
He supposed he’d find out tomorrow at the wedding who exactly Riley was trying to impress. He’d have to watch her slow dancing with the lucky recipient.
Lucas stalked off to his office, and for the first time, wasn’t looking forward to tomorrow.