Chapter 23
‘Excuse me, miss? Were you working the front desk a couple of days ago?’
‘Yes, I was. How may I be of assistance?’ Erin smiled at a guest who happened to waylay her en route to Shay Brady’s empty suite.
Talk about bad timing.
The man was handsome and looked to be in his forties. However, what struck her most was his smile. His teeth were brilliant white and his friendly mouth was framed by a neat goatee, his smile further illuminated by the bright yellow of his button-down shirt.
‘There was an American woman who fell in the lobby that same afternoon. I was heading out to meet some people when I saw her and thought I recognised her. Could you tell me if she’s OK?’
At this, Erin stiffened a little, her instincts immediately heightened. What could he want with Molly Cooke? Aside from her immediate task to help her locate her mother’s key, Erin also felt an overwhelming urge to protect her that she couldn’t quite explain.
‘Yes, she was fine, more embarrassed really.’
‘Good, I’m glad to hear it.’ He paused momentarily. ‘I know this may seem strange, but could you confirm her name?’
Now Erin’s hackles were well and truly raised. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but that would be a clear invasion of our guest’s privacy. But if I can help you in some other way …’
‘I understand. Maybe if I told you what I thought her name was, you could confirm it?’ His tone though gentle, was mingled with something that Erin read as … timidity or bashfulness even? Her assumption was only solidified when he provided the correct name and blushed furiously.
‘So how do you know Molly?’ she asked the man whose own name Erin had yet to learn. But he seemed too distracted by her confirmation of his query.
‘Sorry, I’m usually much more eloquent, I assure you.
It’s … well …’ Quickly realising he hadn’t explained himself any better than previously and also sensing Erin’s hesitation, he continued.
‘Let me start again. My name is Trevor. Molly and I have a bit of history, I suppose you could say. Both our parents are St Lucian and we went to middle school together in New York. I always had a little crush on her, to be honest, but she was always so shy, and as you can probably tell, I’m not exactly Mr Smooth myself.
We were friends until we lost touch. I must say it was a complete shock, but a pleasant one, to see her here at the hotel. ’
‘That’s lovely. Perhaps you should two should try to reconnect while you’re here?’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude on her holiday,’ he said hesitantly, but yet Erin could see that the idea appealed to him. ‘She may not remember me at all. She made an impression on me but it doesn’t mean I ever made one on her,’ he mused. ‘I wasn’t exactly the type of guy girls noticed back then.’
‘Well, I’m sure that’s not the case now,’ Erin complimented, and Trevor smiled. ‘How about I maybe mention bumping into you and see what she says?’ she suggested, testing him a little.
‘Would you?’ His enthusiasm was so palpable that Erin felt this guy was indeed genuine. Plus she also got the sense Molly could use the distraction of an old friend, especially at a time like this. Saying goodbye to Trevor, Erin eventually proceeded on her way to the Sanctuary wing.
But right as she was about to enter Shay Brady’s room, she heard the sound of frantic footsteps approach in the hallway, and stopped short as if caught doing something untoward, until remembering she was an employee of the hotel and doing nothing wrong.
Kind of.
Now she looked up to see someone in maintenance overalls coming toward her, looking frantic.
‘Have you seen Grant?’ the guy demanded, sounding very out of breath.
‘Not today …’ Erin told him, bracing herself for yet another problem. She debated going inside anyway and locking herself inside the room so that no one else in this hotel or their various crises would be able to find her. Let the general manager sort it this time.
‘There’s a water leak upstairs on this wing, we can’t get it to stop. The whole second floor is going to be flooded soon and if this keeps going … it won’t be long before down here is drenched too.’
Seriously?
Erin sighed resignedly ‘Show me where it’s coming from,’ she said, even though she didn’t know the first thing about plumbing.