Page 25 of Devil's Deal

Rachel smiled sweetly. “No, sweetheart, it’s not that big a deal. I appreciate it.” She grabbed her boyfriend’s arm. “Come on, Lloyd. Let’s go clean up the room and head down to the spa.”

“I’ll let the receptionist know to expect your call. The menu of Behind Closed Door’s services should be right on your vanity. Please, enjoy whatever interests you.”

Rachel’s curly hair bobbed on her shoulders as she happily dragged her man to the elevator. The half-timid woman who I’d first seen was gone with the excitement of massages and mani and pedis. I wasn’t sure that was what pacified Mr. Gregory. He was probably more enticed by drinking for free, but whatever worked.

Turning to Harlow, I said, “Can you please run down to the spa and let them know to expect them. Assure the staff anyone who has to stay will receive overtime.”

“No problem.”

I watched as he hustled away, then made my way over to Huey and grabbed his arm, pulling him back into the hall separating my office from the check-in desk. “Are you all right?”

He ran a hand shakily through his hair. “Yeah, big cheese.” He forced a little laugh. “He was just so mad, you know?”

“I know, and I’m sorry about that. Our customers shouldn’t treat any of my staff that way. Do you want to take a cigarette break?”

“Na. I can wait until Harlow gets back.”

“No, I insist. Go, relax, smoke a cigarette, maybe even take your dinner break now, if you’d like. I’ll cover the desk with Harlow.”

He nodded gratefully, went and grabbed his smokes from under the counter, then he beat a path out the front door.

I made my way to the computer he generally used and sighed. Another crisis averted.

“You okay?” Bosley asked from across the counter.

I blew out a shaky breath. “I’m fine. It’s just so frustrating. Dante said they didn’t see anything, so I don’t know how this is happening.”

Bosley hummed. “Don’t worry. I gave Dante some tips.” He gave me a smirk. “He’ll get this figured out before you know it.”

He didn’t have to say theor elsefor me to hear it in his tone. This was it. Bosley and I had to have a conversation about Dante and his crew. It was nerve-racking enough having someone disrupting my hotel with these random break-ins, but this mafia presence was freaking me out. “Bosley, I don’t suppose I can ask you a question.”

“Will I give you some stress relief? Of course, quirky Cory.” He winked. “Your wish is my command.”

I shook my head. “No, that’s not it. Can you come up to the belfry with me once I’m through here? We need to talk.”

“The belfry?” He quirked an eyebrow. “You gonna have your wicked way with me up there?”

I wished that was the plan. That would be enjoyable. Orgasms would mean he wasn’t leaving, whereas the things I had to say to him might mean he’d be exiting the premises and taking his merry band of outlaws with him. “No. That’s where I live.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I wondered.” He leaned in. “I’d love to go home with you. It was so hot watching you handle that Gregory dude with such ease.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “That’s my job. It was no big deal.”

“I beg to differ. You stayed cool, calm, and collected. I’d have lost my shit if I saw someone berating one of my employees like that. But you didn’t. Then you were amazing with Huey, too. Sending Harlow off like that when he easily could’ve made a phone call to the spa, so you could talk to Huey alone, sending him on a break to give him a minute to pull it together…” He fanned his face with his hands. “Smoking hot.”

As much as I wanted to have a serious conversation with him, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face at his ridiculousness. I had to admit, it felt good knowing that he thought I did such a good job. The Gin Mill was my livelihood and my home. I wanted it to succeed. “So you’ll come up to my place?”

He stood up straight and crossed his arms over his chest. “Only if you’re feeding me dinner, too.”

“We’ll order from The Velvet Room. I don’t really cook all that often.”

Bosley’s eyes widened. “No way.”

I shrugged. “Don’t really need to since I have a five-star restaurant right here.”

“That’s fair. I’ll have to go out and buy some groceries and cook for you sometime.”

My stomach swooshed with excitement while falling with disappointment. He probably wasn’t going to appreciate the conversation we were about to have, and as much as I’d love for him to stay around and cook for me and keep touching me and complimenting me, I wasn’t sure I could handle his secrecy or his obvious connections. Like really, who could just call the mob and have guys show up to do your bidding?

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