“Oh, I’m sorry,” the waitress said, her voice breathless. “Goodness.” She bent and clumsily gathered everything that had fallen, including Lila’s and Brian’s phones. “I... oh gosh, I hope they’re not broken.”
“Erika, is it?” Brian said, giving her a stiff smile. “You have to be more careful and watch where you’re going. You could badly hurt someone.”
“I’m sorry,” Erika said, her eyes wide and apologetic. “I was trying to remember who ordered what at the tables...”
“I understand,” Brian told her, “but there’s nothing wrong with using your notepad. That’s what it’s for.”
Erika nodded, gathered the last of the photos, and handed them back to Brian before disappearing toward the kitchen.
Eve heard the exchange in the background as she finished her call, told her assistant where to find what she was looking for, and hung up.
Her brow furrowed as she watched Erika walk off. “Who is she?”
“One of the new staff members who started here yesterday,” Brian told them. “Isabella needed more help here for the sudden spike in guests. She hired a few new staff members. Erika was one of them.”
Something about the young woman seemed off, Eve noted. But she shook it off. It was probably just first-day nerves. Things were probably awkward for her.
As they got to the dining room door, Preston walked in.
“Good morning,” he greeted them with a pleasant smile.
They greeted him back.
“Going exploring?” Preston asked.
“We are,” Eve answered, and because the man made her decidedly uncomfortable for reasons she couldn’t name, she ended the conversation quickly. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
“Enjoy your day out,” Preston told them, tipping an imaginary hat before turning and walking into the dining room.
From the corner of her eye, Eve saw Erika rush to seat him.
“Oh geez,” Brian hissed under his breath, noticing the same thing Eve had. “Maybe I should go and tell Erika not to serve Mr. Langford. That’s all we need, her messing up in front of one of Mrs. Christmas’s good friends and regulars to the Inn.”
Eve looked back again. “She needs to learn, Brian.” She ushered the teens out, stifling the little hint of satisfaction she felt, hoping Erika might drop a pot of coffee in Preston’s lap. Then she admonished herself. The man had done nothing to her except make her uncomfortable.
“He deserves to be pulled down a peg or two,” Lila voiced what Eve hadn’t wanted to say out loud. “The man is quite... smug, and he has this air of superiority. You know...”
“Like looking down his nose at you?” Brian added, then looked contrite. “Shoot. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s the truth,” Lila said as they stepped out into the sun.
Julie and William were walking toward the front door, their faces lighting when they saw Eve, Lila, and Brian.
“Good morning,” they greeted warmly.
“Good morning,” Eve, Lila, and Brian chorused back.
“So what are you ladies up to today?” Julie asked.
“Two ladies and a gentleman,” Lila corrected with a grin. “Brian has offered to be our guide today and take us to the non-tourist spots.”
Wow. Lila really knew how to twist a story, doing so in a way that was totally convincing.If Eve didn’t know what was going on, she wouldn’t have sensed that Lila was lying at all.
“Oh, how good of you, Brian,” William said, his smile genuine. “Do take them to Dempsey’s near the waterfront for some great fish at lunch time.”
“Okay,” Brian said. He, on the other hand, was a little more skittish. It was obvious that Brian didn’t like to deceive anyone.That was both a good thing and a bad thing. Eve decided. Good in that she knew he was honest, but bad because now she worried if he’d be able to withstand scrutiny. She gave herself a mental shake.Good grief, Eve. This is just looking into Mia’s life, not some covert spy operation thwarted in danger.
They said their goodbyes and headed toward the parking lot.
