I gently but firmly pulled my hand away. “I appreciate the offer, but I can’t. Enjoy your evening, Mr. Hartley.”
I stood, ready to walk away, but hesitated when the drunken man got off his stool as well, nearly falling onhis ass. And while that would’ve been entertaining and well-deserved, I couldn’t let it happen.
But he recovered his balance without my help and staggered off. I watched him leave, then sat down again, feeling the need to finish the pink and weirdly delicious drink Kai had made me.
Kai watched me while I took a sip. “Why do you put up with that?”
“It’s actually good,” I said.
He rolled his eyes. “No, that old dude. He was all over you. Why didn’t you tell him to back off?”
“Because it’s part of the job.” It wasn’t a part I liked, but that didn’t make it any less true.
“That’s bullshit.”
“It’s hospitality,” I said evenly. “I can’t make a scene every time a guest gets a little too friendly. It doesn’t help anyone.”
Kai’s jaw tightened. “It happens often?”
I shrugged. It wasn’t like I’d kept track, but yeah, it wasn’t exactly rare for women my age in this industry. “Making a scene would’ve made it worse.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You want to talk about inappropriate? How about the way Edward Pierce was hanging on your every word? Is he the president of your fan club or something?”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because it’s useful.” He shrugged. “We were able toget him to talk to your boss about changing your schedule.”
I froze. “What?”
“Your hours. We asked Edward to talk to Greer about moving you to the night shift. So you could sleep.”
My hands clenched into fists. “You did what?”
“We were trying to help.”
“We?” My voice rose. “Even Landon?”
“Yeah, me and Landon. We thought?—”
“You got me in trouble,” I stared at him, anger boiling over. “Mrs. Greer already hates me, and now she thinks I’m some entitled brat who can’t handle normal disputes.”
Kai looked genuinely confused. “We were trying to help. One of the porters overheard you talking to the concierge.”
“You made it worse.” It likely wasn’t what they’d intended, but it was the truth.
I turned to leave, passing Landon in the process. He gave me a smile, apparently not having heard my exchange with Kai. “Headed back to the room?”
I looked at him—kind, thoughtful Landon, who I’d thought was different from the others.
“Stick to skiing and bartending,” I said without stopping. “Not scheduling.”
He blinked, startled.
I didn’t wait for a response. I just kept walking.
11
ZOE
