A Bachelor At The Wedding

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The rebellion had been quelled. Momentarily. Stephanie sighed, her body sagging with relief. Would she ever manage to last the day?

“How are you doing, Stephanie? Everything under control?”

Matt’s voice put her on instant alert. She felt as if he’d just materialized beside her out of thin air. Like a character on Star Trek.

She stood up tall and forced a smile. “So far, so good. We got the breakfast service going and the complimentary spa treatments and water sports vouchers seem to be working.”

“Yes, a great idea. That should help.” Matt was dressed in fresh clothes, she noticed. A blue shirt, black pants and a charcoal-gray linen jacket and silk tie. His crisp attire made her feel even more crumpled. She made a mental note to check out the resort shops at some point, if she could.

As good as he looked in his outfit, she couldn’t help but remember what was underneath….

“Up early?”

“Um…yes. I was. I got up early and headed right over here.”

Liar, liar. Pants on fire, she chided herself.

“Really? What a shame. It was a beautiful morning. You should have taken a few minutes out on your patio. To check out the view.”

Stephanie felt her cheeks flame, but forced herself to keep a calm expression.

He knew. He just enjoyed playing games, didn’t he?

She looked up and met his eye. “I was in a rush today. Maybe tomorrow morning,” she answered smoothly, “when I have more time to enjoy it.”

His bland expression changed suddenly, looking surprised at her comeback.

I grew up in Brooklyn, pal. I already warned you, she added silently.

“I have some good news,” he said, changing the subject. “Some reinforcements from our hotels in Boca Raton and the Keys are flying in this morning to help out. You’re in charge of figuring out how to use them. I don’t even trust Drury to make toast, quite frankly,” Matt added, glancing over his shoulder.

The assignment and authority he’d just given her was a great compliment. Stephanie felt honored…and overwhelmed, but tried to stay cool.

“The priority right now is housekeeping. I guess I’ll put most of the helpers to work there and see how it goes.”

“Good strategy. I’ll be in meetings with the union reps all day. If you need me, send a message and I’ll get back to you.” Matt smiled at her. “Good luck.”

She smiled back, feeling suddenly close to him. “Good luck to you, too. I hope it goes well.”

“Cross your fingers. The sooner we can sort this all out, the sooner we get to go back to New York.”

Which couldn’t be soon enough for me, Stephanie thought. She forced a smile as he nodded and walked over to chat with Ben Drury. She couldn’t help but notice the women in the dining room, forks poised midway to their mouths as they checked Matt out.

If the guests really get restless, we can always have Matt swim laps in the hotel pool. That will at least keep the ladies away from the checkout desk.

Somewhat cheered by the news of more employees on the way, Stephanie headed for the lobby, her pad of strategy notes tucked under one arm. The assistant manager of accounting was manning the front desk. Stephanie was almost sure that Shirley Conrad didn’t have the foggiest idea of what she was doing, but at least she had shown up for work this morning and was trying her best.

“How’s it going?” Stephanie asked her.

“Pretty quiet. A few couples asked me about flights off the island today, but so far, nobody’s checked out early.”

“I think they’re all still getting their fill of the free breakfast. Let’s hope all the carbs make them want to nap.”

“If the pancakes don’t work, try some piña coladas.”

“Excellent suggestion. Happy Hour may start a little early today. Like in about…fifteen minutes.”

Shirley giggled. “Rev up the blenders. Anything for the cause.”

“That’s the spirit.” Stephanie smiled as she slipped behind the desk to check the registration activity. The front desk had been quiet, just as Shirley reported. A good sign. Though it was still early yet.

She heard the sound of arguing, more like low-level hissing and looked up to see a man and woman loaded down with suitcases, golf clubs and tote bags as they stumbled across the lobby.

“Our first customers. Let’s see if we can get them to stay,” she whispered to Shirley.

The two women ran out from behind the desk and approached the couple. “Here, let us help you with those bags,” Stephanie said smoothly. She grabbed a suitcase in each hand and soon had it placed on the bell cart Shirley rolled over.

“We’re checking out. The reservation is under the name Ames, Harold and Alice. We were supposed to stay to Tuesday, but we’re checking out,” the man said belligerently. He dumped his golf clubs on the cart with a deafening rattle. “I have a good mind to ask for my money back on the days we spent here, too.”

“Harold…please.” The woman tugged his sleeve. “It wasn’t that bad….”

“Now you just let me handle this, Alice. I’m not paying for ‘not that bad.’ I’m paying for deluxe. And I certainly didn’t get it. Not once the help walked off.”

“We came here for our anniversary. Thirty years,” the wife explained. Stephanie thought she saw the woman glance at her spouse and roll her eyes, which Stephanie read as the universal sign of disbelief that she’d lasted so long in her marriage.

“Thirty years? Congratulations,” Stephanie crooned. “That’s really an achievement. If only we’d known you were celebrating such a big event, Mr. Ames. I would have been happy to upgrade you to one of our VIP suites. Very lovely. A private pool and Jacuzzi. Private beachfront, too. Did you get the champagne dinner or the his and hers massages at the spa?”

She knew very well that Harold and Alice had not been given any of these perks and upgrades, and watched as Alice turned to her husband with a shocked expression.

“Harold…a beachfront suite. Free massages…”

“I heard. I heard.” He frowned, looking uncomfortable as he considered how foolish he might look, giving up his belligerent stance. “You’d do all that for us? Gratis, I mean?”

Stephanie shrugged. “Our gift to you. In honor of your anniversary.”

Harold glanced at Alice, who gave her husband a mournful look. “All right,” he said finally. “My wife wants to stay longer, so I guess we’ll stick it out.”

Stephanie nearly laughed at his self-sacrificing tone. She’d just agreed to hundreds of dollars of complimentary charges. It was a lot for free. But Stephanie knew that if one guest had a bad time at the hotel, they would go back home and tell ten others, and that would be thousands of dollars in business lost. But if they were pleased with their stay, that would translate to more new business.

“I think you’ll be very comfortable in your suite and if you need anything at all to make your stay more enjoyable, just let me know,” Stephanie added.

Shirley had already gone behind the desk and scanned the computer for an unoccupied suite that was ready for a check-in.

“We can put you in room 505. Just give me a minute and I’ll make the keys.”

“Don’t worry about the luggage,” Stephanie added. “I’ll find someone to bring it down to the room for you.”

Probably yours truly, she added silently.

“And don’t forget to check out all the complimentary services the hotel is offering this weekend—water sports, golf, tennis and spa treatments.”

“Golf? That sounds good to me,” Harold chuckled.

“I always wanted to try a seaweed wrap. They say it’s marvelous for your skin. I’m going to run down there right now, before the rush.” Alice kissed her husband on the cheek and trotted off toward the spa.

Harold collected his new key and pulled his golf clubs off the luggage cart. “Thanks for your help, miss,” he said to Stephanie. “See you around.”

With a cheerful, jaunty walk, he was off to the greens. Stephanie turned to Shirley and they joined in a long, relieved sigh. Shirley stuck out her hand and Stephanie shook it.

“Nice work.”

“Thanks, you too,” Stephanie replied.

“Yes, very nice work, ladies.” Matt appeared, coming out from an office door behind the reception desk.

Stephanie realized he must have been there all along, listening in to the exchange. Shirley looked surprised, then terrified, suddenly bowing her head and tapping away like mad on the computer keyboard.

Stephanie faced him. “It’s not nice to spy on people.”

“I wasn’t spying…and look who’s talking,” he replied, his eyebrows jumping up a notch.

She knew he was talking about his morning swim again.

She felt a blush creep up her neck and took a steadying breath.

Before she could frame a proper answer, Matt brushed by her and headed for the luggage cart.

“Are you taking that to the storage room?” Stephanie asked.

“I’m taking it to room 505,” he answered, pushing the cart with both hands. “Your talents are obviously needed here, on the battlefront.”

Stephanie was surprised to see him pitch in in such hands-on style. But he did seem like a hands-on type of guy, she noted. A good thing…and a bad thing. Though he’d so far never tried to get his hands on her, she was starting to have the oddest feeling it was just a matter of time.

She watched him push the cart away, putting his strong back and long legs into the job. She wondered how he’d ever gotten started in the hotel business and decided to ask him someday. She had a feeling it was an interesting story.

He was an interesting man. An unusual man. A dynamic personality and yet, with a gentle, charming side, too.

She respected him, she realized. Otherwise, she’d never be able to take all his guff.

But I’m not going to get involved with him, she added firmly, catching herself. No matter how much he flirts with me. Really…I’m just not.

Chapter Four

“Look…a van from the airport just pulled up. Oh, God. I hope it isn’t more guests!”

Stephanie nearly laughed out loud at Helen’s expression. it was the first time she’d ever seen a desk clerk terrified by approaching guests.

“Just take a deep breath. We’ll get through this.”

Stephanie walked across the lobby and then outside toward the van, which was now parked. The door opened and the passengers began emptying out.

A woman in a neat tan business suit approached and held out her hand. Stephanie spied the gold name tag on her lapel and recognized another Harding hotel employee.

She sighed with relief. The reinforcements had arrived.

She greeted each of them as they emerged, then led the group into the hotel for a quick meeting. She explained the situation and the plan to keep the guests happy that had been worked out the night before.

Everyone seemed very professional and eager to help in any way they could. There were only a dozen more bodies to put to work, but every pair of hands helped.

Stephanie gave them each assignments and they headed off in all directions. A short time later, another van of Harding employees arrived and she did the same.

At noon, she checked on the lunch service, another buffet, set up at the pool. Ben Drury decided to fire up the barbecue and wearing his chef’s hat again, happily flipped burgers, hot dogs, shrimp on skewers and grilled chicken breasts. The guests seemed content with the offerings.

Shirley reported that the front desk had checked out a few guests, but nothing extreme. Many seemed occupied on the beach and at the spa. The tactics to keep occupancy up seemed to be working, but just for a little insurance, Stephanie decided to take Helen’s advice and opened the beachfront bar with free blender drinks for all.

Then she called up the band that usually played Saturday night in the lounge, performing a mix of pop tunes and Caribbean sound. She asked them to come over immediately and start early, at the poolside. The group was happy to get the extra work.

The afternoon wore on. The makeshift housekeeping crew managed to get all the rooms in order. The makeshift kitchen staff managed to move from one meal to the next without too many problems. The day was passing quickly and Stephanie ran from crisis to crisis. Sticking her finger in one leak, as another sprang out somewhere else on the boat.

By some miracle, the hotel was up and operating with its makeshift staff. Though just barely. But all the guests seemed to be having a good time and hardly noticed.

That was some achievement, she thought.

But Nana did light a candle for me, she recalled.

She hadn’t seen Matt all day and guessed he was closed up in meetings. Which was just as well, since she didn’t like the idea of him spying on her, the way he had this morning. Especially while she was racing around in “insane mode.”

It was nearly seven o’clock when she finally sat down. She chose a quiet corner in the kitchen and sipped a diet soda. Her feet were aching, but she didn’t dare remove her sensible pumps, for fear of never getting them back on again.

“How are you holding up, Stephanie?” Ben walked over to her. He’d been working in the kitchen all day but seemed cheerful. He’d taken off his tall chef’s hat but still wore an apron.

“I’m good. As soon as this is over I’m getting a foot massage,” she added. “What the heck, I’ll get my entire body done.”

Ben laughed. “You go for it. You deserve it.”

“My sentiments exactly.” Matt suddenly appeared behind Ben and came to stand between them.