put the shades on himself. His voice softened. “Have you seen Veronica this morning?”
Aaron groaned. He suspected Mikey had a crush on his personal assistant. It was probably why he hounded Aaron into hiring her in the first place. “No. The party doesn’t officially start until tonight,” Aaron said. “I’m sure she’ll be running the show then.” Veronica was terrifyingly efficient. It was how she’d lost her last personal assistant job with Aaron’s close friend, Jett Eastwood. After Jett had fallen in love with the physical therapist that Aaron had hired for him, the man let no one stand in his way. Aaron could learn a few things from him.
He let Mikey lead him to the Balcony Restaurant in the hotel. The place was hopping with live music and guests. Mikey had invited Aaron’s friends with the deepest pockets who were known for giving generously to charities—some Aaron had only exchanged a few words with. Many of these socialites were still in their pajamas, though artfully arranged to look stunning for the cameras; others wore shorts and T-shirts with ’20s hairbands or fedoras. A very small few like Mikey were decked out in their finest.
They ordered some eggs with their pancakes while Mikey grabbed a big container of ketchup before the two made their way with their breakfast through the wood-paneled bar into the fresh air outside on the balcony. The floor felt like the planks of a ship as they found their seating in the al fresco dining area. The tables were wedged between limestone walls and railings that separated them from a bustling world below. They were dead center in the heart of downtown with a view of Spring Street’s historical shops, galleries, and pubs. A jaunty green canopy festooned the roof above them.
Aaron scooted back a white metal chair, setting his plate of food down at a table covered with a green tablecloth. A man with long brown hair plastered against his forehead approached them. “Aaron Mills? We talked on the phone. I’m Barnett Dean. The manager here... well, just taking over for my uncle for the month, but...” He extended his hand to shake, and then thought better of it and pulled back. “How are your accommodations? Is it all to your expectations?”
“Yes, yes.” Aaron hadn’t noticed. His mind was definitely on something else—well, someone else. “Um, I was wondering about the clerk working the front desk?”
“Ch—Charly?” the manager stammered loudly, then moderated his voice somewhat. “Charlize?”
Charlize? That was her name. And shortened to Charly? That was as adorable as she was. “Yeah, Charlize. I need to talk to her. I think I might have something that belongs to her.”
Barnett hesitated, looking flustered. “Yeah, sure, I’ll get her.” He pivoted on his heel. Mikey shifted in his seat, giving Aaron an incredulous look.
“What? Was that weird?” Aaron lifted his shoulders. “I have to return her necklace.”
Mikey squeezed a hearty dose of ketchup over his eggs. “You’re not going to make this week easy on me, are you?”
Before Aaron could retort, Charlize cleared the doorway, taking his breath away. She was even more gorgeous in the daylight, wearing a white, soft, layered chiffon blouse that was French-tucked into her high-waisted jeans that made her look both elegant and curvy. The girl was all class. Her blue eyes shot to him, and she wiped her hands nervously down her sides before she assumed a defiant look. “Is everything all right?”
He straightened, his heart in his throat while he unconsciously grabbed the ketchup bottle and smothered his eggs with it. He could see how he’d mistaken her for Tara in his drugged state—they both had the same build and coloring, plus that eagle gaze that missed nothing. Other than that, Charly was her own woman, with a sardonic lift of her fine brow and artistic makeup. She’d definitely cooled down from the night before. How could he bring that sparkle back in her eyes from the time he’d almost kissed her? “I want to thank you for last night,” he blurted.
Her boss came up behind her just in time to overhear and he made a surprised sound before she elbowed the man back. Mikey jumped. “Barnett’s my cousin,” Charlize explained quickly. “Don’t mind him. We’ve got Dean family blood in half the town.” Those amazing eyes of hers narrowed. “My uncle’s the sheriff.” Did she throw that in there to scare him? Aaron smiled. It didn’t work. Somehow that made her even more interesting. “What do you want?” she