5. Tessa
Chapter 5
Tessa
“W e have thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”
I smiled at the older couple checking out. “I’m so glad.”
“My Thomas proposed to me here, forty-seven years ago.” Mrs. Palmer had a pretty face and carefully dyed ash-blond hair. She tipped her head up to look at her husband.
Mr. Palmer, tall and fit, had plenty of distinguished gray in his thick hair. “It can’t have been that long already. You don’t look a day over twenty-nine.”
She playfully swatted him, then looked back at me. “It was delightful to have dinner in the same spot where he proposed, and the flowers you organized were lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.”
“My steak was overdone.”
“ Thomas .” Mrs. Palmer rolled her eyes. “That man loves his steak still mooing.”
“I’ll make a note of that for your next trip.” Thomas was right, Chef Harvey tended to overcook the meat. The man was nearing retirement, and, in typical chef fashion, believed he could do no wrong. I’d think of a way to broach the subject with him. I waved at one of the bellmen. “Your car to the airport is here.”
“Thank you again,” Mrs. Palmer said with a smile.
I smiled as they walked out, then scanned the busy reception area and the new guests checking in. I headed across the lobby, the lemon-fresh scent of floor cleaner hitting me. I made a note to tell the cleaning staff they’d done an excellent job. No one could tell we’d had a masquerade ball here the night before last.
Yesterday, I’d had the day off. Okay, I’d slept in, then made several calls to check in with the staff who’d been dismantling the ballroom.
And avoided all the texts from my friends. And wondered what the hell had gotten into me at the masquerade. Well, apart from the very fine cock of a man whose name I didn’t even know.
Heat hit my cheeks and I fought back a shiver. I wondered if anyone could tell that I’d fucked a complete stranger…in the ballroom of the hotel I managed.
Swallowing a moan, I held my pass card to the reader and hustled into the staff area. It’s not like it was stamped on my head. As I walked, I felt a twinge between my legs. I was still a little sore in sensitive places. Pausing, I pressed my back to the wall and closed my eyes. My hand touched my bracelet, toying with the stones.
It reminded me that he’d done that too. Instantly, I was flooded with memories. His hands on me, his deep voice murmuring to me, his mouth between my legs. Heat pooled in my belly. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d moved inside me.
“There you are.”
My eyes flew open, and I saw Sierra, Jazz, and Allie. I’d managed to avoid even my assistant this morning. Sierra wore a Windward Mountain Resort polo shirt, Jazz was in a floral dress, and Allie wore her dark-brown housekeeping uniform. It consisted of slim-line pants, and a tunic-style top with a square neckline and small hotel logo.
“We didn’t see you at the end of the masquerade,” Sierra said. “And you didn’t text me back yesterday.”
Jazz raised a brow. “She didn’t answer mine either. You were answering emails, so at least I knew you were alive.”
Allie propped a hand on her hip. “I hope you didn’t sneak out of the masquerade and go to bed.”
“She didn’t.” Jazz looked a little smug. “I saw her dancing with a guy.”
Sierra grinned. “Really?”
Jazz nodded. “He was a long drink of tall, dark, and handsome.”
“Good for you,” Allie said. “I danced with this one guy, but I don’t think my toes will ever recover.”
“Did you kiss him?” Sierra asked.
“Um…” Suddenly my brain decided to stop working.
Jazz tilted her head. “Why are you blushing?”
I clapped my hands over my cheeks. “No. I’m just hot. It’s hot in here.”
“No, it’s not.” Allie’s gaze narrowed.
“Tessa, you’re all flustered,” Sierra added.
“Oh, my God, Tessa Ashford,” Allie said. “Did you sleep with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?”
My eyes widened. “Um…”
Sierra squealed. “Was he a guest? Girl, don’t tell me you broke all your rules for once?”
“I don’t know if he was a guest.” I covered my face. “We…had sex on the mezzanine.”
My friends all made wild noises.
Sierra clapped her hands and bounced. Jazz was beaming. Allie shook her head and grinned.
“Responsible, respectable Tessa Ashford had wild sex at the masquerade.” Allie’s face was gleeful. She clapped a hand over her chest. “I’m scandalized.”
“Girl, we are all a bit envious,” Jazz said.
Sierra grabbed my arm. “Was it good?”
I blew out a breath. “Best sex of my life.”
They squealed again.
“What’s his name?” Sierra asked. “Are you going to see him again? Did you see him yesterday?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know his name. I kind of freaked out after and ran.”
Sierra pouted. “Oh.”
Allie’s hand gripped my shoulder. “Probably for the best. Reality tends to ruin these things. You find out he’s an in-debt accountant from Colorado Springs who’s still married and has three kids. It kind of bursts the bubble.”
“You have to let that bad date go, Allie,” Sierra muttered.
I straightened. “It was just one night to escape everything. Today, it’s back to work. And the best thing, I have a giant check to give the children’s charity.”
“And memories of an earth-shattering orgasm,” Allie added.
Sierra snorted.
“Three,” I corrected.
My friends all went silent, staring at me.
“Three?” Allie said. “In one hot encounter at a ball.”
I nodded.
“I need Hector to man up,” Jazz muttered.
Sierra blinked. “Maybe you shouldn’t have let that one get away.”
“Ladies.”
Our heads jerked up. Everett was studying us. God, I hoped he hadn’t heard anything.
“Did I miss a memo for a staff meeting… in the hallway?”
“No.” I flicked my braid back over my shoulder and stepped forward. “We were just reminiscing about the masquerade.”
“And how some men are such amazing givers,” Allie added.
I glared at her.
“To the charity.” She smiled innocently.
“I need to go and do my walk-around. Don’t you all have work to do?” I hurried away and escaped back into the lobby.
The masquerade was over and I’d never see my mystery man again. It was for the best. But as I crossed the lobby, I found myself studying every tall man there, wondering if any of them were him.
Stop it, Tessa. My phone dinged. I pulled it out and saw an email from Langston. I groaned.
Subject: Good morning
Dear Ms. Ashford,
I realize the transition to the Langston Hotels group is a challenging time, and I understand that I can be a little demanding at times.
The master of understatement. I snorted as I read the rest of the email.
I just wanted to acknowledge your hard work.
Regards,
Ambrose Langston
I frowned. What the hell had happened to Langston? He’d either had a near-death experience and reassessed his life, or he’d gotten laid.
Shaking my head, I made a beeline for the concierge desk and checked my watch. I had paperwork I needed to go over, and I needed to check that all the masquerade decorations were safely packed away in storage.
“Morning, Tessa.”
Jolting, I spun and pressed a hand to my chest. Our head concierge never made a sound. He moved with this liquid walk, silent and efficient.
Add in the dark looks, and the female guests loved him.
“Enzo, how many times have I warned you not to sneak up on me?”
The corners of his lips quirked. “Three hundred and eleven.”
“It has to be more than that.”
“Sorry, boss.”
He didn’t look sorry at all. I wagged a finger at him. “I told you not to call me boss. Walk with me.” He fell into step with me. “How’s everything today?”
“Good. It’s been a smooth morning.”
“I’ll take smooth.”
Enzo nodded. “No shouting guests, no dead bodies —I count that as a win.”
We tried to avoid situations like that, but they happened.
“I did have one irate wife last night. Caught her husband staying here with… a younger model.”
I groaned. “Why don’t people just get a divorce?”
He shrugged. “Why do people get married in the first place? Anyway, I calmed her down and gave her the number of a good divorce lawyer. Plus, a free cocktail.”
And avoided a scene. I thanked the hotel gods every day for Enzo Rossi turning up here looking for work two years ago. “Thank you.”
“Tessa!” Lara jogged over from the reception desk. Her face was pale and pinched.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She licked her lips. “I just got a call.”
I waited. “And?”
She dragged in a breath.
“Langston is on his way,” Coral yelled from the desk. “It’s got her panties in a twist.”
A muscle ticked in my eye. I focused on Lara. “What?”
“He’s coming. Here.”
There went my dream that he’d forgotten about us. “When?”
“Now,” Lara squeaked.
My spine stiffened, but I kept my face blank. “Is he driving up?”
My receptionist shook her head. “Helicopter, with two of his executive team. He’ll be here in forty minutes.”
Oh, hell . “Talk to Chef. Have him on standby to do a nice lunch for them.”
Lara nodded.
“What do you need from me?” Enzo asked.
I rubbed my temple. “Just do your thing and keep things running smoothly. Spread the word that Langston is on the way, and everyone is to be on their best behavior.”
“You got it.”
I quickly finished my walkthrough, my gut churning. It was going to be fine. He’d listen. He was an excellent businessman. But I knew from his one visit that he was also like a contained storm. A handsome, arrogant one.
He was intelligent, but from the two hours I’d spent with him, not to mention his overbearing emails, I got the impression he didn’t see people or care about them. He just saw cogs that he expected to carry out their function. He had his eye on the prize, on the next acquisition.
I’d hoped not to deal with him again.
I figured he’d be involved in the purchase, then hopefully leave us alone. It was a pipe dream, but still, the girl could hope.
I crossed the great room. It was one of my favorite places in the hotel. The huge stone fireplace was striking but welcoming, and large chandeliers glittered overhead. I loved the space. It acted as our casual lounge, where guests could relax, get a casual meal or drink. Out the giant floor-to-ceiling windows, the green-covered mountains beckoned.
My real fear was that Langston was coming here and that he’d tear out everything good. He’d leave the place shiny and soulless, and worse, lay off good people.
I straightened my shoulders. I was the manager. My people depended on me.
Then a thought hit me.
The owner’s office hadn’t been cleaned out. Crap, I’d been storing holiday decorations in there.
I hurried into the office area.
Sierra stepped out of her office. “Tessa, you need to sign these forms?—”
“Not now.”
She frowned at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Ambrose Langston is on his way.”
She gasped. “For how long?”
“Let’s hope it’s only for a few hours.”
Allie stepped into the corridor, studying a tablet. She was no doubt assessing what guest rooms still needed cleaning this morning.
“Allie?” I called out.
She turned and cocked a brow.
“I need the owner’s office cleaned out.”
The urgency in my tone made her straighten. “How long have I got?”
“Thirty minutes.”
She nodded. “On it.”
I pressed my hands together. “Thank you.” I spun. “All right, let’s get everything shipshape. I’m sure Mr. Langston won’t be here for very long.”
I just had to survive for a few hours.