“All right, let’s all head inside and get checked in. We need to drop our bags off quickly before we head to the local police station.” SSA Walker called. He was already walking up thepathway lined with small river rock to the front door. I heard the low chime of a bell ring out as he opened the door and stepped inside.
I lingered back, waiting for everyone else to head in first. When I finally stepped in, pulling my small rolling suitcase behind me and my satchel over my shoulder, I was greeted with the scent of vanilla and chocolate, making my stomach growl in appreciation. The foyer was crowded with my four coworkers as they bunched together near the small check-in desk. I couldn’t help but admire it.
The desk appeared to be an antique dresser that had been repurposed. It fit in nicely with the rest of the decor. What I guessed had once been a living room or family gathering room was now an informal sitting room for guests. A fireplace against the far wall was currently unlit, seeing as how it was already spring in Texas and much too warm for an indoor fire. The inside of the fireplace had been cleaned out for the season. Instead of logs, there was a fancy floral arrangement with candleholders set inside the hearth. Everywhere I looked, I saw antique-looking decor from the wall sconces to the landscape paintings. It was very charming.
Words from someone I assumed was the owner caught my attention, bringing me back to the present from my perusal of the room. I frowned as I finally caught what she was saying.
“I am so sorry about the mix-up. I had expected only four guests.”
The older woman was wringing her hands as she glanced around at the five of us. She did look sincerely apologetic. She was a pretty woman with dark brown hair, silver strands liberally spread throughout. She had pretty features, and I could tell that she had been a beautiful woman when she was younger and, honestly, still was today. I could only hope that when I was her age, I would look as lovely as she did. Unfortunately, with thestress I felt I was constantly under, I highly doubted that I would get away with only a few wrinkles.
Another woman walked through an open doorway behind her, and it was very apparent that they were related. If I had to guess, I would say that they were sisters. She was carrying a plate full of what appeared to be chocolate chip cookies, smiling warmly. I knew then that the wonderful vanilla smell lingering in the room came from her baking, and my stomach twisted with hunger again.
SSA Walker and the first woman were trying to come up with solutions to the apparent bedroom issue, or lack thereof. I glanced between the two while they continued discussing the dilemma.
“Do you have a room with two beds in it?” he was asking. She was already shaking her head no before he’d even finished the question.
“I’m so sorry, all of our rooms are single rooms, each with one king-size bed. I truly am sorry.” SSA Walker turned to glance between Monique and me.
“Would you girls mind sharing a bed?” he asked with one raised eyebrow. I wanted to roll my eyes. Of course, it had to be the only two women who would be required to share. I glanced at Monique and saw that she was already looking at me with a slight grimace. I understood her feelings on the matter. Yes, we were coworkers, and I would say, out of everybody I worked with, we were the closest to what could be considered friends, but I still didn’t know her well enough to share a room. Certainly not well enough to share a bed with her. I gave her my own weak smile.
Monique turned to our team leader. “No offense to Parker, but I really don’t relish the idea of sharing a bed with anybody other than my husband.”
I nodded my agreement. I didn’t have a husband, or any partner for that matter, but I completely understood. I gave a one shoulder shrug “That would be a little awkward,” I agreed.
With an annoyed glance between the two of us, SSA Walker turned back to the owner. “Do any of the furniture in the rooms turn into pull-out beds?”
Again, she shook her head no. “I’m so sorry. Our rooms are generally for couples, not for families. Not that I’m against having family stay here,” she was quick to add. “It’s just that our rooms are only set up for one person or a couple.”
“Do you have any rollaway beds here?” he pushed.
“No, I truly am sorry.”
The woman who was holding the plate of cookies spoke up then. “If you don’t mind me saying,” she said as she glanced at her sister, who gave her a small nod of encouragement. “Before my husband passed away a couple of years ago, we ran a ranch just outside of town. It has several guest cabins just a short walk from the main house. Several times over the years, we took in guests when my sister couldn’t accommodate them here. Our great-nephew runs a place now. They are very nice little cabins similar to a cottage. They even have their own little kitchenettes. My great nephew, Gage, would probably be happy to have you join him and his partner for dinner in the main house, too. It was something we often did when we had guests staying in the cabins.”
SSA Walker looked skeptical. “I’m not sure about one of my special agents staying in an unknown location.”
I was about to tell him that it was okay, that I was perfectly fine with it, when the owner of the inn spoke up again. “I totally understand,” she said. “But it might ease your worry to know that my great-nephew’s partner is a detective at the police station you’ll be working at. Detective Nakamura, I’m sure,would be able to provide transportation to and from work since he has to go in anyway.”
SSA Walker looked at each of us, still looking skeptical. “Is anybody willing to stay out at a ranch instead of here in town?”
Before anybody else could speak up, I raised my hand. I was comfortable being alone, had been for years. It definitely wouldn’t bother me one bit. I preferred isolation from other people. “I’ll do it,” I said. My team leader side-eyed me for a long moment.
“All right,” he reluctantly agreed. “As long as you’re sure about it.”
“I am,” I insisted.
“Is there no other hotel in town?” SSA Walker asked, trying one more time to keep me in town.
“There used to be,” the innkeeper said. “But it was pretty rundown. The owner never took care of it over the years. It just kept getting worse until it finally shut down completely a few years ago. I believe there is talk of renovating it and opening a new hotel, but so far, nothing has been done. Our small town here just doesn’t get enough visitors to warrant that kind of investment. One of the other people in Selene has been talking about opening their own bed-and-breakfast, but they haven’t gotten around to it just yet. I’m afraid your only options are here or at the ranch. There just aren’t enough beds here. I’m so sorry,” she said as she turned to me.
I shook my head, trying to reassure the woman. She was so kind and was sincerely upset by the turn of events. I didn’t want her to feel any worse than she already was. “It’s okay, ma’am,” I tried to soothe her with a polite smile. I was sure it came out less soothing and more relieved, though. I really didn’t want to stay that close to these people I didn’t know well. Even though we were coworkers, I just didn’t know them. Of course, that was my fault. I’d already been with the team for several months, but Ihadn’t allowed myself time to get to know anybody on a personal level. “I really am good with staying in the cabin, or cottage. It doesn’t matter to me.”
With another sigh, our team leader picked up the four keys that were lying on the desktop and began handing them out. “Alright, everybody, go claim a room. Parker, you can take your bag back out to the van and wait for us. We won’t be long.”
I nodded my head and started to turn to head back out the door when one of the sisters called out. “Just a minute before you go! If you’d like to, take a cookie, they’re fresh out of the oven.” She extended the plate towards me. I hesitated for just a moment, but the smell that was still wafting through the lobby had my stomach growling. I gave her a small smile of thanks and reached out with my free hand to grab one of the large cookies.
“Thank you,” I said gratefully. “These look delicious.”
