Chapter Four
Trace
The whir of the golf cart and the hot desert wind in my hair gave me a bit of a thrill as I drove the alpha around the resort.
“What’s your favorite place? Somewhere you don’t show the other guests.”
I smiled because I was paid to but also because this alpha was the handsomest man I’d ever seen in my life. He seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say which was different. And unlike some guests, he hadn’t put his hand on my thigh or my anything else.
This one time, I wished he would.
I shrugged. “I love the pools, particularly the ones in the villas. They are exactly the right temperature. Not too hot. Not too cold. Yours in particular has a hot tub attached.”
“Does it? That sounds like a good time. Have you been in my villa? Been swimming in the pool there? Taken a dip in the hot tub?”
My face reddened. Not from the heat of the desert or the sun blaring down on us but because this alpha was flirting. Big time.
Nor in a creepy way either, like some of them. Okay, most of them.
Couldn’t blame them. Alphas came here alone or with an omega for a fantasy experience. The resort had rules and all kinds of contracts and background checks. No ordinary, everyday alpha could come here and experience what this place had to offer, but the requests were wild.
The rumors I’d heard about omegas being asked to do things would make anyone’s hair stand on end.
The omegas could refuse, of course. It was their choice.
“Mr. Rollins, how scandalous of you to suggest I’d ever go into the villas on my day off when they are not occupied and swim in the pool and relax with a glass of wine by the hot tub. That, sir, would be against the rules, and I would surely get fired. How dare you.”
Oh, goddess. I was flirting back.
He chuckled, low and dark. “I would never assume you would, Trace.”
“Well, here we are. Let me show you around.”
I touched the key card to the lock and moved aside for the guest to go in first but he insisted I did. An alpha with manners. A gentleman.
The alpha didn’t allow me to carry his bag. Leather matching the others that had already been dropped off. Excellent quality. A brand name so expensive, it would take me six months of pay to afford to look at one through the window of the store. At least, so I assumed since I’d never priced them.
After a quick tour, I went to the door and put my door on the handle. “Do you have any questions, Mr. Rollins? Anything else I can get for you before I leave? Would you like me to unpack for you?”
He had asked me to use his first name, but it was preferred that we not. The alpha eyed me up and down. With any other guest, I would’ve felt thoroughly violated. But his gaze caressed me, and not in a creepy way. In a caring way.
Damn it. I needed to eat or hydrate. Something. My thoughts were getting away from me.
“No, Trace. Not yet, anyway.”
“Sir?” I cocked my head, not understanding.
“I’m all set for now. Oh. Can I…” He reached into his pocket.
“No, sir. All tips are paid at the end of your stay. We don’t accept any from guests personally, but I appreciate the thought.”
“Oh, but how do I make sure you get the tip specifically?”
My chest warmed. He wanted to make sure I was taken care of.
I would bet he took care of an omega in every way they needed.
The thought made my mouth water. “At checkout, there is a way to make sure tips go to certain personnel if you like. Just tell them the names of the people you want to give a gratuity to. Thank you for choosing us. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
As I closed the door, I swore I heard him say, “I already am, omega.”
Now I really was imagining things.
I drove the cart back to the parking area and went to help Eddie. He was on room service duty today, and we tried to help each other out when we could.
“Hey, take this for me?” He handed me a tray full of caviar and macadamia nuts and a plate of cheapie toaster pastries. Odd combination, but nothing the guests ordered surprised me anymore.
“Where are we headed?”
I helped him take the trays to one of the villas. When he finished, we walked back to the serving area together. “I heard there were people coming in today, and one of the other guys said they were mafia. Like, big time.”
I kept walking but my stomach knotted and went sour.
It can’t be. The possibility that the criminal boss that I was sold to in a stupid poker game had come here, followed me across the country and into the desert, was minute. It couldn’t be. I wouldn’t believe it.
Still, the fear of what-if turned my stomach and made my breaths short.
“Everything okay?” Eddie asked as we gathered up another order.
“Yeah. I don’t like some of the characters that come here sometimes.”
Eddie nodded. “I know but we’re not paid to like them, right? And they never stay long. That’s the beauty of this job. We stay, they leave, especially when they’re gross ones. Come on. Two more hours, and we can rest.”