14. Ro
Chapter 14
Ro
I tightened my grip on Tessa. Shit, she’d almost fallen. Since her chest was plastered against mine, I felt her heart hammering.
“Oh my God,” she whispered.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, but kept her face pressed to my chest.
My own pulse was racing. If she’d fallen…
I whirled and half carried her to the nearby armchair. I sat her down and saw she was shaking. I knelt in front of her and took her hands.
“You’re okay. You’re safe.” And I’d sure as hell keep her that way.
She bobbed her head. “I know. Thanks to you.”
“Take a deep breath.”
She complied. Then took another one.
I ran my thumbs over her wrists. “You’re all right.”
Meeting my gaze, she nodded. She hooked her pinkie finger with mine. Then she glared at the offending railing. “I can’t believe that was loose. I know the maintenance team checks all the railings regularly.”
“Call Everett. I want an explanation. Now .”
She ran a shaky hand through her hair and then pulled her radio off her belt. “Maintenance, this is Tessa. Everett, are you there?”
I checked the rest of the railing, but it was solid. It was only loose in that one place. I half-listened to Tessa as I crouched and studied where the base of the railing had come loose. My jaw tightened. What I saw didn’t make me happy.
A few minutes later, Everett jogged up the stairs, toolbox in one hand and a frown on his face. He zeroed in on the broken railing. “What the hell happened?”
“That’s what I want to know.” My voice was low and clipped. “The railing gave way and Tessa almost fell.”
“I’m fine,” she said.
“Is this representative of the work you do, Murray?”
The man shot me a hard look before setting the toolbox down and turning to Tessa. “You’re sure you’re okay?” He pressed a hand to her shoulder.
My gaze narrowed. He seemed awfully comfortable touching her.
“I’m really okay. Can you check the railing, Ev?”
The maintenance man crouched and touched the bolts by the floor. “What the hell?”
“Those are scratch marks from some tool, correct?” I asked.
He looked up. “Yes. It looks like someone deliberately loosened the bolts.”
Tessa’s eyes flared wide. “Why? Why would someone do that?”
My shoulders tightened. First, someone tampered with the basement lock, now this. I was feeling very unwanted. My jaw worked. “Clearly someone isn’t happy with the Windward becoming a part of Langston Hotels.”
Tessa stiffened. “You think I had something to do with this?”
I studied her face. There was no way someone as…good and proper as Tessa Ashford would stoop to dirty tricks like this. “You’ve made no secret of the fact that you don’t want me here.”
Her cheeks filled with color. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“If you think she has anything to do with this, you’re an idiot,” Everett bit out.
I let out a breath. “We don’t have any proof of anything yet. I’ll have Caden look into it.”
“Ro, I am not the kind of person who would resort to… to…” She waved a hand at the railing.
“I know that.”
Her mouth opened, no doubt to blast me, but she snapped it shut. “You do?”
“Having spent most of the day with you, I can tell you’re one of those rare people who don’t lie and like to follow the rules.”
Everett snorted. “He has you pegged.”
Tessa shot him a short look.
“Look, let’s end the tour for today. Go and finish up, then go home. I’ll meet you first thing in the morning to see the rest of the hotel.”
She toyed with the end of her braid. “Okay.”
Everett opened his toolbox. “I’ll fix this railing and get my guys to check all the railings around the hotel.”
Tessa nodded, then her gaze focused on me. “We’ll get started at seven tomorrow.” Her gaze drifted down my suit. “I recommend you wear something more…casual.”
“Planning to lock me in the basement again?”
She pulled a face. “No. I’ll see you in the morning.” She took two steps and looked back. “And Ro, leave your phone behind.”
My brows snapped together. “My phone?”
“It rings too damn much. I want you focused.”
I watched her descend the stairs. In the lobby, she was instantly mobbed by several hotel employees. She spoke with everyone, clearly answering questions and soothing problems. She didn’t look anything like the rattled woman I’d held in my arms earlier.
Those horrible seconds when I thought she was going to fall blasted through my head.
“She isn’t some fancy model or socialite.”
I glanced back at Everett. “What?”
“I’m assuming that’s the type you usually play with. Tessa is way too good for the likes of you.”
I stiffened. “She’s my manager, that’s it.”
The other man arched a brow. “Really?”
“Just fix the railing.” I pulled out my phone and messaged Caden. He appeared just as Everett was leaving.
“Busy day?” my head of security asked.
“Something like that.” I nodded at the railing. “This gave way, and Everett said it had been loosened by someone. Tessa almost fell. Add to the basement incident and I’m not feeling the love.”
Caden’s face darkened. “You think someone is trying to kill you?”
“Or at least ensure I have a nasty accident.”
“Tessa is the common denominator.” Caden crouched to look at the tool marks.
“If you’re suggesting Tessa Ashford is running around tampering with locks and railings, forget it. That woman would rather walk through the lobby naked than stoop to something like that.”
He rose. “You like her.”
“I respect her. She’s good at her job and she loves this place. Add in the fact that after a few hours with her, it’s obvious she likes to do the right thing and follow the rules.”
“I agree. Plus I’ve run a background check on her. The woman has made a habit of being an overachiever and giving back. She organizes the masquerade to help a kids’ charity, and also organizes a charity fun run in the spring, plus I hear she helps out staff when they need anything.”
“You know her parents were killed.”
“Yeah. Sad. Orphaned at eight. Her aunt raised her.” He paused. “She helps pay her aunt’s mortgage and is helping to send her oldest cousin to college.”
Of course she was. “Find out who’s doing this.” I waved at the railing. “Before someone gets hurt. I want to know who’s targeting me. And what they’re hoping to achieve. Childish pranks are one thing, but Tessa could have died.”
Caden nodded. “I’ll look into it.” A faint grimace crossed his face. “The security team won’t be much help. Deem is on the verge of retirement. His few guards patrol the grounds and deal with unruly guests, but that’s about it. Security is pretty lax, and no one has any investigative skills.”
“Then that’s something we’ll need to change.”