The tall blonde at the front desk watched them. Haley tried to smile at the woman, but she was still feeling pretty shaken so it probably came across like a scary-looking grimace.
She glanced around at the beautiful flower arrangements on the desk and side tables and the cascading, enclosed waterfall behind the front desk. That waterfall would be amazing in a client’s house. She wondered how much they cost, probably too much to stock in her store.
“Can I help you, sir?” the blonde asked Mr. Johnson, winking with a suggestive smile on her face. She was a beautiful girl, but had to be ten years younger than Mr. Johnson. The tone of the blonde’s “sir” made it seem like he was her boss. The young girl shouldn’t have been flirting with him. Haley watched Mr. Johnson carefully to see his reaction.
“Thank you, Katie. Just make sure Jace gets Ms. Turnbow’s room ready and send up a welcome gift basket with their luggage, will you?” He continued walking past, seeming oblivious to the way the girl’s smile drooped. “Also, comp her room and put five-hundred dollars on her room service and spa tab. She’s my guest.”
“Oh, of course, sir.”
“You arenotcomping our room or paying for our room service and I’m not going to the spa. Can you imagine this little dude in a spa?” Haley shook her head, heat creeping up her neck. She’d never ordered room service in her life, but she knew it was expensive. The thought of visiting a spa was so foreign she wouldn’t give it a second thought. “Besides, we won this trip.” She was embarrassed to admit that to this man, who could’ve been on billboards or magazine covers for the perfect image of the young, good-looking, and successful businessman. From the soft-looking material of his short-sleeved shirt that highlighted his nicely formed chest, shoulders, and biceps to the way his dress pants draped just right. His incredible look reminded her of the way Brad always “dressed for success”, but she had to admit Mr. Johnson wore it extremely well. Better than Brad could dream of looking.
“Oh?” He arched an eyebrow at her. “That’s great. You’ll just get an upgrade then.” He smiled and continued to direct her past the front desk. His large hand seared heat through her thin sundress. She wondered how those fingers would feel if he touched her face or maybe trailed them down her neck.Okay, time to stop thinking.
Mr. Johnson scanned a card and they went through a door and down a brightly-lit hallway.
“When can we go swimming, Mama?” Taz asked, breaking a very uncharacteristic silence.
“As soon as we make sure you’re okay.” She shifted him higher into her arms, not used to carrying him around like this.
“I’m toughs, Mama, like Unca Isaac. I just need a Band-aid.”
Mr. Johnson held out his arms. “How about I carry you little man, give your mom’s arms a break?”
Taz launched himself at the stranger as Haley grasped for him and came up with air. He poked his finger in one of Mr. Johnson’s dimples.
“Taz,” Haley reprimanded.
“Sorry.” Taz smiled his impish grin, his dark curls bouncing. “‘Cept why you gots holes in your face?” he asked.
Mr. Johnson smiled and continued down the hallway. “I don’t know, little man. Jesus put them there.”
“They look funny.”
“Taz.” Haley shook her head. “Sorry. Your dimples definitely don’t… look funny.” More like make you look sexier than any man in her recent past. “He says anything he thinks.” She tried to cover up for Taz’s insult and her fumbling response.
“He’s great. Wish we were all so trusting.”
Trusting?She wished for that too, but it was easier said than done. Haley met his gaze, tripped on the carpet, and would’ve gone down if he hadn’t steadied her. He pulled her close to his side and Haley felt the air whoosh out of the wide hallway and her stomach began to smolder. His touch and the interested look in his eyes were doing crazy things to her. He was holding her child, giving her all kinds of benefits for this hotel, and rescuing her. Who was this guy and why was he being so nice?
She pulled away and smoothed down her sundress. “Mr. Johnson?”
“Cal, please.”
“Cal?”
He nodded.
“I don’t like you…” He arched his eyebrows and she felt the need to finish although she kind of liked the uncertainty flickering in his blue eyes. “…doing all of this.” She’d fought the past five years to not be a charity case. The only help she’d taken was the old house on her father’s ranch that she’d worked hard to fix up, a loan for her business that she’d almost paid back, and free babysitting from her dad and brother. She wasn’t about to start taking handouts from some guy she didn’t even know.
He escorted her into a large office with sparse furnishings besides a huge desk and some chairs, the only decoration a large framed picture of a young girl with long, dark hair kneeling on a beach, holding a fish as big as she was. The grin on her face was priceless. Haley looked closer, excited to see it was one of her friend Alyssa’s pictures. The A.A. in the corner was distinctive. She knew Alyssa was famous so it made sense to see her work, but she also knew how spendy Alyssa’s pictures were. Haley wasn’t stocking them at the store, that was for sure.
The huge windows overlooked the beautifully landscaped pool area, beach, and water beyond and more than made up for the lack of decorations in the office. Haley sighed at the view. She loved the ocean. Born, raised, and stuck for life in Colorado, she didn’t get much chance to see, smell, and hear the waves.
“Your little guy got hurt in my... jurisdiction. I take that seriously,” Cal said with a very convincing smile.
“Please, I don’t like charity.”
Cal looked her over as if understanding exactly how she felt, but he couldn’t possibly understand. “It’s not charity, just a simple upgrade. Very standard in the hotel industry and nothing for you to worry about.”