Chapter 5
Chapter Five
CAROLINA
S ummer and fall were busy with conferences. I was almost grateful I didn't have to be in Colorado for a few months. It gave me time to try to put that night with Oliver out of my mind.
The only problem was, whenever I'd go out on a date, I'd compare every one to Oliver. Even though we only spent a few short hours together, he'd made an impression on me. He was a gentleman that night, always making sure I was on the same page as him.
I couldn't seem to make a connection with anyone. I was afraid that Oliver had ruined me for other men.
In November, I was back in Telluride for a bridal conference. These were always huge events, and I was excited I'd started getting more of them. There were a ton of vendors, and they all had specific requests for what they needed at their booths.
It was my job to ensure that everything ran smoothly. I ensured that the vendors got their wares to their booths, they were able to set up without any issues, and that the guests could easily navigate the room.
It was my job to make sure everyone was happy. The only difference with bridal shows was that the guests could be more high-strung. Some of the brides tended to be a bit more demanding than, say, someone at a conference to see an author.
I prided myself on being the calm in the storm, to anticipating everyone's needs and ensuring they were met. Everyone left happy. That was my motto. And I wouldn't let anyone or anything stand in my way.
I rolled my suitcase up to the entrance of the resort, my hands trembling and my heart racing. Would I see Oliver on this trip? Or would I be able to avoid him? I'd been here a few times before, and I couldn't remember ever seeing him.
I suspected he kept to his office and only spent time in the bar or restaurant when his family was present. I vacillated between wanting to see him and needing to avoid him. I hoped I'd built everything up in my head, and that it wasn't as amazing as I remembered. I couldn't forget he was just another guy. One who hadn't called or texted since our last exchange in April.
He wasn't as attractive as I remembered or as attentive. He'd made me feel like what we had was different, special. And I hadn't been able to completely let go of it.
I checked into the hotel and was given a welcome basket from the resort. This was fairly common with most good hotels. They loved conferences and wanted us to return. I wasn't the one in charge of booking locations, but if there was a problem, I'd pass that along to my client.
When he handed me the key with the room number, my heart skipped a beat. It was the same room as last time. Had Oliver arranged this? Did he know I was coming?
I took the basket and my luggage to the elevator, not relaxing until I was behind the closed door. There was nothing in the room, no note or other indication that Oliver knew I was here. I even checked the basket for any sign that he was aware of my presence .
Once I'd hung up my dresses, skirts, and blouses so they wouldn't get wrinkled, I changed into comfortable shoes and made my way to the conference room. I took my tablet that held the table arrangements. I'd painstakingly organized things so that everyone should have enough room. Some of the booths had a mirror so brides could try on dresses, and others just needed a table with brochures.
I'd forwarded the table arrangement to Eli a few weeks ago, and he'd promised he’d have everything in order when I arrived. I set the table signs on each one after I verified that it was in the right spot.
I'd gotten halfway through the chart when the door opened. I stiffened, clutching the table assignment cards against my chest.
Was it Oliver?
When I turned, I saw Eli striding toward me with a smile. "Miss Cromwell, it's good to see you again."
He shook my hand, holding it with his free one for a second longer as if he cherished our connection. It was rare to be greeted by the owner when I was setting up for a conference. It showed that the Wildes were serious about customer service.
I smiled. "It's good to see you as well."
Eli gestured around the room. "As promised, the tables are arranged according to your chart."
I nodded, following his motion. "So far, everything is set up perfectly."
"You'll let me know if there are any issues. I believe you have my cell." Eli's voice was warm and welcoming.
"I'm sure there won't be." It was rarer still for the owner to give me his cell phone number to use if there were any emergencies that came up. If it wasn't for Oliver, I'd be clamoring to host more conferences in this location. Unfortunately, I had to be on guard because my traitorous body wanted another night with him .
"If you need anything during your stay, please let the staff know. They've been instructed to treat you as a VIP."
"Oh, that's not necessary." I wondered if that was something Oliver had insisted on, and if so, it went against my initial assessment that he wasn't intimately involved with the conferences.
"We enjoy having you. Hopefully next year we'll have a spa for you to enjoy, and maybe you can stay a few extra days in our luxury cabins."
"You're building luxury cabins on the property?" That would be a selling point for my clients. It was a nice option.
"That's the plan."
"I think that's a good move."
Eli grinned. "I think so too. But my accountant is a bit more conservative. I want to be the premier ski resort in the area."
"You have stiff competition, but I think you have a unique location here." I was thinking of Breckenridge and Aspen.
"Telluride is a little different than the luxury resorts. We're tucked away here in the mountains. Some say it's a safe haven from the rest of the world."
Telluride was an escape, a reprieve from my life. I liked that description. It made me lean toward seeking Oliver out or at least enjoying one more night with him if he was interested. It would be so easy to give into temptation. But I had no idea if Oliver had given me a second thought after our text exchange.
He could have reached out at any point, but he hadn't. I'd almost anticipated it as this conference got closer. Surely, Oliver knew I'd be the one organizing it. But I wasn't positive.
"I'll let you get back to it."
"Thanks, Eli. I always appreciate the hospitality." The Wildes were different from any other owners I'd ever encountered. Mainly because I rarely met the owners of any of the resorts I'd stayed at. They weren't usually even on the premises. But this was a family-owned business, and it showed.
I tucked away that tidbit that Eli had given me about Oliver. He hadn't given any indication that he knew about me and Oliver's night together. We never talked about keeping it a secret, but I was glad he did.
I returned to the task, enjoying the peace and quiet. Tomorrow, the vendors would arrive, and it would be chaos. There was always someone who felt like they didn't get enough space, or a new spat between vendors and they couldn't possibly be able to sit at adjacent tables.
When the room was as ready as it could be for tomorrow, I carefully closed the doors and, against my best judgment, went to the bar. I sensed the Wilde brothers in the room, at the pool table like the last time I was here.
My heart raced as I ordered my usual drink. I wasn't sure what I was doing here. I never hung out at the bar except for my last night. Was I testing things with Oliver? Giving him an invitation to my room?
I drank my drink and watched the football game on the TV above the bar. I snuck a glance at Oliver, but he was talking to his brothers about something.
When I finished my drink, I paid my tab, then headed toward the elevator. I needed all the rest I could get tonight. Starting tomorrow morning, I'd be running for the next few days.
I ordered room service and took a long, hot shower. Then I settled onto the bed to answer last minute panicked emails from vendors who were concerned about how they'd get their wares into the conference room.
I'd sent out emails on everything from setup to rooms to meals, but not everyone paid attention until they were packing for the trip. I answered each one. By the time I was done, it was late, and I needed to get to sleep.
I wasn't sure what it meant that Oliver hadn't sought me out. I was here in a professional capacity, and we'd never talked about seeing each other again. Either he didn't want to, or he was respecting the professional boundaries.
I was torn because I wanted to see him again. No one had ever occupied my mind like this before, especially from one encounter.
I was here to run a bridal show, not get tangled up in the idea of Oliver Wilde. Besides, I worked with his brother and his family, by extension. I had no business engaging in an affair. Because that's all it could ever be. I lived in Maine to be near my sister and mother. I wouldn't be moving to Colorado.
When I got the urge to text Oliver, I revisited the feeling when I realized my father wasn't coming back. That his request for a divorce was real and final.
I couldn't trust a relationship with anyone else. They could leave or fall out of love. There were no guarantees in life.
The next morning, I was in the cavernous conference room where there were open moving boxes strewn all over the room, and each booth was in various stages of unpacking. As I walked by, someone would inevitably call out to me to help with a sign or setup. I had a knack for presentation and fixing things. It was why I was so good at my job.
By evening, my stomach was rumbling, and I was exhausted. My feet and head ached, but I'd be here until the space was empty because I held the keys to the room.
A staff person approached me with a bag. "Eli said to bring this to you."
"Oh, I didn't ask for anything."
She handed the bag to me. "He thought you might be hungry."
"That's so thoughtful of him." When I reached for a tip, the woman backed away with her hands up. "Tip was already taken care of."
I ducked outside, hoping I'd have a few minutes of quiet before someone else needed something from me. As much as I enjoyed my job, the conferences themselves could be physically and mentally exhausting. It was hard to remember to take care of my personal needs. I was being pulled in so many directions.
I found a few tables near ceiling-to-floor windows with gorgeous views of the mountains. Other than in my room, I didn't get much of a chance to enjoy the mountain range. One of these times, I'd need to rent some skis and take a lesson.
Skiing wasn't in the budget when we were growing up. It was an expensive sport, but now I could afford to indulge. Maybe. If I was careful the rest of the year.
I opened the carton, the smell of chicken and rosemary potatoes permeating the area. My stomach rumbled in response, and I dug in. I didn't look up until my stomach was full. It hit the spot, and now I wouldn't need to order room service when I finally got back to my room. The gesture was thoughtful and very much appreciated.
The woman had said Eli sent the food, so I took a few seconds to text him a thank you.
Eli: You're welcome. Let me know if you need anything else.
The Wildes were making it difficult not to recommend them to my other clients who could use a better location for their events. I was constantly steering them to the friendlier venues. But some of them preferred warmer venues by the water. But the threat of hurricanes in some locations caused me a lot of stress.
The only worry in Colorado was storms, but so far, we hadn't run into any. Most of my conferences were in the spring and fall months. But I had one scheduled in Telluride for Christmas week. A bazaar where they were selling holiday crafts and food. It should be fun, and I was looking forward to it. The only worry was that I'd run into Oliver and I'd have no self-control.
I had rules about love and relationships. Never get too invested in any one person. They always let you down. Or at least men did. I couldn't forget how my father had so callously discarded my mother and, by default, me and my sister.
I shouldn't be thinking about Oliver Wilde or hoping to run into him. I was a professional, and I needed to focus on the bridal show. Tomorrow, ticketed guests would arrive, and they would add to my workload.
The next day, I placed one of the volunteers in charge of the line of customers, ensuring they gave the appropriate wristband to each one with their timed entry. Then I walked the room to ensure that everything looked perfect.
There was a murmur of anticipation in the room. Vendors hoped to get their name out there, meet more customers, and increase their business. I wanted the same thing. I just needed this event to go off without a hitch. If there was a problem, there'd be complaints on social media, and my name and reputation would be dragged through the mud. I'd seen it happen to other planners, but I vowed never to let it happen to me.
When I signaled for the door to open, the brides burst through with a mix of laughter and excited chatter. This was an event they'd looked forward to, and I wanted to ensure it met their expectations.
I moved from one emergency to another, putting a fire out each time. There were people who got into disputes waiting in line and vendors who had issues with their neighboring booths. I handled each one with grace and empathy.
To get through each scenario, I thought how would I want to be treated in this situation. When Eli delivered dinner to me again, I wondered what I could do to return the favor .
At the end of the night, I put my feet up, suspecting they were swollen. I took pain meds for my headache and tried to wind down enough to sleep. By the end of the second day, I was convinced I wasn't going to see Oliver. He was either avoiding me or had no idea I was here.
He seemed like someone who got lost in spreadsheets and didn't get involved in the regular day-to-day operations of the resort. He was the opposite of Eli, who walked the property, ensuring everything was running smoothly. I saw him at least once a day, and he made sure to stop by and say hello. He'd delivered meals to me, and I wondered if Oliver had anything to do with it.
I couldn't let my heart get involved in this. I couldn't assume things were happening that weren't. That's how my mom got the rug pulled out from under her. She assumed my father was faithful. That when he said he loved her, he did.
I operated on actions. Eli sent me dinner. It was his nice gesture. Not Oliver's. I wouldn't make assumptions or romanticize the situation. Eli was a good business owner. Nothing more.
When the vendors were cleaning up, Eli popped his head into the room. "I take it everything went well."
I smiled. "It was amazing. Everyone was happy. Thank you so much."
Eli beamed. "We aim to please. I'll be happy if I see another bridal show on our schedule next year."
"I need to talk to the owner, but I can't imagine why they wouldn't want to return to this location." The mountains were the perfect backdrop. Besides, the brides weren't interested in much more than dresses, cakes, and the color of their invitations. I don't think they even bothered to rent skis or to take a tour of the outdoors.
"Is there anything I can do to make the rest of your stay enjoyable and relaxing?"
"Tomorrow, I'll make sure this room looks like it did before the bridal vendors showed up. Then I'll relax and enjoy one of your restaurants."
Eli nodded. "We have a fundraising event tomorrow night. It's one my sister puts on. You should come."
I shook my head. "Oh, I couldn't impose on a family event."
"It's for anyone who wants to come, and you'll be my guest. I'll text you the details."
"Thank you," I said as he waved a hand and headed out of the room. My impression of Eli was that he was always working, always on the go. He didn't pause for long, preferring the fast-forward button.
It would be rude to decline an invitation to the event, but it meant I was likely to run into Oliver. I wasn't sure it was a good idea. But at the same time I wanted to see him.