They continued talking about the sights to be seen in New York. Since Sean had been there a few days longer than Anna, he had lots of suggestions. “But I don’t want to try and see everything at once,” he finally said. “I want to spread it out. Some things, like the Museum of Modern Art, will take some time.”
“Yes, I’m really looking forward to that myself.”
“Well, if we ever have the same day off, maybe we can see it together.”
She wasn’t sure how to react to this, so she simply nodded, then pretended to be distracted by a pair of young parents who were wheeling a stroller past them. Inside was a fussing infant, and the man was tugging a reluctant toddler, plus they had a small dog on a leash. “Looks like they have their hands full,” she commented.
Sean nodded with a furrowed brow. “That reminds me. I want to ask Vincent about something.” He pulled out his iPhone and made a note. He looked back at her. “I’d be interested in your opinion too, Anna.”
In an instant, her mind spun in several directions. She was impressed with how he was so focused on the Rothsberg, and she was flattered that he cared about her opinion, but more than these and more disturbing, she was curious as to why he was already calling Mr. Newman by his first name.
“I’ve noticed there are a lot of young families around and about the city.” He peered at her. “Have you noticed that too?”
She considered this. “Now that you mention it.”
“I think of SoHo as kind of a young, hip neighborhood. People who come to visit here are too.”
She just nodded, wondering what he was getting at.
“But the Rothsberg has this traditional old-world elegance, you know?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“I was trying to figure out, where do noisy children and perhaps even dogs fit into that picture?”
“Good question.” She frowned to imagine unsupervised children and dogs racing about the lobby. “Do they?”
“Well, they’re part of our culture. Do you know how many American households have pets?”
She shook her head.
“Last time I checked, it was more than half.”
“Wow. That’s significant.”
He looked at her. “Do you have a pet?”
She sadly shook her head, remembering a mutt she’d found on the street when she was about ten. She’d named him Bingo and brought him home. “I wanted a dog once, but I lived with my grandparents and my grandfather had allergies, so I never did get to have one.”
“Too bad. We always had pets in our house. Even when I was in college, I adopted a homeless cat. My parents kept him while I was in Ireland. Someday, if I get a place where I can have pets, I’ll bring him here.”
She tried to imagine Sean with a cat. “What does he look like?”
He slowly smiled. “He’s a great big tiger-striped cat. Everyone who knows him agrees that he’s got the laid-back personality of a dog, though. His name is Burt.”
“Sounds sweet.”
“Anyway, here’s what I’m thinking in regard to the Rothsberg, Anna.” Suddenly he was leaning toward her, outlining a plan where the hotel would have an entire floor dedicated to children and pets. He explained how the staff would cater to their young and furry guests, making their visits as pleasant as possible, and all without interrupting the serenity of the other guests. But all Anna could really think about was how it sounded when Sean had said her name. “What do you think?” He waited for her response.
“It’s a really great idea,” she conceded. “Brilliant, in fact.”
He beamed at her. “Really? You think so?”
“Absolutely.”
“Cool.” He nodded eagerly. “If we do this, I’ll need housekeeping to back me on it, because it might require extra work on the staff’s part. We would add an extra security deposit to cover damages or cleaning expenses.”
Their food arrived, and as they ate their pasta, the conversation continued. It was relaxed and interesting and amazingly fun. As they were finishing up, Anna remembered her promise to Marley—to determine if Sean was single. Everything about him, including his conversation and lack of a ring, seemed to suggest he was not in a relationship. Even so, she was determined to find out.
“This has been so much fun,” she said as a waiter was clearing their table. “So unexpected.”
“Thank you for letting me crash in on you.”
“Yes, you crashed my party of one.” She laughed. “The truth is, I always find it a little uncomfortable eating by myself at a restaurant.”
“Not me,” he said. “I like watching people. Sometimes I pretend to be reading, but I’m really secretly studying the folks around me. I think it helps me in managing hotels.”
“Interesting.” Anna could see how this actually would be a smart practice, perhaps even something she should try. “Do you eat by yourself a lot?”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m not exactly a hermit. I like eating with people too.”
“You know, I would’ve thought someone like you would’ve been snatched up by now.” She felt her cheeks warming. “I mean, I know your buddy Max just got married.”
Sean’s countenance seemed to fall now.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I don’t know why I suddenly got so nosy.” She laid her napkin on the table. “It’s none of my business.” She almost added that the only reason she asked was because of Marley’s interest, but she knew that wasn’t the smartest thing to admit.
“It’s okay.” He set his napkin on the table too. “The truth is, I was in a relationship . . . in Ireland . . . but it just didn’t work out how I’d planned.”
“Oh.” She felt terrible now. Like she’d just ripped off a bandage, exposing a wound that had yet to heal. “I’m sorry.”
“Really, it’s okay.” He waved his hand. “It’s because of . . . her . . . that I’m here in New York. I always wanted to live here.” He paused as the waitress returned, setting their bill in the center of the table. “And here I am.” Without missing a beat, Sean picked up the leather-covered folder and flipped it open.
“Here.” Anna handed him her debit card. “Since we had the same thing, they can easily split it in half.”
He pushed her card away. “No, Anna. I crashed in on you, and you were good enough to listen to me prattling on about my ideas for the hotel. This is my treat.” He studied the bill, then slid in his own card.
Anna continued to protest, but he wouldn’t back down, insisting that the waitress take only his card. “Thank you,” he said cheerfully to the waitress. “Don’t let us waste any more of your time on our little disagreement.”
“All right.” Anna slipped her card back into the pocket of her mini-purse. “Next time is my treat.”
He grinned at her. “You got it.”
Of course, now she registered what she’d just done—insinuate that they would do this again. Did he think she was asking him out? “Well, thank you,” she said primly. “It was a delicious meal.”
“It was.” He chuckled. “Thanks for recommending this place.”
She couldn’t help but laugh.
The waitress returned quickly. Seeing the café now had a waiting line of customers, Anna realized she was eager to reseat this table. Sean quickly signed the receipt, adding a tip, and they both stood.
“I really enjoyed this,” Anna told him as they moved over to the edge of the sidewalk. “The truth is, I was just starting to feel a little bit lonely.”
“I know.” He looked up and down the sidewalk. “Which way are you walking?”
She pointed to the right.
“Mind if I stroll with you a ways?”
“Not at all.” She felt slightly giddy now, incredulous that Sean O’Neil was actually walking her home. Back in high school she probably would’ve passed out over the prospects. But as quickly as the light-headed feeling came over her, she shoved it down, burying it deep. They were simply co-workers—kids who’d grown up in the same town
together. “It’s nice that you have Max here,” Anna said as they walked.
“Yes, but I’ve been trying not to take too much of his time. After all, they’re still kind of like newlyweds, you know?”
“I guess, but I’m sure Max likes having you here.” She told him about Marley and how she was working as a flight attendant and sharing an apartment with three other girls. “It’s pretty tight. Marley said she might consider getting an apartment with me after I’ve worked here awhile. In the meantime, I might be sleeping on their couch.”
“That’s what I’m doing right now,” Sean confessed. “Max introduced me to a buddy of his. He’s got a tiny apartment over on Worth Street.”
“Amazing what people will sacrifice just to live and work in this city,” Anna said with wonder. “But I believe it will be worth it in time.” She shook her head. “What am I saying? It’s already worth it. I couldn’t be happier.”
“Really?” He slowed down his steps, peering curiously at her. “Not even if you’d been offered the head manager’s job?”
She grimaced. “Did Mr. Newman tell you about that?”
“Just in passing.”
“Oh.” She felt her earlier gloominess returning.
“I think you were wise to take the job you were offered, Anna. I really do. I think you’re going to end up with some great references from this. I mean, if you should ever decide to move on.”
She nodded. “You’re probably right.”
“If I owned a hotel, I would be very impressed if an applicant for the manager’s position had worked in housekeeping.”
“Really?” She felt hopeful.
“Absolutely. The worst kind of manager is the one with no understanding of the folks who keep the machinery oiled and working—maids and janitors and maintenance men.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
“I have a feeling the Rothsberg will be as good for you as you are for it.”
She felt brighter now. “I hope so.” She pointed to the building ahead. “That’s where I live, at least for now.”
He looked up at it, then pointed to his left. “I live about a mile that way.”
“So we’re almost neighbors.”
“Small world, isn’t it?”
She reached into her mini-purse, fishing out Marley’s apartment key and trying to think of something sensible to say. “Thanks again for dinner,” she murmured, instantly regretting that she’d made it sound like it was a date when she knew it wasn’t. “It was fun bumping into you like that,” she said brightly. “Serendipitous.”
“How about tomorrow?” he asked.
“Tomorrow?” She felt somewhat confused as she paused at the foot of the stairs to her building. Had she missed something? “Uh, tomorrow’s Sunday, isn’t it? I mean, we don’t report to work until Monday, right?”
“Yeah. I was just thinking about how we were both sightseeing today. Are you going to keep playing tourist tomorrow?” He shrugged. “In that case, maybe we should do it together.”
She felt her hopes rising. “Yeah,” she said eagerly. “I’d love that.”
“Great.” He politely tipped his head toward the tall brunette woman approaching. She seemed to be studying them as she smiled, then turned to go up the stairs and up to the front door of the building. “One of your roommates?”
Anna studied the woman’s back as she entered the security code. “The uniform looks like she’s a flight attendant,” she admitted. “But I haven’t met her. Not yet anyway. I suppose she could be Kara.”
He chuckled. “That must be interesting—rooming with flight attendants.”
“Yeah . . . and I have a feeling it’ll get even more interesting,” she agreed.
“Anyway, back to tomorrow,” he said. “Since the hotel’s about midway between your place and my place, we could just meet up there.” He paused to exchange cell phone numbers with her. “In case something comes up.”
“What time should we meet?” she asked.
“Well . . .” His brow creased. “Are you a morning person?”
She wondered if this was a trick question. If she told the truth, would she sound like a total nerd? “Actually, I am,” she confessed.
“Cool. So is 9:00 too early?”
“Not at all.”
“Great. See you then—hotel at 9:00.”
She almost added, “It’s a date,” but thankfully stopped herself. It was not a date. It was simply a pair of co-workers eager to explore the Big Apple together during a free day. She wouldn’t be surprised if they talked business while they were sightseeing. After all, hadn’t they done that over their early dinner? No, it was definitely not a date. And she’d better not forget that!
13
Anna was still feeling inexplicably happy as she entered the apartment. What a great day it had been, and so unexpectedly. Once inside, she saw the same pretty brunette she’d observed on the sidewalk earlier. A quick intro confirmed that it was indeed Kara, just back from a flight.
“So who was that with you?” Kara asked with eager curiosity.
“That was Sean O’Neil,” Anna informed her. “I would’ve introduced you outside—I mean, if I’d realized you were one of the roommates.”
“Where did you meet him?” Kara peeled off her uniform jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair as Sophie came into the room. She still had on the same pink silky bathrobe, as if she really was taking her day off seriously.
“Anna has already met a guy?” Sophie asked with keen interest. “You work fast, girl.”
“Not just any guy,” Kara told Sophie. “Trust me, this one’s a real looker. For a second I thought she was talking to Ryan Reynolds.”
“You’re joking.” Sophie’s eyes grew wide. “He’s that good looking?”
Kara nodded firmly as she unzipped her skirt. “Seriously, Anna, where did you meet this handsome dude?”
“And does he have a brother?” Sophie added teasingly.
Anna laughed. “Well, if I could get a word in edgewise, I’d tell you.” She paused to discover they were both waiting. “You see, I’ve known Sean since childhood. We grew up in the same town, went to the same high school, and—”
“And he came here looking for you?” Sophie said dreamily.
“Is he trying to talk you into going back home with him?” Kara asked. “Didn’t you just get here?”
“No, no, it’s nothing like that.” Anna chuckled. “You see, Sean got hired at the Rothsberg hotel. Same as me. We both start work on Monday.”
“Wow, that’s a co-inc-y-dink.” Sophie winked. “Hometown boy working at the same place as you?”
“And you’re already dating?” Kara was standing there in her bra and slip, picking up her discarded uniform pieces as if this was her usual routine. “Nice work.”
“We’re not dating,” Anna clarified.
“That’s good,” Sophie told her. “Always risky to date co-workers.”
“Well, unless they’re pilots,” Kara added with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Sophie shook a stern finger at Kara. “No, Kara. Like I’ve told you a million times, that’s a mistake. Pilots never see flight attendants as serious marriage material. To them, we’re just a temporary amusement. Leave the pilots alone and you’ll be much better off.”
Ignoring her, Kara turned back to Anna now. “If you’re not dating this dreamy Sean guy . . . are you saying he’s available?”
Anna shrugged. “He’s not married or with anyone, if that’s what you mean.”
“Ah-ha.” Kara removed a few hairpins, letting her hair down with a shake. “What’s Sean’s job at the hotel?”
“Head manager.”
“Nice.” Kara made an approving nod. “That works for me.”
Anna felt uncomfortable discussing Sean like this—like he wasn’t a person, just an object. “I think Sean’s going to be really busy with his job at first,” she told them. “There’s so much going on at the hotel these next few weeks—getting it
all set up and ready to open. I’d be surprised if he had much time for a social life. I know I don’t expect to have one.”
“What’s your job there?” Sophie asked.
“Head of housekeeping,” Anna told her.
“Oh.” Kara’s brow creased as if this was disappointing. “Does that mean you’re in charge of the maids?”
“Certainly, that’s part of it.” Anna stood straighter. “I prefer to think that I’m in charge of the guests’ comfort—at least when it comes to their rooms. And really, when you’re staying at a hotel, what’s more important than your room?”
Sophie nodded. “Yeah, that’s a very good point.”
“I don’t know,” Kara added as she headed for her bedroom. “I like a hotel with lots of amenities outside of my room.”
“The Rothsberg has those too,” Anna assured her. “Restaurant, pool, spa, coffee shop, workout room. Everything is beautiful too. But even if you have all those amenities, what good is it if your room’s totally uncomfortable?”
“I agree,” Sophie told her. “What I want most, when I’m laid over in a city, is a really comfy bed with great linens and a good down pillow, and quality toiletries too. Oh yeah, and HBO and room service.” She laughed. “I could’ve done with some room service today. I’m starving.”
“Speaking of food,” Kara called from her bedroom. “You still going out with me tonight, Soph?”
“You bet. I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”
“How about you, Anna?” Kara stuck her head out through the doorway. “Want to come out for a taste of New York nightlife?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Anna was uncertain. On one hand, it sounded fun. On the other hand, she suspected these flight attendants were serious party girls. Something she was not.
“I’m sure we can squeeze another in,” Sophie told her. “We’ve got reservations at Atera.”
“What’s that?” Anna asked as she sat down on the love seat.
“It’s a dining experience,” Sophie explained.
Once Upon a Summertime Page 11