Rosie resisted the urge to stomp her foot like a toddler. “Can we not discuss this now? Like I said, our new GM might show up, and it wouldn’t go over well if he hears us discussing my love life.”
That shut them up. Laurel passed out their lunch orders, along with paper plates, cutlery, and napkins. “How should we prioritize all these ideas?” she asked.
“While you’re eating, pick your top five choices, then we can discuss them in more detail. Keep in mind that our funds are limited, so we can’t do anything too extravagant.”
Rosie sat down and grabbed her order—a Montreal smoked meat sandwich on rye, along with a Diet Coke. As she perused the ideas on the board, she tried to stay focused. But despite her best efforts, her thoughts kept drifting to Drew. Last night, they’d talked on the phone for over an hour. Somehow, they’d gone from discussing the Duchess to ranking their favorite holiday movies. Like her, he was a big fan ofDie Hardand considered it a true Christmas film.
She could get used to this. For the first time in months, she’d gone home from her parents’ Sunday dinner feeling good. Not anxious or pathetic. But happy. And not just because she’d brought someone home but also because her family had been so enthusiastic about helping her. Isabella had already scheduled a family baking night so they could whip out an army of gingerbread people.
Rosie tried to clear Drew from her mind. Even if she secretly swooned every time he flashed those dimples, she couldn’t get too distracted. Right now, nothing was more important than keeping her job. Not justherjob but all the Damsels’. If Preston fired them, they’d be facing the prospect of unemployment in the dead of winter. And they’d probably never be lucky enough to work together at the same hotel again.
After finishing her sandwich, she crumpled up the wrapper and tossed it in the bag. “Okay, everyone. Before we share our choices, let’s talk about how we’re going to promote our holiday activities. Laurel, do you want to hit us with your plan?”
“Definitely. It’ll be a lot of work, but my team is excited to dig in.” Like Charlie, Laurel tended toward a positive worldview. “Once we decide what we’re going to offer, we’ll get going right away. Since we can’t afford to pay for advertising, we’ll have to use whatever free coverage we can get. We’ll send out press releases, contact Tourism Victoria and the Chamber of Commerce, update our website, get into local calendars, send out emails, and do a bunch of social media blasts.”
“That’s great,” Rosie said. “My sister knows a few travel influencers who might be willing to visit the hotel.”
Laurel’s eyes widened. “Really? That kind of exposure could make a difference. Tell your sister I’ll be forever in her debt if she can come through.”
Selena frowned. “I hate to be the downer in the group, but even if you do all this promo, do you honestly think we’ll have that many last-minute travelers?”
Rosie had grappled with the same issue, but she didn’t want to get bogged down with negativity. “I don’t know. We plan to send personalized emails to anyone who visited our hotel last December and tell them about our holiday offerings. If they book directly with us, they’ll get twenty percent off.”
“We just need to have a little faith,” Charlie said. “Well, faith and hard work. But it’ll be worth it if we can keep our jobs.”
“Thanks,” Rosie said. “Do you want to start us off? What are your favorite ideas?”
Charlie took a swig of her bottled water. “Yes to the festive happy hours on weekday evenings. I talked to Knox about it, and he’s on board. Though when I suggested he wear a Santa hat while mixing drinks, he said, ‘No way in hell,’ which is a darn shame. I might have to work with him on that.”
Selena shook her head in amusement. “Twenty bucks says he’ll never wear one.”
“You’re on. I’ll bet I can convince him. But let me finish listing my choices.” Charlie took another drink and then continued, her voice rising with excitement. “Yes to the family Saturdays with Drew playing Santa, along with cookie decorating and craft stations. Yes to cocoa and caroling, to upping our decorating game in the lobby, and to giving our guests cookies at check-in. That’s five, right?”
As the others nodded, Rosie was grateful Charlie had gone first. If they could maintain her level of enthusiasm, they might be able to make this work. Not only that, but it might be fun. She went to the whiteboard and added a checkmark to the ideas Charlie had listed. After they discussed them in terms of feasibility and cost, she called on Selena and then Laurel before sharing her own choices. Just as she was finishing up, a knock came at the door.
“Do you think it’s our boss?” Charlie asked. She gathered up her lunch remains and stuffed them in the bag.
“Doubtful. I don’t think he’d knock before entering his own conference room.” Rosie opened the door to reveal Santa. Or rather, Drew dressed in his Santa attire. The red coat with the white fur trim and black buttons, the matching red pants, the black boots, and the hat. All that was missing was the beard. She stepped back, too overcome to speak.
Even if the suit covered all of him, he was the sexiest Santa she’d ever seen. His red, fur-trimmed pants hugged his butt in a way that was downright sinful.
“Ho, ho, ho, everyone,” Drew called out. “Rosie said you were meeting, so I came over to make an in-person plug for Santa. And to bring you caramel brownies.” He strode over to the table and placed a glass container on it.
Selena opened the lid and peered inside. “These look homemade. Did you bake them?” She took one out, bit into it, and gave a little moan. “Ohhh. They’re so good.”
“Thanks, but I can’t take the credit. One of my favorite clients made them. They’re incredibly decadent, so there’s no way I could eat them all myself.”
While the others reached for the brownies, Rosie stood in place, still fixated on Drew. All of a sudden, her recent fantasies were a lot easier to envision. Like the one where she was sitting on his lap, naked. Or the even raunchier one where he was bending her over his knee and chastising her for being on the naughty list. Just a light spanking, nothing more, his gloved hand smacking her ass until she mewled with pleasure.
Stop this. You’re at work, damn it.
He walked over to her. “I hope it’s okay I just showed up. When you told me you were meeting with the Damsels to pick your holiday activities, I thought this would be a fun surprise.”
“It is. I mean…you are. I mean. Yes.” She swallowed, too tongue-tied to manage a coherent sentence. “You just…um…look really good as Santa. Totally convincing.”
“You think so? I’m not even using my special Santa voice.” He placed his hands on his hips and spoke in a low rumble. “Have you been a good girl, Rosie Gonzalez?”
Oh, Lord. That deep voice, combined with the twinkle in his eyes, sent her pulse racing. Would he use it on her if they were in bed together? Would he praise her if she did exactly as he said? Just thinking of it sent a surge of desire coursing through her.
