When I parked in the small employee parking lot behind the hotel, I noticed a nice, late-model Harley parked next to the small cottage where Liam, Mr. O’Neil’s brother, lived. Mr. O’Neil used to live there until he moved in with his fiancé, Jeremy Fitzgerald. I was tempted to go over and take a closer look at the motorcycle, but I didn’t know who it belonged to, and Harley owners were usually particular about who touched their bikes.
The brunch service was packed, and everyone was hustling. Miguel came in and out of the dining room during the service. He smiled and waved at me each time, but we didn’t get to chat.
I was dragging by the time service ended. Even coffee wasn’t helping. Miguel came in while I was setting up the bar for dinner service. “You look wiped,” he said as he sat on one of the bar stools.
“I didn’t sleep well after I got home last night,” I said. “I ended up catching the sunrise this morning.”
Miguel winced. “Yikes. And you have to be back for dinner service at five.”
“Yep.”
“You know, we have a bunch of empty rooms,” he said. “I could open one up for you to take a quick nap. Then you wouldn’t have to go home to nap.”
I raised a brow. “How did you know I was going to go home for a nap?”
Miguel shrugged. “It’s what I would do. So what do you say?”
I didn’t really have to think too hard about it. “Okay. I’m dead on my feet here. I’ll take an hour nap. Then I’ll grab us a late lunch from that little diner downtown. How does that sound?”
Miguel looked surprised at my offer. “Sure. That sounds good.” He gestured for me to follow him. “I’ll give you one of the ground-floor rooms.”
He led me to the front desk, where he grabbed a key for a ground-floor room. It turned out to be one of the suites. I shook my head. “I don’t need this much space. I’m just going to sleep for an hour.”
Miguel smirked. “Only the best for my friends.”
A thought occurred to me. “Are you going to get in trouble for doing this?”
He shook his head. “You’re looking at the new front office manager. I’m allowed to do it. Besides, I worked at a hotel while I was a college student. I started out in housekeeping mainly because I wanted to know how every aspect of hotel management worked. I’ll grab clean sheets from housekeeping and remake the bed while you’re out getting our lunch.”
I was too tired to argue. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
He handed me the key. “I’m sure.”
CHAPTERTEN
MIGUEL
I was very proud of myself for not offering to tuck Zach in. It was a near thing. He looked so soft and sleepy. I just wanted to cuddle him. Ugh.He’s.Straight.
I immersed myself in my plans for the Easter Sunday dinner service in two weeks. We’d decided on one sitting in the middle of the day during the same hours we served Saturday brunch. That way, our staff who celebrated could still spend time with their families.
I’d given Herbie’s resume to Carrie, and she’d loved him from the moment she met him—as I knew she would. He would be starting dinner service on Monday.
I was writing up my agenda for my first staff meeting on Tuesday when my cell vibrated with a call. I looked at the screen and sighed. It was my mother. I was honestly surprised she’d waited this long to call me. I swiped to answer. “Hello, Mama.”
“Miguel, what is happening with your sister?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my jaw. “Why don’t you tell me what she told you, and I’ll let you know if she’s telling the truth.”
There was a moment of stunned silence before she said, “Miguel Ramirez! Why are you speaking to me this way?”
“Because, Mama, I’m tired of defending myself to you and everyone else in the family. So, tell me what Isabella told you.”
“She said you’re refusing to babysit Diego and Sofia anymore.”
“Did she tell you why?” I asked.
My mother huffed impatiently. “She said she asked you not to wear makeup in front of the children, and you refused.”
