6. CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SIX
I vy
An uncomfortable silence blankets the room as Brody leaves. Neither Callum nor Iris call me out on my behavior, but I know they’re both thinking it. I ruined our chances.
My nerves leave my stomach twisted. I can’t stay still. I leave my seat and pace around the space but it’s too small. I’m bumping into furniture and walls. I feel compressed.
Who knows what Brody is doing? He needs to discuss with his “team” my foot. Maybe he’s just standing outside and counting down the minutes until he turns us down. Then what?
I face-palm, then run my fingers through my hand-brushed bed hair. I should have tried to be a bit nicer. Maybe then Iris and I would have a chance of being accepted. Based on our interaction earlier, I’m ninety percent sure he will say no. The ten percent that makes him consider taking us on is because of his relationship with Callum.
“What are you doing?”
I spin away from the wall where I’m drumming my fingers. “What?”
Callum’s looking at me with a line between his brows. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head and exhale. “Feels like I’m suffocating in here.”
“You should take a walk. The resort has lovely grounds.”
I give him a tight-lipped smile to express my appreciation.
Iris is curled up into a ball on the couch with her feet tucked in. I touch her shoulder. “Wanna come with?”
She cracks open an eye. “No. I’m fine in here.”
It’s only when I step outside the room that the absurdity of the question dawns on me. Iris can’t go anywhere without being recognized. A nice walk could bring us to a fan who’d blow up her location.
My heart tightens for her. She doesn’t deserve this.
I look left and right and choose the direction of the lobby. It’s as busy as before with excited guests coming and going. Instead of braving the cold outside, I continue down the opposite hallway.
Some of the tension that kept me wound up falls away as I take a stroll through different hallways. The building is massive. Despite having a warm décor with earthly tones, it still feels airy and open. I stare up at the high ceiling with its intricate design. Wow .
“Are you lost?”
I come to a stop and look around, finding a gray-haired man standing behind me.
“No.” I’m technically not, even though I’ll have to do some mental gymnastics to find my way back after the turns I’ve taken.
“Just having a look around?” He has his hands in his pockets, stance wide and at ease. Something about him seems so open and welcoming.
People rarely come off that way. After dealing with social work cases, I’ve come to treat strangers with suspicion until they prove that they are harmless. This man exudes a calm that invites me to trust him immediately.
Which makes my guard go up.
“I am. Are you a guest here?” It’s best to take control of the interaction.
“Aren’t we all guests in a way?”
I frown. “Uh…”
A smile deepens the crow’s feet around his eyes. “Walk with me. I’ll give you the tour.”
I fall in next to the man. “Do you come here a lot?”
“Mm-hm.” He nods.
He leads the way, speaking gently even though his voice is deep and probably capable of great power. He doesn’t hurry me along or drown me out with explanations. The way he describes the building’s design fascinates me.
“Is it your design?” I ask.
“No. I’m not that talented.”
Who is he? The staff we have passed by have treated him with much respect.
“I’m Clifford Harbor, by the way,” he says. “You may call me Cliff.”
“I’m Ivy Ross. It’s lovely to meet you, Cliff.”
He nods. “I hope I’ve convinced you to stay.”
I smile. “I wish. My sister and I can’t afford this place.”
“Oh?” Concern narrows his eyes. “I assumed you were on vacation.”
I link my hands, pulling at my knuckles. How much can I tell Cliff? Imagine the disappointment when he realizes he wasted his time showing me around when I won’t be staying. But I also know he won’t judge me and my sister for the trouble we’ve run into. But talking about my problems has always been a challenge.
“We are not,” I say and add nothing more.
His head cants to the side like a curious bird would. “Then why are you here?”
He seems harmless so I let it out.
“My sister and I had to leave our home in Denver because someone is after her. My apartment where we were staying was broken into and the place was left in a shambles. Detective Callum brought us here to meet his army friend Brody, hoping to hire him for security services.”
By the time I’ve finished talking, a well of compassion has grown in his eyes. “I’m so sorry you’re facing this. Where is your sister?”
“She’s still waiting in Brody’s sitting room. He’s meeting with his team to find out if he will take us on.”
“He will. He and the boys like a good challenge.”
My eyebrows lift. “You know them?”
He nods. “Very well. Since they were boys.”
I almost ask if Brody was always a pain in the derrière, but I hold back on the sass. Cliff may not take kindly to me saying that. “You seem to have been around here a long time.”
He chuckles.
“Are you the owner of the resort?”
He nods modestly.
“Wow. Thank you.” I doubt even paying guests get the privilege of getting shown around by the man himself. Hell, if he didn’t speak to me, I wouldn’t have connected the dots. He’s so simple and unassuming.
“You know, if you reach an agreement to work with Brody’s security firm, you could stay in one of the cabins here at the resort.” I start to speak but he raises a hand. “I’m not asking you to pay for it.”
My eyebrows go up. “You’ll comp us?”
He nods once.
I open my mouth but no words come out for a long second. “I... I don’t know what to say. How can you be so kind to us?”
Cliff frowns like the question doesn’t make sense.
“Thank you.” I clap my hands together. “Thank you so much.”
I sense someone’s presence down the hall. I glimpse at them and of course, it’s our dear Brody standing like a sentinel. He’s far away assessing us, but in mere moments, he comes to a stop right in front of us.
“Oh, good. You’re here.” Cliff claps a hand on his shoulder. “Ivy was just telling me about her predicament so I offered to comp her a cabin if she agrees to hire you.”
Brody’s look sours instantly. I wonder if Cliff can see it or it’s just me. His gaze slashes between the older man and me, and then he sighs.
“That’s thoughtful of you, Cliff.” He turns to me with pursed lips, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
Whatever he wishes to say is very difficult for him. I fold my arms and pop out my hip, waiting for it. I’m certain it’ll bring me the utmost pleasure.
“Hawke, Everett, and Yates will take on your sister’s case.”
Relief swoops through me right before a ridiculous notion forms in my head. Laughter spills from my lips, surprising us all. I press a hand to my mouth to hold it back.
“What’s so funny?” Brody frowns.
The furious look on his face in addition to the silly idea makes my shoulders tremble harder. I almost can’t breathe.
“Why are you laughing?” he demands.
Beside him, Cliff has a small, curious smile on his lips. Brody is the only one so offended.
“Hey.”
“Hey, what?”
“HEY,” I repeat, hoping he gets it this time. I can’t just stop laughing.
He glances at Cliff and turns back to me, brows drawn down.
I might rupture a blood vessel before this man gets it, so I pull myself together. “Hawke, Everett, and Yates is abbreviated as HEY. Like a friendly hello when it’s a serious security firm.” I’m not ashamed to say that my next laugh is a ba-ha-ha kind.
Brody looks at me like I’m something the cat dragged in. “I’m going to get your sister.”
And then he stomps away while Cliff tells me that was a clever catch.