My gut was telling me Brett was long gone, but I still tried to call him. And I got the same automated message. It felt as if the computerized voice on the other end of the line was mocking me.
Although I was frazzled and in shock, I went through the motions of getting ready. I had no idea what to do if Brett hadn’t paid for our stay here. If he hadn’t, I was thoroughly screwed.
After a shower, I dressed in a pair of lightweight capris and a flowy cotton blouse, the kind that wouldn’t stick to my skin in this humid Louisiana weather. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I stared at myself. My dark hair was still damp from the shower, but I didn’t have it in me to bother trying to style it. My blue eyes stood out against my rather pale skin. Considering the state of my mind this morning, I supposed I didn’t look too bad. With a sigh, I turned away from my reflection.
In between wondering where the hell Brett was, I contemplated how to tactfully ask if he’d paid for the room. I did not want to humiliate myself further in front of Gabby, but I had to find a way to ask. Of all the people to be so embarrassed in front of, I didn’t want it to be Gabby. She had a fairy-tale life with her two children and her professional baseball player husband—a man who had plenty of women drooling over him—but whose eyes remained fixed only on her, if the occasional gossip reports had it right.
If I was beyond desperate for money, I could always call my brother—Max Channing. Max was my older brother who I adored, but who also drove me slightly crazy with his overbearing ways. He was a wealthy tech investor. He could buy this inn and then some if the fancy struck him. Yet my pride was not going to let me call him. I sure as hell didn’t want to tell him he was right about Brett.
Don’t panic. Maybe Brett’s coming back.
Riiiight. That’s why he took everything with him, left in the middle of the night, and disconnected his phone.
I could battle inside my head all day, but it didn’t change the facts of my situation. Brett appeared to be long gone, and I was damn close to broke. With a sigh, I mentally swatted at my always willing-and-ready-to-be-critical voice. Standing from the bed, I steeled myself. I might as well find out if Brett had paid for the room. Then I could problem-solve.
Moments later, I was relieved to discover Gabby had left to take care of some errands. It was quiet downstairs, and I figured the other guests would soon be making their way down for breakfast. I would be humiliating myself to Gabby’s staff, rather than her. It still sucked, but it was a little bit better.
Approaching a woman carrying a tray of food to the sideboard in the dining room, I said, “Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
I smiled tightly, feeling like my face might crack from the effort. “Um, my boyfriend had to leave unexpectedly.” Okay, I wasn’t totally lying there. Seeing as I didn’t expect it, Brett’s departure could count as unexpected even if he’d planned it. “I didn’t have a chance to check with him to find out if he had already taken care of the room for the weekend. I didn’t want to let that detail get away from me.”
All true. Little did she know my boyfriend had fled during the night, and I didn’t know where the hell he was.
The woman smiled warmly. “Give me just a sec.” She set down the platter in her hands before waving for me to follow her down the hallway to the reception desk.
She tapped on the screen of a laptop, her eyes scanning for a moment before she looked up. “It doesn’t look like it. You can take care of it when you check out,” she said, gesturing carefully with her hand. “We hope you’ll stay through the weekend even though he couldn’t. We’re around if you need anything.”
I swallowed. Finally, I thought I might cry. I knew I was well and truly screwed. Now, I had my choice of humiliation. Either I called my older brother, or I revealed the situation to Gabby. The idea of leaving today and not coming back flitted through my thoughts. I couldn’t do the inn equivalent of dine and dash, though. That was just not okay.
Chapter 2
Nash
“Who?”
“Mari Channing,” Lydia, my personal assistant, replied.
I didn’t recognize the name. “What does she need?”
Lydia shrugged, pursing her lips before adding, “She’s rather insistent and would like to meet with you.”
I glanced at my watch. “I only have five minutes.”
“As if I’m not aware of that, Nash,” Lydia replied, her lips quirking slightly in a smile.
Lydia’s smiles were rare. She tended to have a rather severe look with her close-cropped silver hair and whip-thin build. With nothing more than a narrowing of her eyes, she could make one think twice if she disapproved. Although I was technically her boss, I was under no illusions. Without her, my business wouldn’t be what it was.
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Now, Lydia, you don’t usually let anyone screw up my schedule. What in the world did Mari Channing say to persuade you that this interruption was worthwhile?”
Lydia stepped into my office, pulling the door closed behind her with a distinct click. “She’s looking for Brett Henson.”
“Oh, that idiot. Did she say why?”
Brett, or rather the “idiot” as I’d just called him, had asked me about an investment opportunity for a restaurant in New Orleans. He’d lied through his teeth, and I fucking knew it. He was a name-dropper if I’d ever met one. I’d unceremoniously escorted him from my office this morning after he showed up unannounced.
“You know how I draw up a profile on anyone who wants to meet with you about investment opportunities?” Lydia prompted.
I didn’t get to where I had in business and investments without being smart about it. When Brett initially contacted my company about an investment opportunity via email, I immediately did my homework. I declined meeting with him as a result. But then, he showed up like an ass. He was arrogant with just enough polish to maybe fool someone less suspicious than me.
“Yes. I scanned the information you found and declined to schedule a meeting with him. But you knew that. Lydia, you know practically every moment of every day of my life,” I replied.
Lydia’s brown eyes twinkled. “Obviously. I know what happened with Brett. But you might not have noticed the name of his girlfriend. Mariana Channing. She goes by Mari, and her older brother is Max Channing.”
My eyebrows hitched up. “Interesting. I didn’t catch that detail. I was mostly focused on the financials and skipped the personal info. What in the world could she want?”
“I’m not sure, but I thought you should speak with her.”
“I’d guess Max saw right through Brett as well. I’m also guessing Brett hooked up with Mari thinking she might be a path for him to Max and other useful contacts,” I mused.
Lydia simply shrugged. “Shall I bring her in?”
“Of course. Now I’m more curious than anything. Call ahead to my lunch meeting and let them know I might be late.” Fortunately, the lunch meeting in question was nothing critical.
Moments later, Lydia had exited my office and returned, holding the door open and gesturing for Mari Channing to enter. I stood from my desk, rounding it to approach Mari. I’d seen many beautiful women in my life, but Mari took my breath away. She had glossy dark curls that fell in a loose tumble around her shoulders. Her blue eyes were like the ocean, the rich blue deep and layered. She had a smattering of freckles on her cheeks, and her nose turned up at the end. Her mouth was slightly crooked, and her lips were plump.