“Absolutely. Sure. What can I do for you?” A little too buttery, Brigh.
He hesitated and checked the front desk, frowning.
What was going on? She looked there, too, but didn’t see anything unusual. “Something wrong?”
He shook his head. “No, I??—yes. Actually. We have a problem.” He nodded into the room. “Look, I just … I have a favor to ask.”
“From me?” she balked.
“Yes, and I think it’s the least you can do for him.”
“Excuse me?”
“Look?—the last time she was here, you were working the coffee bar and he nearly lost the café permit. Now she’s back and if you don’t help, we’re all pretty much screwed.”
Brighton blinked. Laughed. “I’m sorry. What’re you talking about?”
He groaned. “I … Okay, listen.” He huffed. “You know how to work the espresso machine, right?”
She blinked again. “Yeah??—I was a barista before …” No need to go into all the gory details.
“Good. Yes. So, can you please come up and work the coffee bar?”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Look, there’s this woman. She saw you there working it the last time she was here.”
Awash in guilt, Brighton recalled Stone raging about the inspector who’d threatened to cancel a permit.
“She’s back. And she’s staying for a day or two??—the boss doesn’t know yet. He’s in town this morning. And she wants a drink. Asked for you.”
“But I don’t work there. I’m supposed??—”
“Right, but you can fake it, yes?” He fisted his hands eagerly. “For the boss. A favor. Since he’s doing you a solid paying for your room. Right?”
“My room??—”
“Really don’t have time for this. Can you do it or not? He’s in a bind and needs to smooth things over with her, so I thought if you could make her a drink, it’d help the boss and the lodge. And he really needs a break.”
“The boss …”
He nodded eagerly. “I think you know his real name, but we call him Mr. Mulroney.”
Who would come unglued if he saw her out again. “And he’s in town …?”
“For supplies and??—ya know what? Never mind.” He slapped his thighs nervously. “Forget I asked. This is a bad idea. It’s clearly too?—”
“Espresso has been known to change people’s lives,” Brighton said with a small smile.
His faltered. “Yes. It has??—can.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Need to change.”
“Yes! Okay.” He nodded and opened the door, then paused. “Thanks.”
Brighton changed into a black top and jeans, then limped to the café, praying she got this over before Stone showed up. She had no idea where she stood with him at the moment.
The woman sat at the bar tapping dipped fingernails on a smartphone. She looked up. “Ah. You are here.”
