Mo couldn’t shake the way that saddened him. He followed her from Hideaway’s kitchen to the front desk to housekeeping, watching how she interacted with the staff.
They adored her.
But did she see it?
Somehow, he didn’t think she did.
Bronwyn had been speaking to the surprisingly young head housekeeper, Adeline, for five minutes when her phone rang. She glanced at it, then at Mo, and her entire body deflated. She turned back to Adeline. “Well, it’s time for me to go be charming.”
“You’re always charming.” Adeline’s grin was cheeky.
“Hah.” She pointed at Mo. “He could tell you stories.”
Interest lit Adeline’s face. “Do tell.”
Mo went with an innocent look. “I have no idea what she’s talking about. Bronwyn Pierce is always the epitome of grace and beauty. Well, she is now. But I’ve known her since we were five, and we all go through an awkward phase.”
“My awkward phase included braces and truly bad hair decisions.” Bronwyn laughed.
“Your hair is phenomenal,” Adeline said. “I can’t imagine—”
“Pixie cut.” Bronwyn grimaced, and Adeline couldn’t hide her shock.
“No way.”
“It was cute.” Mo spoke before he could stop himself.
Bronwyn shook her head. “Nightmare.”
Adeline turned to Mo. “I bet itwascute.”
“It was.” Mo was firm in his response. “But I wasn’t sad when she let it grow out.”
“It was the growing out that was the worst!” Bronwyn shuddered. “Okay. On that dreadful thought, I’m out of here.”
Bronwyn walked into the press room with Mo on her heels. She’d been dreading having him along today, but he’d somehow managed to turn what could have been a stilted and challenging afternoon into one filled with laughter and mostly good memories.
The smile on her face was genuine as she greeted her interviewer. “Mr. Brown, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He took her hand and, instead of shaking it, lifted it to his lips and kissed it. “The pleasure is mine, I’m sure.”
Bronwyn kept her smile but extricated her hand. Beyond the outdated and cringey hand kiss, there was something she did not like about this man, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it was.She kept her face calm while her brain worked to nail down the cause of her discomfort.
Something about this man set off alarm bells. It was only years of etiquette training and experience that kept her from walking out the door. “Won’t you sit down?”
Peter Brown gestured toward a chair. “After you.”
She didn’t argue and took a seat. When she did, she spotted Mo standing in the doorway in an “at ease” position. His Army days were showing, and she didn’t mind at all.
Then she remembered the weapon tucked into his pants at his back. Standing the way he was, with his hands behind him, he could pull it out in the blink of an eye.
She didn’t mind that either.
She focused on Peter Brown and gave him her most professional smile. “How was your trip?”
They made small talk for longer than she wanted, and when the opportunity presented itself, she redirected the conversation to the interview. “I’m sure you’re eager to settle in and explore the property.”
“Well, I was,” he said, “but now that I’ve met you, I’m finding that I don’t feel any need to rush.”
