“Oh, hey.” Lexi smiles when her eyes lift up to greet me.
I step in their direction as Lexi twists her hair and uses the elastic around her wrist to tie it back. Summer… just observes me with a crooked smile. Of course, she knows what new hobby I’ve started.
“What are you ladies up to?” I play it cool and pull out my phone to have a quick peek and to appear calm and cool.
Summer clears her throat. “Lexi was just showing me one of the finished bedrooms, then we stole a cookie or two that just came from the oven. I love how, hammers aside, the Dizzy Duck is still upholding their fresh warm cookie tradition.”
Actually, she doesn’t seem to be covering up what they were probably talking about… me. They probably did nab a cookie.
Lexi and I share a gaze again, with our eyes lingering for a few seconds. “There are…” I scratch the back of my neck. “Sheets that arrived.”
Her fingers drop from her ponytail, and she claps her hands together in excitement. “That was fast.”
“Dated the hotel sheet supplier too?” I quip.
Summer looks between us, and her lips roll in to keep her laugh in.
Lexi doesn’t seem fazed by my comment. “Nah, the woman on the other end mentioned you two go way back, so thanks for that,” she rebuffs.
Love her little fabrications. It always leads to her face creating a portrait of pure trouble.
“Lucky us then. Anyhow, we need to talk sheets.”
Both the women’s brows furrow. “I think this is my cue to leave,” Summer awkwardly mentions.
I turn my attention to Summer, ignoring the atmosphere that is boiling into a need for me to push Lexi against a wall. “Have you thought more about that job? To be honest, I doubt I’m going to get anyone new in the coming month or two. The job market is slow around here.”
“I’m still in the appraisal of staff treatment phase, but thanks, Holden, for keeping me in mind.” She smiles warmly at me.
“Any time.”
“Well, bye, you two. Good luck with whatever is going… I mean, sheets. Have fun with serious sheet discussion.”
I grin. “Towels are somewhere in that conversation too.”
Summer smiles then leaves us be. Lexi and I watch her walk away, but the feeling of Lexi’s arm grazing mine brings my thoughts back to her.
“I might give her a good recommendation on your boss skills in your effort to recruit,” she mentions. I choose not to answer, and I press my lips together as a long pause floats between us. “So, sheets? Is there a problem?” She trails away.
“They’re white,” I say bluntly as I follow her behind the desk.
“And? You’ve signed off on it. White with colored pillows. What’s wrong?”
I watch her examining a package. “I do trust you, but can’t you see every little thing on white?”
“As in?” She stares at me, waiting for an explanation. “A lot of hotels use white. Makeup comes off in the housekeeping laundry, and if red wine is spilled then we have backups. The mood is more important than concern for wine or any other bodily fluid, if that’s where your mind is at.”
The painter walking by coughs into his arm, clearly having heard. I turn slightly to ensure nobody else is in an earshot then give Lexi a warning grimace, but she seems not very concerned.
“You just took us down a very inappropriate route.”
She smiles tightly as she crosses her arms over her chest. “And you love it.” I roll my eyes. “But seriously, is this really an issue? The curtains will match the throw pillows, as will the candles. That’s going to be a great splash of color.”
“Candles in bedrooms, as in a hotel room?” My voice nearly breaks. “That’s a fire hazard that I’m not sure we can get rid of.”
“No, Holden, those are the touches couples want when they stay here for an expensive room and romance. This isn’t a big hotel, and although there are many great things here, such as the spa and lake, it’s still a boutique hotel, and as such should have the qualities of a traditional inn, even with a cabin feel, including candlelight. This is the land of Lincoln and prairies, after all.”
“Okay, fine.” I give up on our discussion. “You have some valid points.”
