She made a noise and thrust the tray toward me. “Take this.”
Dumbfounded, I reached up and took the tray from her hands. I was sure she growled.
“Stay right here. Both of you.”
Turning on her heel, she marched down the hall, disappearing into a room. Neither Noelle nor I moved. I knew she was obeying her mother, but I wasn’t sure why I was following her orders.
“What’s dat?”
I glanced down at the tray. “My supper, I think.”
“Oh.” Then Noelle gasped. “Dywan! Iz you da ath-hole?”
I blinked at her, then the tray.
I guessed I was.
Huh.
The door opened down the hall, and Seth stumbled out, followed by Alex. I pushed myself up to my feet as she pulled him along, stopping in front of me. One hand gripped his arm, the other around the bottle I’d been waiting for since I arrived.
“Apologize to Mr. Maxwell.”
He looked at me. “I’m s-sorry—Alex sent me up as soon as she got back. I knocked, but there was no answer. I heard the shower running so I went to check on Noelle, and I guess I fell asleep while I was waiting.”
“Got back from where?”
He stared at me as if I were crazy. “She had to go get your stuff, man. I’m not old enough to buy it.”
I looked at Alex. “It wasn’t here? You don’t have it in the bar?”
Two bright spots of color appeared on her cheeks. “No, sir, we don’t stock that. It’s rather . . . expensive. Your assistant’s request came in late this afternoon, and I hadn’t had time to see to it. I had Susan watch the desk while I went to get it. Seth was to bring it to you, then relieve her while I did another task.”
“Make da ath-hole his suppa,” stated Noelle firmly. “Dat’s Dywan.”
Alex gasped, Seth started to laugh heartily, and before I could stop myself, so did I. In fact, I laughed so hard, I almost dropped the tray. Finally calming, I reached over and plucked the bottle from Alex’s hand.
“Well, as interesting and eye-opening as this has been, this ‘ath-hole’ is hungry and needs to eat.” I turned to Alex, who appeared mortified and maybe even on the verge of tears. I smirked at her. “I’m not as big an asshole when I’m not hungry—honest.”
“Mr. Maxwell,” she choked out, her voice panicked.
I lowered my voice, needing her to know I wasn’t upset. I should be, but I was far from it. “I didn’t realize you had to go and buy this special for me. I’ll speak to my assistant about her lack of organization. Be sure to add it to my bill.”
“Speak or yell?” She smiled hesitantly.
I winked at her, returning her smile. “Depends if I wait until after I eat.”
Her smile came back again—the one that lit her face and made me want to say or do anything to keep her smiling at me like that. I was glad to see her shoulders relax a little.
I glanced over at Seth, who was still grinning. “If Alex trusts you enough to look after her daughter, you should take better care of her. I realize she is surely safe in the hotel, but she was still your responsibility.”
His smile fell, and he looked at Alex. “Sorry. It was a long day.”
She rubbed his arm. “I know.”
I smiled down at Noelle. “Thank you for keeping me company. I enjoyed meeting you, Noelle.”
“I see you in da morning, Dywan!”