“Of course I do, you’ve been staying with us for years.”
She gave a prim nod. “Good. Then you’ll remember that the customer is always right.Especiallythis one!”
“Oh, but that’s where you’re mistaken,” Grumplestilskin said. “Every time you stay with us and bring your dogs, you’re required to sign an agreement that states you’ll abide by the resort’s pet rules. Number one on that list is that you’ll keep your dogs under your control at all times.”
He gestured to the three of them now sitting quietly at her feet and watching the interactions as if they could understand what was being said.
“They’re fine,” she huffed. “They’re good dogs.”
“Please,” he said. “I’ll have Ronaldo give you a list of pet hotels where you can board them until your time with us is over. Or I’d be happy to suggest a different pet friendly hotel where your dogs can terrorize the guests to their hearts’ content.”
He turned abruptly and began scanning the floor, probably looking for his missing phone.
Mrs. Barclay was glaring at his back while he searched the room. She was not happy. Like, refuse to sign the contract for her granddaughter’s wedding planner unhappy.
I’d workedhardto land this job, and I wasn’t going to let him screw it up for me. Frankly, he shouldn’t be lettinghimselfscrew this up. Did he not realize the potential blowback to the resort from his grumpiness?
We both spied his missing phone at the same moment. I speed walked in front of him and gently placed my nude stiletto on the phone case, meeting his gaze with an equally steely expression.
He glared at me. “Whatare you doing?”
“Righting a wrong,” I said. “Preventing a scandal.”Keeping my client, I added silently.
“Crushing my phone is about as wrong as it gets,” he spat back at me.
It might be wrong, butdamn,it would be satisfying. Still, I wouldn’t go there if he’d just give in and see sense. “You need to give them one more chance.”
I glanced over and was happy to see Mrs. Barclay still hovering nearby with the three dogs improbably silent, like they were invested in the drama as well.
He jabbed a finger at his audience. “Do you know that the spotty one with the evil eyes bit our concierge?”
I glanced over at the dapple dachshund. “That’s apuppy. There’s no way it was a malicious bite, that’s what puppies do. But you understand that. You’re a reasonable man,aren’t you?” I adjusted my foot on his phone and raised an eyebrow. “One. More. Chance.”
Grumps-a-lot let out an angry sigh. “I don’t have time to deal with this.”
I grinned at him. “And I have all the time in the world.”
Another lie, but in for a penny and however the rest of that went.
“You promise you’ll keep hold of their leashes from now on, right?” I asked Mrs. Barclay. “They’ll always be under your control in public areas?”
“Ohyes,” she answered quickly, somehow reverting to sweet old lady status before my eyes. “I swear I will.”
“Fine,” he finally said in a quiet voice. “But this is your last warning. The second one gets away from you, they’re all banned. Understand?”
She nodded.
“Therewe go,” I said as I lifted my foot off of his phone. “I knew we could see eye to eye. A pleasure doing business with you.”
“Yeah,” he seethed, reaching down to snatch it up. “Never again.”
He rubbed the phone on the front of his shirt and I took a few seconds to admire the package, even though the personality left a lot to be desired. Broad shoulders, piercing blue eyes, light hair with a wave that looked like it required attention to tame, and when he turned to stalk away, I spied an ass that nearly made me gasp. As much as I appreciated him leaving, I also enjoyed the view. He sped through the doors and into a sleek black Escalade with darkened windows.
Mrs. Barclay walked over to me. “Thank you, so much sweetheart. You’re a dear. They’re not bad dogs, they’re just excitable.”
She wasn’t as sweet and blameless as she liked to project. I could tell Mrs. Barclay was used to getting her way, and didn’t mind utilizing whatever act would be most effective—from doddering grandma to regal queen and everything in between. Well, more power to her. I wanted to be her someday.
I knelt down to pat the pups. “Happy to help,” I said to her.
