Page 20 of Here With You

“Really?” She narrowed her eyes. “What would I have to do?” She placed her fists on her hips. “I have standards, you know.”

He wanted to roll his eyes. If Margot had standards, they were pretty low. “How about we start with something easy, like no hugging the guests unless you’ve known them personally for five years or more?”

She shook her head and frowned. “I knew you weren’t going to be any fun.”

He wanted to tell her he was plenty of fun, but he didn’t want anything he said to be misconstrued as an invitation.

They left the room, locked it, and headed to the next room and the next until they’d visited five vacant properties.

“When does housekeeping come?”

She laughed. “Here’s the thing. We’re short-staffed today, so you and I get to clean rooms.”

“Really? Are you often short-staffed?”

“Nope. This is the first time.”

This had Emmaline written all over it.

CHAPTERNINE

Em answered the knock at the door to find two of her best friends standing there, all flushed. Charlotte hadn’t been that pink in the cheeks since Ryder Watkins asked her to prom over thirty years ago.

“What is going on? You two look like you saw the Chippendales revue and ran out of ones.”

Charlotte snorted. “Honey, when’s the last time you went to a male revue?”

She thought about it and pointed to Marybeth. “I’ve never been, but we hired that stripper for Tilly’s birthday that time.”

Charlotte walked past her, pulling a small suitcase. “They prefer fives these days with inflation and all. That oil they slick themselves with that smells so yummy must be expensive.”

Em waited for Marybeth to come inside. “It’s probably olive oil.”

She moved into the kitchen and waved the girls forward. “I made coffee.”

Marybeth’s nose scrunched. “I feared as much and asked Tilly to bring us a pot of the good stuff and a few of those cinnamon buns I know she made this morning.” She cleared her throat. “Umm, speaking of buns, I see you’ve got Miles working his off.”

She wanted to snicker, but her mama taught her better. “He’s doing exactly what he came to The Kessler to do … run it.” She smiled. “It’s a real shame his staff called in sick today.”

Charlotte pushed her suitcase to the side and flopped into one chair that circled the small round table. Em loved the table with its ceramic base covered in vines and flowers that led to the glass top. It was a secret garden growing in her kitchen. One that didn’t need fertilizer or water unless she counted the damp paper towels she used to wipe off the dust.

Marybeth looked at the ceiling and said, “Please, God, don’t judge her harshly. She may know what she’s doing but can’t help herself.”

“Can you believe that man? He had the audacity to sit at a picnic table last night as if we were friends. And then he told me he had a date, and Tilly confirmed it.”

“Did I hear my name?” Tilly called from the front door. “I’m not owning up to anything unless I’m here to defend myself.” She entered the kitchen with a pot of coffee and a tray of sweets, which included three world-famous cinnamon rolls, several cookies, and a chunk of walnut fudge. “It’s a little early for all this, but desperate times and all.”

“I told the girls that Miles had a date, and you confirmed it.”

Tilly set her bounty on the table and walked to the cupboard to get four mugs. “That’s why you girls are here.” She pointed to Em. “We all know she’s lovely, but lately, she’s—”

Em waved her hand in front of her face. “Let’s face it. I look like something you drag in on the bottom of your shoe.” She rubbed her eyes.

“Don’t do that,” Charlotte said. “You’ll give yourself more wrinkles.”

Em took a seat next to Charlotte. “Girl, have you seen my eyes? My wrinkles are multiplying like flies on a dead fish. I honey a few off; a week later, I’ve got six more.”

Charlotte thumbed at the bottom of her eyes. “Have you been using that cream I gave you?” Em must have delayed a few seconds too long because Charlotte huffed. “Leave that honey alone. It’s too heavy, and honestly, it does nothing for no one.”

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