Page 21 of Maybe This Christmas
She blinked her beautiful doe-brown eyes at him.Ah, shit.His brain needed a second to catch up with his mouth.
“Dinner?I was planning to get room service and watch a Hallmark movie in my cabin.Is there a special dinner on that wasn’t on today’s daily list of activities?”
Caleb’s brain fired on all cylinders.Normally, he overthought nearly every word that came out of his mouth, especially around a woman as lovely as Emma.Maybe the fatigue of a very long day had him choosing honesty.
Even if he’d just stuck his foot in his mouth.What had happened to what he’d learned in that stupid HR training video?
“No, there isn’t.I was suggesting dinner since you’re alone and, well, I am too.My sister decided that I would be the overnight staff on duty for the foreseeable future.”
Emma shyly looked away.“So, a dinner for strays, then?”
“Sure, if you want to call it that.If any other strays are lingering around, I’ll invite them.But in the meantime, would you like to meet in the dining room around seven?”
She still wasn’t looking at him.He followed her gaze, toward the grand Christmas tree.An older couple sat in one of the overstuffed leather loveseats facing it, their hands intertwined.
“I’ll see you at seven, then.”Her dimples deepened as she held eyes for a moment before retreating.
As soon as Emma rounded the corner, the reality of the situation dawned on him.However innocent it seemed, he was having dinner with a guest.He should probably run that by Sabrina and Brandon.Not that he even cared about keeping his ‘job’ at Sky House, but he didn’t want to get on his sister’s shitlist.
He needed to catch Sabrina and Brandon before they left for the night.He cast a glance at the busy lobby.Everyone was occupied watching guitar players by the big tree.He squinted and realized it was his father’s twin, Uncle Gordon, who seemed to be wrapping up his set.
Shit.If his uncle caught sight of him, he’d be tied up in a conversation for the better part of an hour.He needed to get to the opposite side of the lobby, and fast.
He ducked behind one of the smaller Christmas trees.Then he did his best impression of an Olympic speed walker until he finally reached one of the locked doors leading to the lodge’s offices.
He fumbled with his badge at the reader and pushed the door open, nearly colliding into his sister and brother-in-law.
“Whose ass is on fire?”Sabrina asked.
Brandon started to laugh until Sabrina leveled him a look.“Remember that one kid who almost walked into the fireplace last month?This is not a question out of left field.”
“And the reason we now have a toddler-proof grate on our extra-large fireplace,” Brandon said.“So, I’m sure it’s not that.”
Caleb let the door shut behind him, forcing Sabrina and Brandon to take several steps back.“Can we talk, please?In private?”
The two of them shared a look Caleb interpreted aswhat the fuck?before Sabrina unlocked her office door, since it was closest.
His sister’s type-A personality was on full display in the small space.She’d once had to share an office with their father above their uncle’s hardware store.Now everything had a place.He’d probably end up with a label on his ass if he stood in one place long enough.
“What is up, big brother?You’re freaking me out a little.”
Caleb ran his hands through his hair.“I somehow asked Emma Dale on a date.I didn’t mean to, honestly.Well, not a date so much as dinner, since we’re both alone—”
“Is that all?”Sabrina reached out and smacked his biceps.“Of course it’s not an issue.”
“Well…” Brandon started.“As you saw in that ridiculous video, it’s not exactly something we encourage.But this isn’tDirty Dancing.She isn’t Baby to your Johnny.”
“And, honestly, I haven’t even decided if we’re paying you or not for this.We’ll have to see if it’s in the budget,” Sabrina mused.
“You’ll be paying me one way or another,” Caleb replied.
“All right, all right, knock it off, you two.I swear, every day you make me glad I’m an only child,” Brandon said.
“He knows I’m kidding,” Sabrina said.“Of course we’re paying you.”
“So, is it okay?It’s just dinner, I promise.She’s our only single guest, and I’m up here by myself…”
“Caleb.I think we can trust you to act with integrity.Additionally, it’s not uncommon for our staff to share a meal with guests.As long as you’re not doing the horizontal mambo while you’re on the clock, we’re all good,” Sabrina said.
