Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
THE BIGGEST OF THE BULLSHITTERS
Lennon
Being the general manager of The Manor at Winslet is a dream. Mr. Donnelly gave me a ninety-day trial period after I basically begged him for the job.
He had no idea how much I needed it, how much I needed the money and needed to disappear. What better place to do that than in this little one-horse town?
If I do say so myself, I have bullshitted my way through this job with flying colors. I’d put myself up against the biggest of the bullshitters. It hasn’t been easy. To say I exaggerated my resume when I interviewed is an understatement.
Did I intern for the most famous mouse in the world? No.
But I was a hostess for kiddy birthday parties back in high school. It may not have been at an amusement park, but it was at a trampoline park in a sketchy part of town. I only worked there for two weeks, because let’s be real, they hardly booked any parties.
Working on a cruise ship was a bit of stretch but not a complete lie.
I did work on a boat, but I didn’t exactly manage anyone other than me.
It was a luxury liner and not small by any comparison off the coast of Florida.
I was the cook, the cleaner, and the hostess.
I didn’t navigate the damn thing. If that were my responsibility, I would’ve crashed it into a bank of rocks and hoped for the best.
In the end, I did just that, only metaphorically, not literally.
Which is what brought me here. Not quite to the Pacific, but close enough. I couldn’t get much farther from my past life if I tried without leaving the country. I didn’t have the means to do that, or I would’ve.
There aren’t any apartments in Winslet. It’s too small and too old school. The locals are nice, but they don’t seem to like change. The best I could get was an empty room below the fiction section of the library.
Fitting, since that’s the way I’m living my life right now.
The mayor was all too happy to rent me a room without signing a lease.
I didn’t even have to fill out a background check, which was my biggest stroke of luck aside from landing a job at the manor.
I knew applying for the position of general manager of a five-star resort was a reach.
Actually landing an interview with Devon Donnelly was an even bigger coup.
So much so, I packed up and puttered the sedan that’s about to roll over two-hundred thousand miles across the entire country.
Lucky Lennon, that’s how I’m referring to myself since I rolled into town on fumes and a prayer.
When it came down to it, did I beg for the job?
I sure as hell did.
I’ve lived with desperation for a long time. I’m not too proud to beg. I need to eat and put a roof over my head, even if it is in the basement of a public library where no one’s lived since the librarian died a decade ago.
I did not ask if she died in the studio basement apartment I now call home. That’s a bit of information I don’t need to know.
Since then, no one has managed the place. City council members take turns unlocking the doors in the morning and locking them again right before dinner. Borrowing and returning books is on the honor system.
I guess the system works for the tiny town. The mayor said their book budget is less than a librarian’s salary, so they forged ahead with the honor system.
My last home was an interior cabin on a luxury liner. You’d think someone like me would complain about the lumpy twin bed and rusty plumbing fixtures, but I actually love it.
The rent is miniscule, and it’s quiet.
But the most important thing is I’m here because I want to be here.
I chose to be here.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that. I never knew that choosing where to be, where to work, and where to live is a luxury.
For me, it is.
So when I walk through the grand entrance of The Manor of Winslet that shines like a polished diamond, it’s a direct one-eighty from the tiny basement room I’ve just left at the library.
“Hey, Lennon!”
I stop and turn on the spiked heel I wear as easy as ballet slippers. The young ma?tre ? from the formal dining room jogs up the stairs toward me, but today he’s not dressed in a suit. He looks like he’s ready to hit the courts. “Hi, Blake. You’re here early.”
He hurries past to open the door for me. “I’m helping out in recreation today and leading a hike to see the fall colors.” He leans in and lowers his voice. “I don’t even like to hike. I hope I don’t get lost. Mr. Donnelly bought me new shoes just for the occasion.”
“A boss who buys you new shoes?” I walk through the door he holds open for me. “How can a job get better than that?”
“Right? Rob’s been doing it, but he’s overbooked today. I don’t mind. I like filling in.” We walk through the atrium toward the main office. “Hey, can I ask you a question before I clock in?”
I stop in front of the check-in desk. “Sure. What’s up?”
Blake is young and cute as a button. Tall and lanky with a head of thick, floppy hair that he does his best to tame.
Usually, he’s outgoing and can talk to anyone, but right now, he looks almost shy.
“So, this is going to come across weird. Not weird, but odd. And I’m not asking for me. I’m asking for someone else.”
I pull my purse up my shoulder and turn fully to him. “What do you want to ask me?”
He crosses his arms and bites his upper lip. He looks as comfortable as someone swimming in a shark tank and lowers his voice. “Someone wants to know if you’re seeing anyone.”
I try not to cringe. “Who wants to know that?”
Instead of me cringing, it’s him, but he still doesn’t answer. “I’m sorry. I told her I shouldn’t ask.”
“Who’s her?”
He looks like he’d rather get eaten by sharks than finish this conversation.
“Um, my grandma. I’m sorry. She’s been asking for weeks.
She heard about you from the ladies at church who are in her book club at the library.
When they found out you worked here, they started pushing Grandma to get me to ask you.
I’m sorry. I really am. I just can’t seem to say no to her, even though I tried. I really did.”
I look around to make sure no one can hear us. This is the last thing I need at my new job after what I just escaped from. “Why does your grandma want to know if I’m seeing anyone?”
His eyes widen and his expression turns to one of panic.
“It’s not for me. I swear! Holy smokes, this is horrible.
Never mind.” He shakes his head and takes a step back.
“No, not never mind—now I have to finish. I don’t want you to think it’s for me.
Gosh, it’s not for me. I have a girlfriend.
Not that I don’t think you’re pretty. I mean, you’re way more than pretty.
You’re beautiful, but you’re older. Not that you’re old, but, like older. Not that there’s a problem with that—”
I put my hand up to stop him, because this could go on forever. “Blake, it’s okay. I don’t know why your grandma wants to know, but no. I’m not seeing anyone.”
“Her friend has a son on the city council who told his mom you were living in the basement of the library.” His complexion flushes.
I can’t tell if he’s relieved or if he wants to run away and hide in the extensive labyrinth behind the manor.
“I’m sorry. My grandma and her friends can get out of hand.
They always have. You’re new, and everyone is curious.
We don’t get lots of new people around here. ”
The desire to lock myself in my office versus make sure poor Blake doesn’t feel guilty wars within me. “It’s okay. I get it.”
“I don’t think you do. You’re from the big city.
No one cares what you do there. In this town, everyone is watching you all the time.
” He drags a hand through his hair as his eyes shift left and right.
“Trust me. I couldn’t get away with anything in high school because of Grandma’s friends.
Those old ladies are everywhere. It’s why they want to know about you. ”
I doubt these old ladies are anything like the surveillance I’m used to.
Even so, Blake is a sweet kid. I can tell he’d do anything for his grandmother.
“It’s okay. I appreciate the heads up. But you can pass it along to your grandmother and all her friends that I’m not interested in seeing anyone.
I’m making a new start and want to put all my energy into my career here at the manor. ”
He exhales a relieved sigh but keeps apologizing. “I put you in a weird position. I’m really sorry. The old ladies have sons and grandsons and nephews they want to introduce you to. It didn’t matter how much I told them to mind their own business, they’re persistent old birds.”
I reach out and give his forearm a friendly squeeze. “It’s really okay. Though, I’ll be looking over my shoulder now that I know the old-bird gang of Winslet is keeping an eye on me. But you can give them an answer and be officially off the hook.”
“Thanks for being so cool about this.” He stuffs his hands in his cargo pants pockets that have plenty of compartments for gear to trek through the hiking trails. “I need to clock in and stretch. I’ll see you later.”
I give him a small wave as I turn and talk over my shoulder. “Don’t pull a muscle or twist an ankle. We need you in the dining room.”
I can’t help but laugh as Blake exaggerates his lunges while I’m on my way to my office.
But I yelp as I collide with someone since I’m not watching where I’m going.
A painful, guttural moan rumbles against me. “Oomph.”
Strong arms circle me from behind to keep me upright, but they really feel like they’re holding me at bay. My weight shifts forward and gravity takes over.
I hold on to keep from falling to the side, but it does no good. We both go down and hit the floor.
“What the—” I yell but I’m interrupted.
“Fuck,” the deep voice groans.