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“Okay. But you’re just helping the guests out, right? You’re not actually offering anything extra?”

He grinned, and declared loudly enough for everyone in the foyer, and probably the rest of the hotel, to hear. “Whatever they need, Kitten. I’m here for it.”

I didn’t have time to get into this with him now. I had a vampire car to catch. “So uh, here’s the thing. Reynard is going to fix Tom, but until he does, the bar’s closed. Can you maybe put a sign on the door?”

“Yup. Sure. Whatever.”

Well, that wasn’t so bad. I’d assumed he’d be mad. But he had the concierge role to distract him, so maybe the timing was good. “Okay?”

“Okay.”

“So, you’re good?”

“I’m fucking great. I have my own desk, and everyone gets a personal greeting from moi. All our guests’ desires are met.” He planted himself behind his desk and folded his arms on top, the picture of professional poise. “I am fucking great,” he repeated.

“Erm, okay.”

Why was this weird? Was I making it weird? “It’s just . . .”

“Toodle off with Vampire Daddy.” He rippled his fingers. “I’ve got this.”

“We’ll be back later. He said it might only take a day, so maybe you and I can take a bottle of wine onto the roof later?”

“Can’t. Busy.” He suddenly examined his nails.

“Oh. Alright.” He didn’t have to spend time with me, but we’d been so close these last few weeks, I’d thought that might continue.

Although, maybe we’d just become close because of the high-stakes situations we’d been in? Now all the drama was over, he was entitled to do his own thing, without me. Of course he was. He had his own life too. I’d just thought—hoped—I might have been part of it. My heart flip-flopped. It was fine. We were fine.

Another guest appeared, asking about the best place to spend the evening in San Francisco, so of course, Zee had a thousand different options to recommend. I left him to it, and headed outside to find Reynard’s car waiting.

“Is everything alright, Adam?” Reynard asked, after I’d joined him in the back and we’d gotten underway.

“Oh sure. I think so. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s Zee. He’s been a bit distant these last few days.”

“Going from his life at Razorsedge to committing to the hotel is a substantial change. Perhaps he just needs some time to adjust?”

That was probably it. “You’re right.”

“I usually am, eventually.” His soft smile put my twitchy heart at ease.

Well, this was nice. Speaking with him was nice. Normal was . . . nice. There had been a time, not too long ago, when I wouldn’t have told him anything, and then only after some persuasion. These days though, I knew I could trust Reynard with most things. It may only have been few weeks since we’d met, but after everything we’d been through—saving Zee from Gideon Cain’s attempt to destroy us, being kidnapped by vampires, turning Zee’s old general into mincemeat, and ruining Sebastien—it felt like longer.

“This is nice, isn’t it?” I patted my knees. “We haven’t really done normal, what with all the kidnapping, running around, and almost dying?” A nervous laugh tittered out of me. I could do normal. “There isn’t a body in the trunk, is there?”

Reynard arched an eyebrow. “How did you know?”

There was? Was that a vampire thing? His lunch? “Oh, no, I mean, why wouldn’t there be?”

Reynard’s smile snuck back onto his face. “My apologies,” he said with a finger flick. “I’m merely jesting.”

“Oh.” Reynard joked now? How was I supposed to tell when his expression hadn’t changed?

“It clearly was not an amusing jest, and alarmed you, which was not my intention.”

I barked a too-loud laugh. “No, it was hilarious! Really funny. You’re super funny.”

He grimaced. “Clearly, my sense of humor is lacking.”