Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Brooke was running late.
It was only five minutes, but with her schedule, that five minutes could prove disastrous: setting off a domino effect that would throw the whole morning out of sync.
She’d been awake most of the night, tossing and turning, and had only drifted off a few minutes before her alarm rang, leaving her sleepy and disoriented.
She would have given anything for another couple of hours of sleep, but there was no time to spare, and she raced to get to work.
Her cell phone rang just as she was pulling up at the Sandy Lane Hotel. She fumbled to answer, trapping the handset against her shoulder as she scrambled out of the car.
“Can’t talk!” she yelped, struggling to tuck her blouse in and make sure her underwear wasn’t showing.
“Sorry, I was just checking in on your date last night,” Eliza’s voice came. “Did it turn around at all?”
“Nope.” Brooke flew through the back doors and down the polished hallway towards her office. “I’m taking a break from men for the foreseeable future.”
“Now, don’t be rash,” Eliza laughed. “There are plenty more fish in the sea.”
“Or crabs,” Brooke muttered, remembering Doug’s lifelong passion.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Brooke paused, noticing a vase of wilting hydrangeas on the table. She’d have to talk to someone about that. “Thanks for trying, but I think I’m safer staying out of the dating pool.”
And away from hot men in dark alleyways.
“Sorry to hear it. Are we still on for drinks this weekend?” Eliza asked. “It’s karaoke at this bar I know, it should be fun.”
“I’m in,” Brooke agreed, smiling. “Just as long as I don’t have to sing!”
She hung up, stashing her phone in her purse and grabbing the massive vase with both hands so she could hoist it out of sight.
Better a polished table than a vase of dead flowers; she prided herself on attention to detail, and she knew it was the little things that mattered in a boutique hotel like this.
They may not have the flashy budgets of the larger, luxurious resorts, but their guests went away raving about the small, elegant touches—and rebooked for next year.
She shoved her office door open with her shoulder and backed into the room, only to find her boss waiting inside.
“Ash!” she exclaimed, surprised to see him there, every inch the meticulous businessman in a smart shirt and jacket. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
“I had some business in the city, so I thought I’d drop by and see how things were going.” Ash Callahan looked at the flowers questioningly, and Brooke hurried to set them down and check her schedule for the day.
“Of course, I have a staff meeting now, but we could sit down at noon? I’ve been looking over the occupancy rates, and I already have some proposals I’d love to discuss.”
Ash gave an approving nod. “That sounds fine. I’ll see you then.”
To Brooke’s relief, the rest of her day ran smoothly.
She breezed through her meetings—with the help of three cups of coffee—and even had time to pull her notes together so that by the time she joined Ash on the terrace, she had a neat file for him laying out her efficiency savings and future goals.
“Weddings have always been a consistent business for the hotel,” she explained, taking him through the plans. “I propose we really grow that opportunity. I’ve already reached out to local vendors about partnerships, so we can offer a full-service package to brides.”
“A kind of one-stop shop for their wedding?” Ash looked interested.
“Exactly. These days, most of them are juggling florists, catering, décor, and hiring an expensive wedding planner on top of that,” Brooke said, feeling nervous.
She shouldn’t be worried; in the few months since she’d taken the reins, she’d already overseen several successful events, and had a summer schedule booked solid.
Still, Brooke wanted to impress him. “By providing a package that connects them directly with the best vendors, we save them time and stress. And those local relationships mean we can jump to the head of the line for bookings. In summer season, you can’t find a free linen rental in a hundred-mile radius,” she added with a rueful grin.
Ash flipped through the rest of her folder, then smiled.
“I have to say, I’m impressed. This could be the niche the hotel has been looking for.
” He looked around at the terrace, full of guests enjoying their lunch, and the magnificent sea views.
“Just between us, I’ve been thinking about selling this property. ”
Brooke’s stomach dropped.
“My wife, Noelle, is pregnant,” he continued, “and so much of my business is further south in Beachwood Bay, I want to spend more time close to home. But it seems like you have some great ideas here. Plus, you won’t be needing me around for any of it,” he added. “Which is just fine in my book.”
Brooke let out a breath of relief. “Well, congratulations,” she said. “And thank you for your vote of confidence. I know this place is small compared to some of your other resorts,” she continued, “but I think there’s a great opportunity. I mean, who wouldn’t want to get married here?”
Ash grinned. “Noelle and I did it barefoot on the beach,” he said, with clear affection. “Just family, a few friends; we couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
“Don’t say that too loud,” Brooke joked, glancing around. “We want them ordering five hundred white roses and a flock of doves.”
“We offer that?” Ash asked.
“Just as soon as I find an aviary with some quiet, well-trained birds.” Brooke grinned.
“If anyone can, it’s you,” Ash laughed. “I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with the place. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”
Brooke smiled, already imagining the booked events calendar and parade of social media posts—all tagged with the Sandy Lane location.
With some work and careful planning, she could make the hotel the wedding destination of choice on the Cape, and prove to Ash that it was worth hanging onto the property for a while longer.
And if all her grand plans kept her working overtime, distracted from the heartache and shame she was still trying to outrun?
Even better.
Some people would call it denial; Brooke preferred to call it being productive. Archer had already thrown her career plans off track back in the city, and she was determined not to let that ever happen again. And maybe, just maybe, her work could tip the karmic scales a little closer to even again.
She’d been the reason for a marriage falling apart, so it only seemed fitting that she help as many other unions get off on the right foot, and provide the wedding of their dreams.
From now on, she would have a one-track mind: weddings and work, yes. Men, no!