Up to Me (Shore Secrets) (23 page)

“I’m beginning to realize that not everyone thinks of it that way. When something’s been around long enough, people see it as an expectation, rather than a privilege. According to,” she riffled through her papers, “Ernie Jones, Cathy Franklin and Rebecca Stalking-Horse, they’ve looked forward to this for a whole year. On top of looking forward to it every year for their entire lives. Memorial Day won’t be the same without it.”

“That’s a lot of pressure for a couple of hours of nonstop burgers and brats.” Gray set his tablet on the marble mantel and propped his elbows on it.

“Mmm-hmm. Apparently I’m responsible for maintaining people’s happiness on an annual basis by making sure this party happens on the same day every year.”

“Don’t tell me you believe that?” Over the past few days, Gray had come to have a grudging respect for this community. The way they pulled together, cared so much about everyone. But whatever respect he’d built up would disappear in a flash if they pulled together
against
Ella. He wouldn’t stand for it.

Ella toyed with the ends of her scarf, which started at pale yellow then shaded all the way up to deep orange. “I believe they look forward to it. There’s such a wonderful sense of coming together. Almost like a reunion. In fact, lots of extended families who’ve moved away do come back for it.”

“But, Ella, take a second here to dial into reality.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not finished. I’m quite aware all those people can change their plans and come a week later.” She beckoned him closer. Gray sat in the matching wing chair and leaned over the end table until she could whisper in his ear. “I’ve even thought about canceling the party entirely.”

That took him by surprise. Gray jerked backwards to see her eyes. To gauge just how serious she was. And she appeared quite solemn, with a hard set to her jaw. “I thought it was important to you.”

“I thought so, too.” Ella fisted her hands in her lap. Mindful of the couples chatting at the door to the wine shop across the lobby, she kept her voice low. “But then Sarah and Levi Bachmann barreled into my treatment room in the middle of a deep tissue massage. How dare they! I don’t think they’d greet me with open arms if I waltzed into their bathroom during shower time tomorrow morning. Raquel, my poor client, was stark naked under just a thin sheet.”

Gray bit back a grin at the thought of Ella carving out a little surprise retribution. Maybe going with the classic
cold water over the shower curtain
prank. “Did they get an eyeful?”

“No, thank goodness. And Raquel was quite understanding when I rescheduled for tomorrow, a ninety minute instead of the sixty-minute treatment she originally booked.” But her hands remained in those tight, white-knuckled fists.

“So, another full comp?” he guessed. It was what he’d do to keep the clients happy. For all her denial and dislike, Ella had hoteliering in her blood. When the chips were down, she knew customer service inside and out.

After all, it was how she’d charmed him into that chair massage five minutes after he walked in the door. Okay, maybe Ella’s smile had
something
to do with it. And—to be honest—her breasts. God, what red-blooded man wouldn’t hope that they’d brush against him as she rubbed?

Ella nodded. “Of course I comped her. And she’s getting a bottle of wine on the house at dinner tonight.”

“Which means that in addition to however much burgers and beer for the entire town at this party costs,” he shot up an index finger for emphasis, “
with
your budget already scraping the bottom of the barrel,
now
your beloved fellow townspeople are taking a chunk out of your bottom line?”

Another sharp dip of her head. “Yes.”

Gray breathed deeply. This close to the fireplace, the air still held a faint, smoky whiff of apple wood. Last night they’d sat right here in front of the fire trying to stump each other on music trivia. Until he couldn’t stand watching her pink, glossy lips move any more, dragged her onto his lap and kissed her until the fire died out. The laughing, the teasing, the touching had been just about perfect. That’s what Ella should remember when she sat in this chair. He’d be damned if he let a few self-centered, clueless, mouth-running douchebags spoil it.

Covering her hands with his own, Gray said, “You know this has to stop.”

“Yes.” She shook her head, sending the end of her scarf flying into the air like helicopter blades. “Yes, damn it. Of course I know that. We live in an internet society. One bad review is all it takes to scare people away from Mayhew Manor. Or ruin the reputation of luxurious excellence I’ve worked so hard to build in this area for the spa.”

She’d summed the problem up perfectly. “Go on.”

“That’s why you found me at the front desk. I came out here to give orders to Eugene, the desk clerks, and all the bellmen not to let anyone into the spa without an appointment. And not to transfer calls either, unless it was to make an appointment. Enough is enough.”

“Good for you.” He gave her hands a quick, double-squeeze.

“But then I picked up all these messages, and Joanna accosted me.” Her shoulders sagged. “How can I expect my staff to follow rules I don’t follow through on? I should’ve sent Joanna packing without trying to placate her.”

“Don’t go overboard. You handled her perfectly. You heard her side, and then firmly stated your final decision. Better than ignoring her completely. Keep the message and delivery consistent, and I’m sure word will spread quickly that you’re not messing around.”

“I didn’t cancel the party. I moved it by six damn days. In the grand scheme of life, how does that matter? They can’t just come in here and tell me what to do. Tell me that my parents would be disappointed in me. Tell me that I must not be fully recovered to make such a harebrained decision. You know what I want to tell them?”

Aware that guests were still milling through the lobby, Gray tempered his response. “To do something anatomically impossible to themselves?”

“Repeatedly.”

He waited for a beat. Put on his most serious face. “Maybe you could go write that suggestion in the journal.”

Ella giggled. Then quickly progressed to a full-blown belly laugh that doubled her over. Until soon she was gasping for air, hands pressed to her ribs.

“You okay?”

“I am now. Thanks to you.”

“Glad I could help.” And he really was. Kind of a new feeling. Sure, Gray helped old ladies carry their groceries to the car. Braked to let a kid retrieve his football in the street instead of running over it. But this feeling of being in a partnership was definitely different.

“I’ve whined enough. There’s some good news and some interesting news I want to share with you.”

Gray looked up at the carved grape clusters on the ceiling molding, pretending to think, one hand stroking his chin. Then he snapped his fingers and grinned at her. “You canceled your appointments for the rest of the week and booked us tickets to Jamaica.”

“Gee, you know, that was my original plan,” she said, without missing a beat. “Before
you
came up with the idea to move this party. Now I’m stuck here dealing with the blowback. All your fault. All this,” Ella shimmied in her seat a little, “covered in coconut oil, could’ve been yours for the taking.”

He squeezed his eyes shut against the magnificence of her breasts jiggling in the neckline of her sweater. The fireplace behind them could’ve been roaring again, and all Gray would’ve felt was the heat she fired up between his heart and his dick. And he was well on the way to worrying that one time with Ella would in no way dowse that heat. That they could spend three days straight in bed and it wouldn’t begin to sate his burning hunger for her. Then where would he be when it came time to leave?

“If you want, we could continue this private celebration up in my suite.” He leaned closer, shifted one leg against the chair. Winced as it scraped against his still seeping cut. And remembered why he’d come inside in the first place. “Damn it, no.” Regret speared through him. “I’m on a mission of mercy. Joel and I are babysitting a kid.”

“You really are a take-charge guest, aren’t you? We need more like you. It’d cut down significantly on our staffing costs,” she said, tongue in cheek. “One of the bellboys called in sick. Feel free to help out during check-in around four o’clock.”

“I’m afraid I only take on one staff job per day. Before I start expecting to be comped, that is. What would it be worth to you if you got to sit here and watch me pop my biceps, carting in luggage?”

Her eyes widened, then darkened. Smoldered with the heat of white-hot briquettes. “That’s a tempting offer. But I wouldn’t want the female guests distracted by your display of manliness.”

“Thoughtful as always.” Gray stood. “The kid’s dad is golfing. Mom’s at your spa. Doesn’t seem like they gave a second thought to what he’d do while they were off having fun. We’re gonna play some badminton with him until she’s done. Will you have Brooke send his mom out to the lawn when she’s done?”

“Absolutely.” She popped up to tug on his sleeve. “But I need two more minutes to share my good news.”

“Sorry—you sidetracked me with your talk of oiling up.” And that was an image he would not be able to shake even if he poured a pitcher of crushed ice down his pants. “Hit me with the goodness.”

“Interesting news first. Kevin, the grandson of the bank manager who discovered some company’s been sniffing around the Manor’s financials? I think he’s got a future in cyber security.”

A cold wash of dread slicked through him. “Why?”

“He back-traced,” her nose crinkled adorably, “or something close to that in computer-ese—don’t ask how, because I sure don’t understand it—Kevin found out the name of the company gunning for us. Ruffano & McIntosh Holdings, LLC.”

“The kid’s a whiz,” said Gray, with honest appreciation. But God, what if he kept going? R&M didn’t have a list of staff on the website for obvious security reasons. Hard to be undercover with your name splashed under the company logo. But if this computer prodigy kept hacking, he might unearth Gray. Then what? Should he assume the worst? Check out right now without waiting for his cover to be blown?

He probably should. Probably would, if this was any other assignment. But Gray didn’t want to give up a second of the scant time he had left with Ella. Their big date was tonight. He couldn’t disappear. But how could he justify the risk of staying?

Ella tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I told him to stop there. I don’t want to raise any red flags to let
them
know that
we
know about them. They look like a huge, money-grubbing corporation. I’m hoping that we’re too small to be worth their effort.”

“Here’s hoping.” Okay. That bought him some time. He could see this thing through without worrying about being revealed. Desperate for a new subject, Gray rubbed the back of his neck. “Interesting news as advertised, but I’m ready to hear the good news.”

“Well, with the party moved, the Manor’s already gotten four new bookings for the long weekend. All suites, all three days.” Ella jumped up and down twice. Clapped her hands together with a dazzling smile of glee. “Your plan worked. We only opened the availability on those dates last night. Eugene thinks we’re on our way to being sold out.”

Gray folded her into a tight embrace. “That’s great.” And it was. He was thrilled for her. Genuinely happy. In this moment, he wouldn’t let his heart battle with his brain. Wouldn’t even acknowledge how this could end up making things trickier for his company. How the bank wouldn’t be as willing to let Ruffano & McIntosh call the note on a more solvent Mayhew Manor. With a new manager coming on board and the uptick in sold rooms, Ella could rightfully argue that they were on the road to turning things around financially. If nothing else, it’d buy her some breathing room with the bank. Maybe even help her get a new loan. R&M never wanted a fight on their hands. They specialized in quick-and-dirty takeovers.

No, he’d concentrate on Ella’s personal victory. The way she’d done what she believed to be right, even though it meant standing up to the town. He was so damn proud of her.

Shit. Gray wasn’t just proud. Or thrilled. The realization washed over him with the refreshing softness of an ocean breeze. And the strength of a tsunami. He’d fallen for her. His head right over her peach polka-dotted, sneakered heels. Sure, there was a healthy dose of lust at his core, ready to erupt at any second. But more than that was his appreciation of Ella’s strength, her passion for the things she cared about. Her sweetness. The way her tenderness touched him in places he’d forgotten or ignored for years. What the hell was he supposed to do about this? Gray closed his eyes and pressed his cheek a little tighter to the soft sweep of her hair.

But she pulled out of the hug. Framed his face with her hands, stood on tiptoe and gave him a slow kiss on the forehead. “Thank you. Not just for the idea, but for forcing me to work through it, weigh the pros and cons. It was a smart move. It was the right move for the Manor.”

Right. The Manor. Gray slammed the door on his pain-in-the-ass feelings. “I’m glad you feel that way, because I’ve got some news of my own to share.”

“Okay.”

He hoped this went over well. That Ella didn’t call him an interfering jackass and storm off. Especially now that she’d tapped into her feisty side today. “I booked you a wedding.”

“Why Mr. Locke, this is all so sudden.” She held out her left hand, waggled her fourth finger. “I’ll need to see the ring before I decide, of course. I prefer pear-shaped, set in platinum, and at least a full carat.”

“Very funny. I booked a wedding to take place in the ballroom.”

Her arm dropped to her side as though she were a marionette with severed strings. Then she took a step backward and pretty much fell into the chair. Gripping its arms, Ella said, “Are you serious?”

It was definitely a big reaction. Gray just couldn’t tell if it was good or bad. “Don’t worry. I didn’t roll out a contract or anything. But I did talk to Marsha.”

“Marsha...our events manager? When did you even meet her?”