“Would you like my professional opinion?”
“Can I afford it?” he teased. “You do have a reputation for being the best.”
“Consider this a freebie.”
He tilted his head for her to continue. “Well, to put it plainly, your marketing and advertising is somewhat subpar. Frankly, it’s garbage. Rubbish.”
Double ouch. “Hey, don’t get technical now.”
She laughed out loud. “Seriously. There’s nothing on the website to compel me to click Book Now. Aside from a few pretty pictures of the beach, you don’t really say anything very enticing about attractions, nearby landmarks, activities for the guests…”
“Yet you booked it anyway.”
“Like I said, I was running out of options and grew concerned everything would sell out. It’s competitive enough around Christmas under the best of circumstances. And it’s really important to me to get away from the city around the holidays.”
He could guess why. It was hard to forget that she and Jack had planned their nuptials around the holiday season. A wedding during Christmas in Manhattan. It was supposed to have been so romantic. Until it had all come crumbling down.
He’d been so quick to take Jack’s word for everything and toss the full brunt of responsibility for the mess on her shoulders. Alex’s words echoed through his mind. Are you sure you’re not confusing cause and effect, partner?
Perhaps he had been. All this time.
She continued, bringing his focus back to the matter at hand—his resort’s lack of a real media presence that would draw more potential guests. “And I have to be honest, now that I’m here, nothing really compels me to consider returning. Our mutual history aside.”
Sighing, he answered her. “You’re actually not telling me anything I don’t already know. But you have awakened me to the urgency of it all. It’s just one more thing on the list. We’ve been interviewing various marketing firms. None seem to fit the bill.”
“If I were you, I would make a decision fairly quick.”
She wasn’t wrong. The implications of the failure to do so weren’t lost on him. This was all so new. Not for the first time, Reid wondered if he’d bitten off more than he could chew. The differences between running a high-rise hotel in a metropolitan city and running a tropical resort were surprisingly vast.
He’d be even more lost if he didn’t have Alex by his side. But clearly it wasn’t enough.
“Any suggestions?”
“Are you asking for me to work on my vacation?” she asked, a teasing whimsical tone in her voice.
He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m shameless.”
They’d reached the pier that moored the excursion boats. A couple of them were still out, it seemed. He was due to participate in a few of the outings himself, to get a feel for the experiences as the owner. He rested his arms over the steel railing and let his hands dangle over the side. Several blue-gold fish could be seen swimming right under the surface of the water.
“You’re absolutely right,” he told her. “About communicating better regarding all that we have to offer.” The excursions were a prime example. Sure, there were chalkboards and newsletters written up daily detailing the outings available to their guests. But they were only that, mere announcements. Nothing describing the thrilling adventures waiting for those looking for extra experiences, more than just beach volleyball or swim aerobics.
A glimmer of an idea began to form in his head. Reid knew he was too tired and too distracted—a fact that had everything to do with the woman standing next to him—to voice the notion aloud just yet.
But he certainly had some thinking to do. And when he did think it all through, he could only hope Celeste would be on board with his suggestion.
CELESTE AWOKE TO the sound of a piece of paper being shuffled under her door.
What the…?
It couldn’t be the bill. She wasn’t due to check out for several days still. Honestly, if they had confused her with another guest, Reid was going to get an earful about the way his resort was run. A glance at the clock told her it was past nine thirty. That was surprising. She never usually slept this late. But she’d had a restless night. Every time she’d closed her eyes, she’d been met with a set of bright golden ones. Visions of Reid’s smile as they walked along the beach. The way he’d glowered at the flirty bartender when he’d approached her after her dinner.
When was the last time she’d taken a walk with a man? She couldn’t recall. Had she and Jack visited any beaches? She didn’t think so. Probably the reason she preferred to be on a tropical island this time of year.
For that matter, when was the last time she’d simply been with a man? Out on a date? Or in a capacity that wasn’t strictly professional? Too long. With groggily heavy limbs, she climbed out of bed, suppressing a groan of frustration. Such thoughts were only going to make her miserable, thinking about all she didn’t have in her life.
There’s a side of you a man like Jack can’t handle.
Celeste shook her head to push thoughts of yesterday’s conversation aside.
The item slid under her door turned out to be an envelope with a card inside. Curiouser and curiouser. Her heart thumped in her chest as she removed the card and read its contents.
Please join me for breakfast if you haven’t eaten already. I have a few matters I’d like to discuss. It will be worth your time. I’ll be in my office until you’re ready.
Reid
What in the world could he have in mind? A cry of warning screamed in her head. His cell number was printed on the top half of the card. She should just call him and tell him she had indeed eaten already. Or that she wasn’t available. Or just outright tell him she wasn’t interested in seeing him or in anything he may have to say. Though that would be a lie. She was more than intrigued. And more than a little excited at the prospect of seeing him again today. She could hardly get him out of her mind last night. And all the things he’d told her.
As if that wasn’t reason enough right there to turn him down.
The man was her ex-fiancé’s good friend for heaven’s sake. Two short days ago, he practically cornered her on the beach and accused her of being a scrooge. No doubt he still harbored suspicions that she’d ruined her ex’s life. After all, what else could he have meant when he’d said she was too much for someone like Jack to handle? Most likely that he thought her too uncultured, too unpolished to sully someone like Jack. Or Reid Evanson, for that matter. Somehow, Reid must have seen straight through her three years ago.
No. There was no reason to go see him.
So why had she walked over to the closet and taken out her prettiest sundress? The red one she knew brought out the hue of her olive skin. With thread-thin straps and a flowy skirt that accented her curves.
The warning cry sounded again, telling her to put the dress back and crawl back into bed if she knew what was good for her.
She lay the dress out on the bureau instead and walked to the shower stall.
It wouldn’t hurt to just ask her, Reid thought as he waited impatiently in his office for Celeste’s response to his written invite. He’d long ago given up any pretense of trying to get work done and now just stood staring