“Is the room all set?”
“I’m sticking them in the Dogwood Room. I checked the book. Nobody’s in there this week.”
“Wonderful. Do you want to take them a clipboard with the registration paperwork, while I finish this up?”
“On it!”
By the time he carried the tray in with a plateful of warm, gooey cookies, Ari was chatting cheerfully with the couple.
“Mr. Talbot works in Hollywood!” she declared.
“That’s brilliant. Are you researching a film, then?”
“Doing some prospective location scouting,” Kenneth said.
“Are those fresh cookies?” Michelle asked.
“They are, indeed. Please, help yourself.”
They were still chatting half an hour later, when Pru stepped into the room. “What’s all this?”
Flynn made introductions. “They’re all the way from California, here through the weekend.”
“We put them in the Dogwood Room,” Ari added.
“Your husband and daughter have been plying us with cookies and coffee,” Michelle added. “You have such a lovely place here.”
Husband and daughter. Shock rippled through Flynn, along with some sweeter emotion as he looked from Ari to Pru. He supposed they did look like a family. It made for a far more appealing idea than he’d have imagined.
Pru seemed to likewise be struggling for what to say. Ari, however, seemed to have no problem leaping into the fray. “It’s a pretty awesome place to grow up. Did you always live in Los Angeles?”
“Will you excuse us for a moment?” Pru asked.
Flynn rose as she angled her head toward the hall. They continued on into the office.
“Husband?” she asked.
He lifted his hands in truce. “I didn’t say a word. They assumed.”
Pru seemed more flummoxed than angry about it. “Would it be weird to correct them now?”
“Probably. What does it matter? They’re only here for a few days. They don’t live here.” And why the hell was he reluctant for her to make that correction? He wasn’t husband material.
“I suppose not. I should get their details for the reservation.”
“Already gotten. The paperwork’s there on the desk. You just need to run the credit card. The room’s ready.”
“Why didn’t you come get me?”
“Why should we interrupt someone’s massage for a walk-in, when Ari and I could handle it?”
Pru gave him a long look before studying the paperwork, to make sure everything was in order. Then she set it aside and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you.”
Flynn pulled her in tight and pressed a kiss to her brow. “I told you, I want to help.”
“So you did.” She looked again at the reservation paperwork. “I guess I’m going to let you.”
Chapter Six