A part of me wanted to sigh, but a bigger part of me smiled. I loved these kids to bits, even when they made my mornings a little bit chaotic.

“Good morning, guys.”

“Heya, Tessa.” Leo didn’t even glance my way. His shaggy, brown hair almost covered his eyes. He was long overdue for a haircut.

“I need to get to work. We have some bigwigs in town.”

Now Leo glanced over, straightening. “Ambrose Langston.”

“That’s the one.” I pulled my cellphone off the charger. Oh, only three emails from Ro. He must have actually slept.

“The billionaire.” Leo said the word with a blush of awe.

“Yes.”

“The six-foot-something, handsome billionaire who dates supermodels.”

Ro dated supermodels? My nose wrinkled. I shouldn’t be surprised. Where was Leo going with this?

“Life is so unfair.” He flopped back on the couch. “I’m short, skinny, not a billionaire, and I don’t date supermodels.”

I hid my smile. “You’ve got time, kiddo, and now, you’ll get to do something that Ambrose Langston doesn’t.” I pulled pancake mix out of my pantry and set it on the island. “Make pancakes for your brother and sister.”

Leo groaned.

“I need to get to work.” I caught Caleb for a quick, wriggly hug, then kissed the top of Haley’s head. Simba gave me an evil stare, and I glared back. Then I ran a hand over Leo’s hair. I knew it was all the teenager would allow. “Lock up when you guys leave.”

“Bye, Tessa,” Haley yelled.

Caleb waved and Leo lifted a hand.

There was no time to stop at Mountain Brew today. I rushed out the door and saw the rumpled form of my oldest cousin ambling up the path to my front door.

Josh smiled. “Hi, Tessa.”

“It’s a miracle. He rises before lunchtime.”

His smile widened, and I took a second to wonder where my cute little cousin went and how this handsome young man had appeared in his stead. Josh was still growing into his body, but he was going to be a heartbreaker.

“Are the terrors at your place?” he asked.

“They are and itching for pancakes.”

He slid his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. “I’ll sort them out and make sure no one burns down your house.”

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

Powerwalking, I headed straight for the hotel. My brain didn’t listen to reason and thought about Ro while I walked. I sensed he and his father really didn’t get on. One thing I’d heard yesterday kept reverberating in my head.

Since he’d taken over, Langston Hotels had increased training opportunities and a range of benefits for employees at all the hotels across the globe. I’d done a little digging last night. I realized now that Ro was behind that.

He really wasn’t what I expected.