“Look,” I start, gripping the edge of the desk hard. “I don’t have time for this. It’s my ex-wife. She was here yesterday, and I’d really like you to tell me that luck is finally on my side and she’s already checked out or something.”
Danny’s features soften. But I don’t have time for soft either. I just need answers. “Okay, give me a sec,” he says.
While he does something on the computer, I glance nervously around the lobby, praying Christy doesn’t find me here. I feel like a damn fugitive at my own job, which pisses me off.
Brenden rounds the corner from the hallway right as Danny gives me the bad news.
“Yup. Looks like she checked in yesterday by herself and booked the room for three nights.”
“Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?” Brenden asks.
“My ex-wife is here,” I tell him quickly. I desperately want to escape to the kitchen before I run into her again.
His eyes widen. “Seriously? Why?”
“Don’t know, don’t care,” I say, already briskly walking away.
Brenden, of course, follows me into the kitchen and keeps up the lineof questioning. I really don’t have any answers about what the hell she’s doing here, but I do relay to him what happened yesterday and how I ran up to Riley’s room to get away from her.
“And now I somehow need to dodge her for the next two days too,” I complain.
“What can I do?” Brenden asks.
Kick her out.
I don’t say that, because I know he can’t. So I tell him, “Nothing. I can handle it.”
“Are you sure? Because if you want me to set a bunch of bed bugs loose in her room, I will.”
Crossing to the coffee machine, I turn it on and get a pot ready to brew, because I know he’ll want it. “Where would you find bed bugs?”
He seems to consider that. “Huh. I dunno.”
“And you don’t want word to get out that this place has bed bugs.”
He rolls his eyes. “Fine, you’re right. No bed bugs.” Grabbing himself a mug, he says, “How about I have one of the maids sneak in and pour Nair in her shampoo?”
I stifle my laugh at that ridiculous idea. It would definitely be satisfying. But I don’t want to encourage him at all, because I’m not one-hundred percent certain he wouldn’t actually do it. And I wouldn’t put it past Christy to sue him.
“I’ll be fine,” I assure him. And I mostly believe it. I’m going to do my best to avoid her until she leaves, but I don’t think she can do anything to hurt me worse than she already has.
Brenden stays long enough for the coffee to finish brewing, then he leaves me alone. I’m not alone for long, though, before the rest of the kitchen staff shows up. We get things ready for the breakfast service, and I do my best to put Christy’s cheating, stalking ass out of my mind.
That’s ruined by nine-thirty when a server tells me there’s a guest in the dining room demanding to speak to the kitchen manager.
“I’m going to kill her,” I snap, causing the server to take a hasty step away from me. I apologize and take a few deep breaths to tame my irritation before going out there. Or attempt to tame it, at least. I can still feel a sense of rage simmering under the surface.
I march into the dining room and straight over to Christy’s table. I don’t immediately start yelling, so maybe the breathing did help a little.
“Good morning,” she says in a falsely pleasant tone. As if she didn’t summon me to her against my will.
“Is there a problem with your food?” I ask, my voice dripping with a sarcasm that hopefully none of the guests at the other tables can hear. Luckily, it’s not too full in here.
Christy smiles. “No, the food is delicious. The chef is wonderful.”
“Okay, cut the crap,” I hiss. “What do you want?”
