4. Caden
Caden
D rinking my black coffee, I pretended to give a shit about decorating. The women were all talking, with Ro interjecting with the odd comment or opinion.
“You’re pretending to care about this even less than I am,” Allie murmured so only I could hear.
“I don’t care what color the wall is.”
“No, you just care where you can stick your cameras.”
I sipped again. “Yes.”
“So why come?”
“My boss told me I had to.” And I knew you’d be here . I cleared my throat. “Plus, I don’t want to get on Tessa’s bad side.” I eyed her. “Why did you come?”
“My best friend told me I had to.” Allie grinned. “And she bribed me with food.” Allie reached past me and nabbed another pastry with a ridiculous amount of frosting on top.
Her scent hit my senses. She’d showered and she smelled like something fruity. Mango, maybe.
I knew I should leave. I’d been telling myself over and over to avoid distractions. To avoid her.
I’d made an appearance, so I could get out of there. I should not be standing next to Allie Ford. Smelling her, talking to her, watching her lips as she ate. She threatened my control.
My gaze drifted down her body. Her leggings showcased those damn long legs of hers.
I wondered how they’d feel wrapped around my hips.
Pressing my lips together, I fought back my irritation. Find some damn control, Castro. “I hope you won’t be late for work tomorrow.”
She cocked a brow. “Ah, there’s the Broody we know and love.”
Hearing the word love on her lips made me stiffen.
“I was late today because my kid needed me to walk him to his classroom. If he needs it again tomorrow, I’ll be five minutes late again.” She turned to face me, a fierce look in her eyes. “You going to give me a detention slip, Mr. Castro? Send me to the principal’s office?”
“I was just?—”
“Being an uptight, rule-following asshole.” She poked my chest. “I do my job and I do it well. No one can accuse me of slacking.”
“I never said you weren’t doing your job. You’re excellent at it.” And way overqualified to work in housekeeping.
“ Oh .” Faint color appeared in her cheeks.
“Your team members love you. You get excellent comments in the staff surveys.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“And I know you’re giving everything to your nephew. You should be proud of the job you’re doing.”
She blinked at me and tilted her head. “Who are you, and what have you done with our head of security?”
She made me want to smile. I realized I like seeing her pleased and happy. How would it feel to make her happy all the time? She had shadows under her eyes and I knew she wasn’t getting enough sleep. I knew she didn’t have much free time. What if someone helped share that load?
Not your job, Castro.
“Okay, you two.” Tessa appeared. “This one or this one?” She held up two small squares of fabric.
Shit . They were both shades of brown with some sort of stripe in them.
“That one.” Allie pointed to the one on the right.
“I agree,” I added quickly.
Tessa beamed. “That was my choice as well. I think the shades go really well with our luxury mountain lodge theme.” Then she pulled something out of her pocket.
It was a bar of chocolate. It was wrapped in patterned white and gold paper.
“Your reward.” She handed the bar to Allie.
Allie’s eyes widened. “Dandelion!” Her lips curled into a smile. “You’re a goddess, Tessa.” She clutched the bar to her chest like it was made of gold.
I frowned. “Dandelion?”
Allie spun, pure joy on her face. “The best chocolate in the world. It’s small batch chocolate made in San Francisco. They make single-origin dark chocolate using just two ingredients: cocoa beans and organic cane sugar. That’s it. And it tastes like heaven.”
She looked like she’d been given an all-expenses paid vacation.
“The only place they sell it in the entire state of Colorado is in The Nook here in Windward. Tessa’s aunt owns the store.” She ripped open the package, broke off a bit of dark chocolate and took a bite. “ Mmm . I’m going to savor this. Thanks, Tessa.”
I watched Allie eat another piece of chocolate. I tried not to look at her lips.
She broke off another piece and held it out. “Try it.”
“I don’t really eat chocolate.”
She smiled. “Of course you don’t, but try this.”
I took the square and popped it in my mouth. The rich, nutty flavor hit me and my eyebrows rose.
“Told you,” she said smugly.
She was right. The dark chocolate was good.
Then she carefully folded the wrapper over the chocolate and slipped it into her pocket.
“You’re going to hoard it?”
“It’s a treat and I need to make it last. I can’t afford fancy expensive chocolate anymore.” She shook her head. “It’s all Reese’s peanut butter cups these days. They’re Ollie’s favorite.”
My chest tightened. She couldn’t afford her favorite chocolate? I hated that.
The ring of a cellphone interrupted, and Allie fished around in her bag. “Crap, that’s mine.”
She pulled her phone out and an unreadable look crossed her face. My best guess, it was part annoyance and part resignation.
She held up the phone in front of her and pasted a fake smile on. I’d never seen Allie fake anything before.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Allie, sweetie.” There was a pause. “Those bags under your eyes need attention, Allison. Really. You need a better concealer.”
I moved enough to catch a glimpse of the older blonde woman on the screen. She looked nothing like Allie. She had artfully styled hair and a lot of makeup.
“Sure thing, Mom. I’ll get right on that.”
“I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time?”
“I’ve just finished work, but I need to leave shortly to pick up Ollie from school.”
“Oh, of course. My sweet grandbaby.”
Allie’s mouth tightened. “How are you?”
“Wonderful, sweetie. After my yoga session today, I had a long lunch with friends, then headed to the shops. Fendi is having a sale. You need a good handbag, Allie. You should check it out.”
“No, I don’t need an expensive handbag, I have a kid to feed and nowhere to wear an expensive handbag.”
“A good-quality piece in your wardrobe never goes to waste. I’ve told you that you need to put some effort into your appearance. It shows your commitment, makes a good first impression. If you look like a tomboy, no one will ever take you seriously.”
“How’s Harold?”
I listened to the less-than-stealthy change of subject.
“My darling is great. He’s at golf right now. He’s booked us a cruise around the Caribbean next month.”
“That’s great. Ollie’s doing well at school.”
“Excellent. Give him a hug from his Coco.”
Allie blew out a breath. “Sure. You could call on the weekend and talk with him.”
“This weekend? Oh, sweetie, Harold and I are so busy. I have a meditation retreat on Saturday, then we’re out with friends on Sunday.”
“Another time then.” Allie’s tone was flat.
“Yes. Okay, Allie, I have to run. And why don’t you grow out your hair. You know how much I hate it that short.”
“Bye, Mom.” Allie stabbed at the phone.
My gaze on her face. Everything in my file said that Allie had an idyllic childhood here in Windward, except for when her parents divorced when she was in her teens.
I was thinking maybe I didn’t have all the facts.
“Coco?” I asked.
“Oh, Mom had no desire to be called grandma, granny, or nana. She said it made her feel old. She picked Coco instead.” Allie was tense, her voice tight. “I need to go.”
“You aren’t close with your mom?”
She met my gaze. “I really need to get Ollie. I always make sure I’m never late to pick him up.”
“Does your mom help out with Ollie?”
Because it sounded like she was too busy buying fancy bags and going on vacations while her daughter worked her ass off to care for her orphaned nephew.
“She sends him birthday and Christmas gifts.” She slung her bag over her shoulder.
I didn’t want her to leave. I didn’t want to see the tension on her face. “Allie?—”
“This is starting to feel like an interrogation. No more answers until you answer my questions. Are you close with your mother?”
Discomfort came hard and fast. My mouth flattened. “I used to be.”
Her gaze traced my face and her stiff shoulders relaxed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry somewhere I shouldn’t.”
Which was exactly what I’d been doing. “After I left the military…” Jesus, this was hard to talk about. “I wasn’t the same. I was closed off and it was difficult for my mom and sisters having me around. I call them occasionally. They live in Texas.”
“I really didn’t mean to pry,” she murmured.
“Looks like I’m missing out on the party,” a deep voice said.
Everett Murray, the head of hotel maintenance, stood in the doorway, wearing a brown flannel shirt and worn jeans.
“Oh, hi, Ev,” Tessa said with a smile. “Come in.”
“The snacks look good.” He shot the room a lazy smile. “And I can’t wait to offer my opinions on the renovations.”
By Ro’s desk, Piper stiffened like she’d been electrocuted. “I really don’t think that’s necessary.”
“As head of maintenance, I’ll be maintaining things. I think I have a lot to offer.”
Piper snorted. “You wouldn’t know style if it conked you on your hard head.” She shot a glare at his flannel shirt.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Allie said. “Before blood starts flying. Bye, everyone.” She glanced at me. “Bye, Broody. Have some of those pretty pastries.”
I eyed the fancy pastries. “Hell, no.”
She laughed, and I greedily absorbed the sound.
“You never lie or pretend, do you?” Her eyes twinkled. “I like that.” Then she turned and headed out.
I watched her go.
I couldn’t let her like me. I couldn’t let her get too close.
Because then she’d realize there was nothing to like.
“I need to go too,” I announced.
Ro raised a hand and Tessa and Jazz called out goodbyes. Piper was too busy telling Everett off about something to notice my departure.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and stalked out of the office. I needed to find some work to do.