Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“I see.”
“Where do you live? Close by?”
I took a sip of tea. I didn’t want to tell her I lived here in the hotel. It felt too private. “Yes. A short walk away.”
She nodded. “It seems the best way to get around here—on foot or public transport. Is it always this busy?”
I relaxed, realizing she was just making conversation. She was alone in the city. Missing her friend and husband. That was all. I needed to chill.
“I’m fairly new to the city, but yes, it is always busy.”
“Maybe we can discover it together,” she suggested. “Find our favorite coffee place and yoga studio, that sort of thing.”
She saw my hesitation and frowned. It changed her features, making her almost ugly, but then she smoothed out her expression.
“Una can join us if you want.”
“Um.” I cleared my throat, suddenly anxious at the thought of stepping outside the hotel without Niall.
She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m being pushy. You and Una just seemed so nice.” She stood. “Never mind.”
I shook my head, feeling bad. “No. Sorry, it just caught me off guard. I’m a little shy around new people. Maybe we could do coffee next week.”
“Oh, I’d love that.” She looked around, then her eyes went wide. “Oh, my Realtor is outside. I’m late. I’ll see you later.”
She hurried away, and a moment later, Una and Finn appeared. She grinned at me. “Was that Chatty Cathy again?”
Finn frowned. “Who is that?”
“One of your guests. She’s staying here and came over to chat with us yesterday.”
“Room?” Finn asked.
Una frowned. “I didn’t ask her that. She said her husband was transferred here, and she came ahead, looking for a place for them.”
He frowned and pressed a kiss to her head. “Okay. I’ll see you later.”
He headed to the front desk, and I chuckled. “He is checking on her, isn’t he?”
“Yep.”
She looked at the cup on the tray. “She had tea?”
I nodded and told her what happened.
Una sighed. “Being alone in a new city is hard. I guess we can be nice. She is certainly vivacious.”
Finn returned, handing Una a fresh cup. “Everything all right?” she asked.
He nodded. “Heidi Walters. Checked in three days ago. Extended booking. Suite. Credit card is in the same name.”
“Go back to work, detective.”
He chuckled and ran a hand down her head in a soft, intimate gesture. “Later, mo chroí.”
He left with a wink. I sighed as I sipped my tea. Una looked over. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good. I liked Heidi. I’m just…” I shrugged as I tried to explain.
Una patted my hand. “She seems nice, if a bit pushy. After what we went through, I think we’re both a little leery of new people.”
“The thought of leaving the hotel without Niall frightens me,” I admitted.
“Again, understandable. But he and Finn will make sure we have men with us—discreetly, of course.”
I sat back with a sigh. “Of course. I hadn’t thought of that.” I smiled at her, changing the subject. “Ready for tonight?”
“A bit anxious, but yes.”
“You’ll be amazing. Niall says you have the voice of an angel.”
She looked pleased. “I love to sing.”
“I can’t carry a tune,” I admitted. “It’s terrible.”
“I’m sure you’re not that bad.”
Unable to resist, I sang a few bars of a well-known song. Una’s eyes widened, and she looked disturbed. I lifted my eyebrows as I waited for her reaction.
“Cookies might be your thing,” she offered. “Singing isn’t for everyone.”
We both laughed, and it felt good. She wiped her eyes. “Oh, that was bad.”
“And I was really trying.”
She laughed again, then reached over and hugged me. “Oh, Anna,” she murmured. “You are such a light for me.”
I hugged her back. “So are you.”
She smiled. “You are Niall’s light too.”
My smile faded. “I want to be.”
She squeezed my hand. “You love him.”
I looked over her shoulder, gathering my thoughts. “I think I do. But he insists he can’t love.”
“He will. Give him time.” She smiled sadly. “Finn gave me time—he was incredibly patient and always there for me.”
“He adores you.”
She nodded. “And I him. Niall does love you. He simply doesn’t know it yet. He will. I know it.”
I looked down at my hands. I could only hope she was right.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
NIALL
Iwatched the woman walk away from Una and Anna with a frown. I didn’t recognize her, although I was sure I had seen her in the lobby one day. She was probably a guest, but why was she talking to the girls?
Finn strolled in a few moments later, and I looked over at him. He joined me by the monitors, a small smile on his face as he observed them laughing together.
“What a bond they’ve formed,” he said.
“I know.”
“Fucking awful how it happened, but Una loves her.”
“Anna feels the same. I like knowing she has a friend.” I tapped the image I had frozen earlier. “Do we know her?”