none of his business. He would not ask her who gave her that locket. Although it might be part of the reason she hesitated to spend time catching up with him. Maybe she had forgiven him but didn’t want to be alone with him because she was already attached to someone else. He leaned forward to catch a glimpse of her other hand.
Isabelle caught his movements and frowned as her hands dropped to her lap. No engagement ring. He smiled and pushed his arms out as if stretching, and her face relaxed.
The hotel staff gathered on the opposite side of the lobby. They seemed tense as they huddled. It seemed harder to believe the ransacking was a coincidence after the men in the grotto. Isabelle had thought a man had been watching her outside his hotel, but he’d credited it to nerves. Now it seemed like someone was targeting her.
The police officer stepped away from Isabelle. She took a shaky breath and smiled at Matt. “He said you’re free to go. I’m sorry you had to spend your day off like this.”
Matt watched the officers leave. “Did they have any leads?”
Her face fell. “Not yet. They’re moving me to another room, at least.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
She pulled back, her blue eyes wide.
He sighed. He’d done it again, speaking without thinking. But it didn’t mean his instinct was wrong. He stood. “You’re not staying here. We’ve already discovered it’s not safe. Besides, don’t you have a sinus headache from these damp carpets?”
She blinked. “My allergies have gotten better over the years, but yeah, I’ve got a low-grade one that won’t quit.”
“I’ll help you pack.”
She flashed a smile that reminded him of all the nights he’d been tempted to kiss her. Some decent air-conditioning would be welcome right now.
“I appreciate your concern, Matt, but my boss already paid in advance for me to stay here. I can’t afford—”
“My treat.” There he went again. But he wasn’t about to let her stay somewhere that clearly had inadequate hotel security.
“I can’t let you pay—”
“Yes, you can. Besides, I’m manager, and it’s our slow season. I’m sure we have a couple of rooms available.” The lines around her eyes creased in worry. “It’s complimentary,” he added. “It won’t come out of my pocket, either.” He tilted his head back and forth. “And if you’re that worried about it, you can ease your conscience by writing a review after your stay with us.” He held out his hand. “Come on.”
Her eyes twinkled as she looked up at him, and she accepted his hand. “You can’t buy a good review from me, Matthew McGuire. I have my integrity.”
The softness of her touch took him off guard. He let go the moment she had her balance. “If you’re not one hundred percent satisfied, your room is compliment—Oh, wait...”
She laughed. “Point taken.”
“Besides, you’re going to love it.” He couldn’t help bragging over his hotel. The last two years, he’d worked hard to make it the premier destination for conference attendees, and the top brass had noticed. Which was how he’d been promoted so fast.
He glanced down at her dainty foot within her flat. It was red, most likely from the ice. “How is it?”
“Almost as good as new.”
“Isabelle, what did the police say?”
“They didn’t think the two incidents were connected.” Her hand clasped her necklace again.
“Seems a bit coincidental, don’t you think?”
“They figure I somehow showed I had cash.”
“They assume the men with knives—”
She flinched at the word. “They say I’ve had an unfortunate experience with San Antonio crime.”
Granted, he wasn’t a woman walking the streets alone, but the statement didn’t ring true to him. If she couldn’t offer the police any reason why someone would be targeting her, then they would be grasping at straws. “And what do you think?”
“It seems a bit much to take on face value, but I can’t offer another explanation for why this happened to me.” Her face was lined with worry. She didn’t seem to be holding anything back. She looked genuinely surprised.
She offered him a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’d better gather my things.”
Ten minutes later, Matt sat in a cab with Isabelle. He’d called ahead, and his staff assured him they had a room ready for her. “We didn’t have a king-size,” Matt explained. “I hope a standard double room will be adequate.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, well, I guess you get what you pay for. You’ll have to wait to find out what I think until my review.”
He stared at her, a warmth building in his chest. He had loved this girl, and she’d never known it.
The mischievous glint in her eyes dimmed. “Oh, no.” She yanked out her phone. “I’m over an hour late to the networking dinner. It was supposed to start at seven.”
“I’m sure they’ll understand given the circumstances.”
“That’s not the point. I promised Hank I’d take every opportunity. He—we need this.”
Was she in a relationship with this Hank? Nope, he wouldn’t ask. Not his business. “Let’s get you settled and get you to that dinner. Which restaurant?” he asked.
She told him as the cab pulled in front of his hotel.
He paid the driver and helped her out of the cab. “That’s just across the street, under the bridge, on the left side of the River Walk. We can’t get you any closer by taxi.”
So much for showing off with a grand tour. He stared into the dark night. After the day she’d had, he couldn’t let her go walking alone—with a weak ankle—through the throng of tourists and occasional muggers. “On second thought, I’ll take you straight there myself.”
She looked up at him. “You don’t have to. You’ve done so much already.”
Yes, there were still remnants of the stubborn girl he’d known. “Izzy, I’d like to escort you there. While I think you’ll be safe in the tourist sections, ease my conscience by promising me someone will walk you back to the hotel when you’re done.”
She straightened. “Deal. But what about my luggage?”
Matt called for the bellhop, who instantly recognized him. “Yes, sir?”
“Please take Ms. Barrows’s luggage and put it behind the front desk for me.”
“Do you have a hotel safe?” Isabelle asked.
“Of course.”
