* * *
On Monday morning,Rosie arrived at work feeling better rested than she’d been in weeks. Last night, after she and Drew had made love again, they’d ordered Thai food and watched TV. They’d settled on a reality show where families took holiday decorating to a whole new level. Then Drew spent the night. Cocooned in his arms, she’d pushed all thoughts of the Duchess from her mind and drifted off without a care.
When her alarm clock had gone off at six thirty this morning, she hadn’t been tempted to hurl it against the wall. Instead, she’d followed Drew into the shower and joined him for a steamy romp before taking off for work.
As he left her apartment, he was whistling, looking as cocky as she’d ever seen him.She’dmade him feel that way.
She unlocked the door to her office and set her jacket and purse inside. Rather than fire up her computer and tackle her inbox, she took her coffee (a caramel latte from Alma’s) and walked over to the breakfast room.
She tried to do this once a week—sit at a table, sip her coffee, and observe the hotel’s guests. Sometimes, she’d introduce herself, chat with them, and ask if they had any issues. Other times—like today—she’d tuck her name badge in her pocket and observe anonymously.
For the first time in months, the room was almost at capacity, filled with people loading their plates at the free breakfast buffet. As far as buffets went, it easily surpassed the typical continental breakfast at a chain hotel since it included hot items like eggs, two kinds of quiche, breakfast potatoes, bacon, waffles, and oatmeal, as well as fresh fruit and a decent range of pastries. The banana pecan muffins were delicious, as was the lemon poppyseed loaf.
She let her thoughts drift, remembering each detail of her night with Drew. How it had felt to fall asleep beside him. To wake up together and cuddle for a few minutes more. To chat with him in the kitchen this morning, discussing their day as if they were a married couple.
It would be far too easy to envision a life like this, but she couldn’t delude herself. No matter how blissful she felt right now, it wouldn’t last past January.
“Rosie?”
Preston’s voice startled her out of her reverie. He stood over her table, impeccably dressed in one of his Brooks Brothers suits and a dark green tie. Unlike her, he was wearing his name badge.
“Good morning, sir,” she said.
“What are you doing here?” He sat down across from her.
“Just getting a feel for our guests.” She gestured to the tables around them. “This is the busiest I’ve seen the breakfast room in months.”
“That’s a good thing. Smart move keeping your badge hidden.” He cast a glance toward a far table. “A few of our transfers from the Duke accosted me and wanted to know why we don’t have a made-to-order omelet bar.”
Rosie resisted the urge to roll her eyes since it wasn’t professional. “Those omelets cost fifteen dollars. Our breakfast is free, and it’s good. Have you ever tried our banana pecan muffins? They’re better than the ones at Tim Hortons.”
He shook his head. “I try to avoid carbs when I can.”
Your loss. “All I’m saying is that a free breakfast buffet is an amenity that isn’t offered by most of the hotels in the downtown area.” Now that she’d brought up muffins, she was craving one, but her boss might not approve of her snitching from the buffet. “Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?”
“I just wanted to check in since Christmas is two weeks from tomorrow. How are things going with your team? Do you feel like you’re succeeding?”
“We’re giving it our all. So far, we’ve done two family Saturday events, and they’ve been well attended. The weekday happy hours have drawn in a decent crowd, including guests from outside the hotel. Knox’s holiday cocktails have been very popular.”
He nodded but didn’t display the enthusiasm she’d hoped. “What else do you have planned?”
“In four days, we’re doing our first ‘Festive Friday’ with a hot cocoa bar, treats, and caroling. Charlie’s going to accompany the guests on the keyboard, and we found someone to play guitar.”
Once again, Drew’s sister was coming to their rescue. As a preschool teacher, she was used to leading sing-alongs, and she knew a ton of Christmas songs.
“Good. If it goes over well, you can repeat it again next Friday.”
How about a little thank-you?
Sensing none was forthcoming, she continued. “As an added benefit, when guests check in to the hotel, they now receive welcome packets that include drink coupons for our weekday happy hours, as well as coupons for half-price holiday beverages at Alma’s Beanery, which is just down the street. We also worked out a deal with Island Food Tours, where our guests can get twenty percent off their basic, two-hour walking tour. And Laurel collaborated with the tourist shops on Government Street to create a coupon book for guests doing last-minute shopping.”
Rather than acknowledge their efforts, he took out his phone and swiped the screen. “Speaking of shopping, I had another idea. I’d like us to go hard on Boxing Day.”
It took every inch of her willpower not to let loose with a string of curses. She and the other managers had secretly hoped they’d get a reprieve between Christmas and New Year’s.
“I don’t know if shoppers place as much attention on December twenty-sixth anymore,” she said. “I think it’s more like Boxing Week now.”
“Even better. I want us to offer a Boxing Week special.”
