Shit.
She jolted upright at the same time she opened her eyes, meeting soft brown ones only a few inches away from her face. But it was too late. She’d never been the type of person who roused gently. Her body was already in motion as she tried to course correct too hard, once she realized that she’d, quite literally, fallen asleep on the job. Her forehead knocked against what felt like the world’s softest cheek, and the woman let out a strangled whoosh of air once they connected.
Ms. Brown Eyes staggered backward, and Hallie felt like her stomach was about to jump out of her throat. She’d never assaulted a guest before.
God, she was so confused right now. There were no late check-ins tonight, she thought blearily, struggling to get it together. Why had she even been sitting out here anyway?Usually, she was back in her room by now, the front desk bell connected to an app on her phone to help guests after hours.
She shook her head. It didn’t matter how this situation had happened, only that it had. “I am so, so sorry,” Hallie said, pushing herself out of the chair and standing over a woman who was just a smidge shorter than her. She had blonde hair, and a soft, round face, tragically now with a red splotch where Hallie had collided with her cheek.
And then, the pieces all clicked into place.
Brynn Fitzpatrick, in the flesh. And Hallie had just committed bodily assault against her. Her guilt mingled with something else—maybe apprehension?—when she realized that this was the same woman who’d, according to Sydney and Reese in the world’s most epic retelling, aired all her ex-fiancé’s dirty laundry in a very, very public way.
She was, if the story was to be believed, not a woman whose wrong side you wanted to be on.
But Brynn looked like the picture of innocence right now, her big eyes wide as she looked at Hallie like Hallie was the one in need of assistance. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you knew I was coming.”
What a terrible first impression. Instead of dwelling on it, Hallie shook her tiredness away and pulled her black shirt down her torso, trying to smooth out any wrinkles. It could always be worse. That was her life motto, and she was putting it to good use. “Brynn,” Hallie said with more confidence than she felt. “My catnap in front of the fire must have gotten away from me.”
Brynn subtly touched her index finger to her own cheek as she made eye contact. “I think you have a little…”
Hallie brushed her hand across her face and felt a small trail of wetness. More embarrassing evidence of her dream-filled nap. She cleared her throat and wiped it away quickly, ignoring the heat on her cheeks. “Uh, thanks.”
“I’m sorry I’m later than I expected. There was an accident on the highway, and I was stuck in traffic for over an hour.” Not that anyone would be able to tell. Brynn was entirely, unfairly put together, Hallie was realizing as she scanned her eyes across a sweater that was nicer than anything Hallie would wear to most events. It looked soft. So, so incredibly soft. Probably cashmere. And Brynn was weirdly tan for December? Hallie didn’t know why she’d noticed it, except that it made the soft gold of Brynn’s tousled hair pop even more. Not a strand of that was out of place either, for the record.
She was so distracted that she’d forgotten to feel self-conscious about the falling asleep and the drooling and, honestly, just her general state of disarray. That was, until her eyes trailed up Brynn’s collarbone—from the V-neck of that stupidly soft sweater—and their eyes met. Brynn was looking at her in a way that was so disarming, it was like all of Hallie’s insecurities were on full display.
Vulnerablewas the word that came to mind, even as she tried to shove it back down. Her life had somehow come to involve her being surrounded by impressive, successful women, and it was starting to give her a complex. Sydney was a former professional tennis player who was now coaching elite youth at the nearby Manhaven Tennis Center. Reese had sold her hotel management software and then purchased The Stone’s Throw, which very quickly became the first in a line of acquisitions that would build her newest company, The Stoneport Group.
And Brynn Fitzpatrick was likely no different. Sole heir to The Fitz Capital Group, her family’s real estate investment company. She’d just finished her PhD, according to Reese, and she’d most recently been healing her broken heart by doing something for the less fortunate. Hallie wasn’t sure on the specifics of that one, but it probably explained the tan and very likely involved rescuing orphaned puppies or something.
She groaned quietly, trying to make sense of the earnestness on Brynn’s face as she awaited instructions from Hallie.
Seriously, who was this woman?
For whatever it was worth—not that it felt like much in the face of the accomplishment of those around her—Hallie was the operations director for The Stone’s Throw Inn, a charming, boutique hotel that offered guests a unique experience on the beautiful New England coast. She needed to start acting like it. Reese had trusted her, even if she didn’t have much trust in herself these days.
“Glad you made it here safely,” Hallie said effusively, already walking over toward the check-in desk. “I can get you set up in your room.”
The living situation wasn’t exactly ideal, especially from an occupancy perspective. Since Brynn didn’t live in Stoneport, Reese had insisted that they give her one of the vacant rooms while she was helping out. Which only made Hallie feel worse about her inability to find someone to join before the holidays.
Brynn followed her silently, but Hallie could see Brynn craning her neck and taking in the lobby as they made their way to the desk. She didn’t let herself wonder what the Christmas decorations that Hallie had painstakingly put up by hand looked like through Brynn’s eyes. The Fitzpatrick family homes probably had teams who assembled and disassembled their holiday decorations each year.
Hallie went to the far side of the long reception counter, where Brynn would soon find herself, too, and pulled up the room’s information. “We’ll have you on the first floor, down the hall from my room. Hopefully we won’t have to move you at all while you’re here, though I apologize in advance if that happens.” Good. That was good. She sounded almost… normal.
“I really appreciate this, Hallie. I’ve heard so many great things about you from Reese, and I’m excited that we’ll get towork together.” Which was a weird thing to say, as far as Hallie was concerned. Brynn didn’t need this job. If anything, Hallie should have been thanking her. Not the other way around.
“Can I ask you something?” Hallie asked as her curiosity got the better of her. It was a lifelong struggle, but this was her at her most normal, and she was trying to roll with it.
Brynn smiled softly, and it was charmingly sweet. Hard to balance this woman with the story she’d heard a few months ago. Maybe that was why she was struggling so much right now. The Brynn in front of her looked like she’d apologize to a squirrel that ran in front of her car as she was swerving out of its way.
“I’m an open book,” she said with that still, soft smile on her face.
“Are you, like, hiding out here? After everything with your engagement? I’m trying to figure out what’s led you to The Stone’s Throw. I can’t imagine that you need to be here.”
She appreciated the thoughtful pause Brynn gave in consideration, a faint blush dusting her cheeks now. They were going to be spending a lot of time together, so Hallie at least wanted to know what she was getting into where Brynn was concerned. “I’m… figuring it out?” was the meek response she got, more a question than anything else.
Hallie nodded. She understood that sentiment of feeling rudderless. “Well, for the record, I didn’t like Grant way back when he and Sydney were together, so I’m always down for a good gossip session on what a waste of space he is. I guess you could sort of call me the OG hater as far as grudges go. I won’t pretend that meeting you isn’t a little bit like meeting a celebrity,” Hallie confided with a broad smile. Truly, for her insecurity around Brynn, she also had the utmost respect for her.
