placate her. He had no intention of changing his bachelor status any time soon, but he knew his mother needed hope, so he gave her that much.
His rounds complete, Sam stepped into a mirrored elevator, noted the quiet, instrumental version of McCartney’s “Band On the Run” playing overhead. He had a ten o’clock briefing with Clair, an eleven-thirty lunch meeting with the publicist for the Central Texas Cattlemen’s Association, then a two o’clock appointment with the city council and the Department of Building and Safety. The Four Winds had already outgrown its original tower, and the proposal for a second, taller tower and conference center had been submitted two weeks ago.
The elevator doors had nearly closed when a hand slipped in to stop them. Long, slim fingers, no rings, short but neat unpolished nails. Automatically, he pushed the open door button.
“Sorry,” the woman muttered a bit breathlessly and stepped inside, her head down while she rummaged through a white purse.
She was taller than average, maybe five-nine, slender. Shoulder-length hair, shiny as polished coal, swept softly across her shoulders. Her suit was pale pink, the lace-edged camisole under the jacket lime-green. She’d turned away so he couldn’t see her face.
Damn, she smelled good.
“What floor?” he offered, lifting a hand to the button panel.
“I’ve got it.”
She started to punch a button on her side of the elevator, then pulled away when she saw it was already lit.
“Six?” Turn, he thought. Just a couple of inches this way …
She didn’t. “Yes, thank you.”
There was no smile in her voice. More of an I-can-handle-it-don’t-bother-me polite tone.
Discreetly, he watched her in the mirror—it was, after all, he reasoned, part of his job to notice the people in his hotel. She seemed tense. Her shoulders and back just a little too straight, the grip on her purse a little too tight. The sixth floor was all offices, which probably meant she was here for business of some sort.
He started to introduce himself when the cell phone in his jacket pocket buzzed. He pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID. Clair.
The elevator doors opened smoothly and the woman hurried away. Sam stepped out, watched her walk down the hall, enjoyed the gentle sway of feminine hips and purposeful stride of long, sexy legs. When she paused at the door to Human Resources, he sighed. Too bad. If she was here for a job, his fantasy of soft black hair sliding over his naked chest was shattered.
Rule Number One: He did not date employees.
When his phone vibrated again, he flipped it open. “Mornin’, Boss.”
“You can be boss today, Prescott. In fact, I think I’ll just give you the Four Winds and crawl back to my bed.”
Sam frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I think the bug my nephews had last week decided to visit me, too,” she said weakly. “Will you ask Suz to reschedule my appointments?”
“Sure.” He noticed the woman was still standing outside Human Resources, though it seemed a bit odd she had put her hand on the doorknob and not moved. “You need soup or something sent over?”
“Please,” she groaned, “don’t mention food. And Jacob’s home today, so if I—oh, God, not again. Bye.”
The line clicked dead. Poor kid, Sam sympathized, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He could think of much better ways to spend a day in bed.
That thought drew his glance back down the hall. The woman was gone. He could still smell her, though. A soft, pretty fragrance that seemed to whisper in his ear.
Damn.
He’d never even seen her face.
Heaving a sigh, he glanced at his watch and headed for his office, hesitated briefly outside of Human Resources, then kept going. Since Clair had cancelled their morning meeting, this would be a good time to get a jump on the end-of-the-month reports. At the rate the Four Winds was growing, he could barely keep up with the paperwork. He didn’t have time to traipse after beautiful, mysterious women.
Halfway down the hall, he stopped.
Oh, hell, why not?
Even if she was applying for a job, she wasn’t an employee yet, he figured. He turned back around and headed back for Human Resources. He might as well satisfy his curiosity while he had the chance. No harm in putting a face to that sexy body.
He stepped into the office and glanced around. Janet’s secretary was not at her desk, and the door to the inner office was closed. The waiting room was empty.
Damn. He’d already missed her.
Slipping his hands into his pockets, Sam wandered closer to the closed door.
“I see you’ve had some restaurant experience, Miss Daniels,” Sam heard Janet say. “Anything in particular?”
“Hostess, waitress, bussing,” the woman replied. “Some kitchen training.”
“Are you available nights, weekends and on call?”
Sam waited for the woman to mention a husband or children, but she didn’t, simply answered that she was available whenever she was needed.
“Miss Daniels—”
“Please, call me Kiera.”
“Kiera, you haven’t listed any references on your application. Could you give me your last place of employment?”
“No, Mrs. Lamott. I—I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
No references? Sam lowered his brow. Janet couldn’t possibly hire the woman without references.
“Kiera.” Janet’s voice softened. “My sister explained your situation to me, which is why I’m meeting with you so quickly.”
Situation? Sam leaned closer to the door. What situation?
“I appreciate it, and I assure you, I’m a hard worker and learn quickly.” Desperation edged the woman’s voice. “I’ll work any hours you ask, do whatever you need me to do, but please just give me a chance.”
Sam narrowed his eyes and frowned. He didn’t care what the woman looked like, or what her “situation” was. The Four Winds was not a charity. It was a business. They hired people based on qualifications, not because they said please.
Rule Number Two: Hotel policies applied equally to the entire staff.
Sam wished like hell he could see what was going on inside the office. He could hear both women speaking, but they’d lowered their voices and he couldn’t make out their words. His ear was all but touching the door when he heard Janet speak again.
“Can you start tomorrow?”
What?
