“Oh, yes of course.” I dig through my purse and find my card, handing it over.
“Thank you. I look forward to working with you.”
I offer up a tight-lipped smile. “You, too. Have a good day,” I say, heading for the door.
Chapter Four
SHEPARD
Imust admit, Ms. Destiny Parks is not bad to look at. She stands out from most of the women I’ve seen here. She looks like she belongs in New York City. Her shoes have a pointed toe and a high heel, not exactly working shoes, but they always make the legs look killer. I can tell from her tight dress pants that she has long, shapely legs. Her waist is tiny, and she has a nice hourglass figure that I can’t stop staring at. She’s wearing a blazer that’s not buttoned and the silky shirt beneath leaves little to the imagination. It’s low cut, giving just a peek at her big, buxom chest. Her blonde hair hangs to the middle of her back in soft curls, and her green eyes are bright and shining. Every time she looked directly at me, she stole my breath.
I don’t know what, but there’s something about her that I like. Maybe it was her no-nonsense attitude. She was very straight forward and seemed to listen well. I guess I’ll find out how well she listened when I check out all of her plans based on my instructions today. Then I remember that I forgot to address one thing, and I begin walking out after her.
She’s just climbing in her car, so I call out her name. “Ms. Parks.”
She hears me and freezes, standing in the open door. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry, but I forgot to mention one thing.”
“Oh, okay.” She reaches into the car and pulls out her notebook.
“We’re going to need some kind of promotion, to let the townspeople know about the party and that all are invited.”
She nods. “What were you thinking? Fliers, an ad in the paper, maybe?”
“I would like printed invites for everyone in town. White and gold, of course. Mention that this is a black-tie event so formal wear is necessary.”
She looks up at me with her brow arched.
“What? Is that a problem?”
She lets out a long breath. “It’s just that…”
“What?”
“It’s just that this is a party to get the town to accept you, right? To thank them for welcoming you so openly?”
I nod. “Yes, a little thank you, if you will, for being so inviting and dealing with all the commotion with the build. Why?”
“It’s just that if this is a party for the town, shouldn’t it be a party the town will like?”
I feel my brows draw together. “You don’t think the town will like the party?”
“No, they’ll love the party, but we don’t party like this. This isn’t New York City. Most of these people don’t have formal wear. We have festivals in the street. Everything we do here is laid back, that’s just how it is. If you’re going to demand that everyone come in formal wear, you may miss out on a lot of people.”
I think it over. She may be right, but, at the same time, I can’t host a formal affair if people aren’t dressed in formal clothes. There will be reporters and photographers here. This isn’t just about the town. This is about my hotel and the attention a new opening will receive. “I appreciate your concern, but I think I know what I am doing. My party will be just fine the way I expect it.”
She shrugs one shoulder. “Okay, I’ll add formal invites to my list. Is there anything else?”
“No, I believe that is all.”
“I’ll go get started now. Have a good day, Mr. Billings.” She climbs into her car and starts the engine, not giving me even a moment to correct her on the name. I stand back when she puts the car in drive and takes off, leaving me looking after her.
I smile as I watch her drive away. I don’t know why, but I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. She’s got fire in her soul. Not many people give me their opinions, especially after they’ve already heard mine. Nobody stands up to me anymore, and the fact that she did only makes me want her more.
I climb behind the wheel of my rental and head back to the hotel. When I arrive, I have a message that says that Mr. Brooks had an unexpected out of town trip, so I call Evan and let him know that I’m free for dinner. We decide to meet at a local Italian restaurant, and he’s even going to bring his girlfriend for me to meet. I’m excited for him after his last break up. I didn’t think he’d ever find someone to settle down with.
I pass the time with work and talking with the construction company about how soon they can finish the event center. I return some emails and sign some documents that Linda sent over. Once I’m done, I stand and go shower to get ready for dinner. The only clothes I’ve brought with me are suits for work, so I dress in a clean suit and get ready to go.
