“Hey, sweet girl, can you walk me through a typical day here?” Isobel stood in the doorjamb between the bell desk and the backoffice.
Although I’d never manned the bell desk, I’d observed my aunt and uncle enough to have an idea of what they did. I explained what I knew to Isobel, then started for the stairs that led to the laundry room in the basement when Matt walked through the revolving doors arm in arm with a blonde who looked uncannily likehim.
“Hey, Ness. Don’t know if you remember my mom?” He tipped his head toward the woman besidehim.
I didn’t remember her. She must’ve attended the pack gathering though. Then again, Isobel hadn’t been there. Maybe Matt’s mother hadn’teither.
I doubled back and extended my hand. “Pleasure to meet you,ma’am.”
She latched onto my extended fingers. “Kasie. And the pleasure’s all mine,Ness.”
After she freed my hand, I slipped it into the back pocket of my jeans. When neither supplied the reason for showing up, I asked, “Did you two want somebreakfast?”
“Oh, we’ve eaten already,” Kasiechirped.
I glanced at Matt, not really understanding what else they could want. “Coffee?Tea?”
“We’re herebecause—”
Kasie interrupted her son. “Because I love to cook. And I remember from the pack reunion that Evelyn was a fantastic chef, so I’ve come to train withher.”
Oh.
“Why don’t I show myself to the kitchen?” She stopped by the bell desk to kiss Isobel’s cheek, before crossing the lobby and vanishing into the diningroom.
I turned back toward Matt. Whatever he’d just told Isobel had her grinningwide.
“Such a smooth talker, that one,” she told me, shaking her head athim.
The revolving doors spun again, and Lucas walked in, a gym bag slung across his chest. “I need a room,” he announced, strolling up to the bell desk and sticking one forearm on the counter. “Hey, Mrs.W.”
Isobel smiled. “Hi,Lucas.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why do you need aroom?”
“My place got flooded. Fuckingneighbors.”
My eyebrow came crashing back into place. “Wow. I’m sorry aboutthat.”
He ran a hand through his shaggy black hair that curled around his ears. “Why are you sorry? Did you make them leave their tap running allnight?”
I let out a small grunt. “You know what, I’m notsorry.”
Lucas’s light-blue eyes shone with delight. I bet he’d been crowned Boulder’s Most Annoying Person back in high school. “What’s your room number, Ness? 105,right?”
I crossed my arms. “Why?”
“Just want to avoid bunking in the same room.” He winked at me. “Liam would have my balls in a vice. Shit. Sorry, Mrs.W.”
Isobel smiled. “I’ve heard worse,son.”
Lucas leaned forward to see the computer monitor. “Room 106 free by anychance?”
“It is. Let me get you the key.” Isobel disappeared into the backoffice.
I crossed my arms. “Did your apartment really getflooded?”
He shot me a cockygrin.
