Prossers Bay Series

by Cheryl Phipps

  He would have to watch himself if he didn’t want to scare her off, but she was so tempting. To tease and to kiss, one of which he was good at and the other he was just waiting for the right moment to try. The resort had to come first, but he had time for Megan to come to the same conclusion as he had that whatever was between them wasn’t going to go away.

  Chapter 4

  To celebrate her new job, Megan invited Abby, Stephanie and Jeanne, the fourth member of their close-knit group, around for a girls’ night on the Saturday following her meeting with Jordan. Mia and Cody had gone to sleep quickly, giving Megan an early start to an evening of girl talk.

  When they were all settled with a glass of wine in hand, after questions about all the children were answered, the first discussion was naturally about Megan’s new job.

  “So, how did the interview go?”

  Stephanie had been hounding her all week about details and it seemed that she wasn’t about to let up.

  “I told you everything.” Megan tucked her legs underneath her, mentally preparing for the onslaught of her friends’ capacity for dissecting their lives in front of each other.

  “I’ve only heard it third-hand. Come on, Megan, tell us all about our handsome American.”

  Abby clinked her glass with Jeanne’s. “I bet he made a pass at her.”

  “He did not!”

  “So, he didn’t say anything about you two hooking up?” Stephanie waded in.

  “He was totally professional.”

  “That at least sounds like you like him a bit better than last time you saw him.” Jeanne sipped her wine while looking thoughtfully over the top of her glass at Megan.

  “What have these two been telling you, Jeanne?”

  “Only that you couldn’t stand the man, but were going to work for him anyway.”

  “I need the money. I’m not proud of ditching Abby, but he’s paying me a bucket load. End of story.” Megan couldn’t help feeling defensive, even though she knew the girls were only teasing.

  Abby sat down on the couch beside her. “Maybe we’ve gone a bit far, but no one’s saying you’ve done anything wrong. We’re very happy for you. Getting a great job with more money than I could possibly pay is what you needed to get ahead, and we respect that. You’ll be an amazing asset and Jordan knows it, even if he’s never seen you in action. And you’ll be able to do more for you and the girls. Maybe get out of Prossers Bay occasionally and see a bit more of the world.”

  Megan laughed. “I couldn’t imagine travelling far with Mia and Cody on my own. Anyway, I did have a life before I came to Prossers Bay. I’ve traveled plenty, and I don’t feel a burning desire to do it like I once did.”

  “You’ve never talked that much about your other life.” Jeanne, keen to hear more, sat on the other side of Megan.

  “I told you that I was in event management, based in Sydney. I had to organize and orchestrate all sorts of functions around Australia.”

  “Yes, you did, and that the twins’ father was your boss,” Abby offered.

  “And that the loser walked away from you when you were pregnant,” Stephanie added bluntly.

  Megan sipped at her wine and smiled ruefully. “Well, he didn’t walk away, exactly. Not in the beginning. He simply ignored me, refused to talk about babies and the future. Our future, to be precise. And he eventually stopped coming home.”

  “So you came back here,” Jeanne said softly from the chair opposite them.

  “Where else could I go? I grew up here. I went to school with Stephanie, and the two of us shared that house with Abby for years, and then, being Abby’s best friend, you made us a foursome, Jeanne. A team, something I couldn’t find outside Prossers Bay. No matter how I tried. Friends aren’t the same in a big city, let me tell you. As soon as they knew I was pregnant, it was as if I had a disease. People I thought of as friends stopped inviting me out, or even visiting. Not that I felt like socializing. I was so tired and lonely, waiting up all hours for Callum, who began working late. At least that’s what he said. I don’t care now, but at the time it was like I’d been abandoned. Without any relatives around, there was only one choice. I came home to my family – you guys.” She toasted them and it seemed, by the tears in their eyes, that they all felt the same way.

  She rubbed her palm across her face. “I was just so lucky, with this shack of my grandmother’s still being leased, that Jeanne had a vacancy in one of the cabins, and that Abby had a job available after the twins were old enough to leave.”

  “You could have stayed with me. We could have split the rent and you’d have had income from this place,” Stephanie mused.

  “I know, and I was grateful to you for the offer. But let’s be honest. You and two babies wouldn’t have been a happy marriage. Not when you live over the local craft store, in two tiny rooms that we’d all have to share.” She shivered at the idea of it. This place was barely big enough as it was, but at least it had separate bedrooms.

  “Anyway, you managed on your own, which is amazing.” Abby clinked glasses again.

  “I had you guys, so I wasn’t totally going it alone.”

  Jeanne sighed. “Just accept a bit of praise from people who know what juggling a family and work is like.”

  “I have nothing to offer on that score. Anyway, I’m dying to know what you thought of the resort,” Stephanie demanded.

  “It’s just gorgeous. The layout is exceptional, and done so that the natural fauna and buildings blend and don’t upset the aesthetics of the place. It’s been planned for every comfort, and set out so that you can mix with other guests or enjoy privacy in your own little piece of paradise.”

  “Listen to you, sounding like a travel brochure,” Stephanie teased. “Did you check out the spa?”

  Megan sighed, dreamily. “Whatever you’ve been told couldn’t do it justice. It’s freaking amazing, and I wanted to make an appointment right then. I brought some brochures to show you.”

  Megan retrieved them from her bag and they elicited lots of oohs and ahhhs. Unanimously, they agreed that it should be on their list of things to do.

  “If Max asks you girls what I want for any birthday or our anniversary, then just hand him this.” Abby waved the brochure at them.

  “Ditto for Allan. Although he might have a fit at the cost. Is there nothing cheaper for people like me, who have very limited spending powers?” Jeanne asked.

  “I have a few ideas about that, and some other things at the resort,” Megan said with a huge grin.

  “What sort of things?”

  “Cheaper versions that would bring in the business-minded locals who, in turn, might be happy to give visitors a plug for the resort.”

  “Sounds intriguing. What does Jordan think?”

  “I haven’t mentioned it, and I guess I should work there a while before I do.”

  “Yes, lull him into a false sense of your easygoing nature.”

  Megan slapped Stephanie with the brochure. “I am easygoing.”

  “Sure you are.”

  Megan took a sip of the wine and sighed. “I hope I’m doing the right thing.”

  “Oh, sweetie, of course you are.” Abby fetched the wine bottle and topped them all up. “It’s a great opportunity to get back into a career. Look at it like a stepping stone.”

  “I know I should, but I was comfortable with you guys and the work. I know it’s tacky to keep going on about the money, but if it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t be doing it.”

  “In which case you would have missed out on more things than just the financial side of it. Working for Jordan will give you back your self-esteem and may get you over the bias you feel towards men, and rich men in particular. You’ll see that not all of them are bastards.”

  “Stephanie! Have you had too much wine?”

  “Don’t be silly. I have an enormous capacity for alcohol.” She gave a soft burp and giggled. “Pardon me. I’m just saying that there are going to be a lot of men, hopefully single, that
you’ll meet at the resort, and dipping your toe in the dating pool could be in the cards, if you suddenly feel the urge.”

  Megan blushed. “I refuse to have any urges. Besides, when are you going to start dating? You’ve been moping around town all summer and you’re gorgeous and single. What’s up with that?”

  “I do not mope. And if I did, it’s because there are no cute men in town at the moment.”

  “Do they have to be cute?” Abby inquired.

  Stephanie flicked her long blonde hair. “Damn straight they do. I’m willing to concede that my standards are high, but you can get burned by any man, so better to have it happen with a cute guy who understands he’s hot than one who’s not so cute, but thinks he’s the best you can do.”

  “Wow, I’m not sure I get the logic, but a cute man certainly sounds more appealing,” Jeanne conceded.

  “Precisely my point,” Stephanie smirked.

  “Of course, I’m not in the market for cute,” Jeanne added.

  Megan nearly fell off the couch, she was laughing so hard. “What about Allan?”

  Jeanne looked flustered for a moment, but rallied well. “He’s precisely why I’m not in the market. He surpassed cute and went straight to delicious.”

  “Ewwww! Stop it. I don’t ever want to think about Allan like that.” Stephanie made gagging noises and then they were all giggling like school girls.

  The banter went on like this for a few more hours, and after a hit of pizza, Jeanne called Allan, who picked her up and dropped Abby and Stephanie home. Not without a few snickers at Allan’s expense, which he took good-naturedly. And, also in his favor, he refrained from commenting on their slight, or more than slight in Stephanie’s case, inebriation.

  Megan cleaned up the debris with a smile on her face. She would be able to afford this sort of thing more often now. She didn’t need dates or night life. Her friends, and occasionally letting her hair down, with no man to boss her around, was just how she liked things.

  The Monday of her first day on the job, Megan felt nervous. The twins hadn’t helped because they’d been clingy since she’d told them about morning school care. They had struggled to get up a bit earlier, and Mia was being awkward.

  “What will we do there?”

  “You’ll have breakfast and then read a story or play some games.”

  “I’m tired.”

  Mia lay down on the couch while Megan packed their lunches.

  “I know, honey, but it will get easier after a few weeks.”

  “I want to come with you.”

  Cody leaned against her, making it hard work to get organized. It wasn’t their fault, so she was trying to be extra patient.

  “Sorry, baby. I’ll be working, and you need to go to school. That hasn’t changed. It’s only for an hour, and then all the rest of your class and the other school kids will arrive.”

  Feeling like she was abandoning them, Megan finally managed to drop them off. Luckily there were a couple of children the girls knew, including Liam, Abby’s boy. They loved Liam and she should have remembered that he’d be there, since without her Abby had decided to work more hours until she could find the right replacement. Breathing a sigh of relief, she left them in the care of a teacher.

  * * *

  Entering the grounds of the resort ten minutes later, she once more admired its beauty. The entranceway had a large, arched roof which had bougainvillea growing up the sides on a trellis. River stones made up a large waterfall near the reception area and the nice view didn’t stop there.

  Jordan was bending over the water, a small boy by his side, and they were feeding the fish. It would have been cute if she hadn’t noticed the way his jeans stretched across his buttocks, and his shirt strained over his biceps, as he tossed the food further into the pool.

  When he noticed her, she was still staring, and she forced herself to act naturally while her libido was doing the opposite. He stood up quickly and gave her a smile as if he knew that she’d been checking him out, and was happy to return the favor. Well, he could stop that. And, even better, she had to not think of him as a man – he was a boss, nothing more.

  “Good morning, Megan. Punctual, I see. I’ll introduce you to your team and then some of the others when you’re more settled.”

  He sent the boy back to his family, who were in the lobby checking out, then led the way to her spacious office, which, apart from a desk had a table with several chairs and a couch. Today, making the room seem infinitely smaller, a group of women were chatting as if they knew each other well. That encouraged Megan to hope that she might be able to recreate some of what she had with Stephanie and Abby at the resort.

  As soon as Jordan edged into the already crowded room the noise stopped. All the women openly admired him while they regarded Megan with varying degrees of suspicion or interest.

  “Good morning, everyone. This is Megan Adams, our new housekeeping manager. For the next couple of days while she finds her feet, Megan will be taking a look at what we do and how we can do it better. No need to look like that, Rose. You know it’s been a disaster lately, and something has to change if we don’t want the business to go down the drain. If that happens, we all lose our jobs.”

  Rose, a petite redhead, went pink and Megan felt sorry for her. No one liked change at first, especially when it was forced on them, and to be singled out was embarrassing.

  “I’ll leave you to it.”

  Jordan smiled at her encouragingly as he left, oblivious to the resentment he’d caused. Taking a deep breath, she looked around at each of the women, trying to make eye contact as she’d learned to do in her prior life – pre babies.

  “Good morning. I won’t pretend to know anything about you or what your strengths are individually. I do know a lot about management, and I’ll make every effort to make all our lives as easy as possible, using that knowledge and with your help. I will also work very hard to make this place hum, and all I ask is that you do the same.”

  There were a few nods and a few blank stares. Nothing unusual there, and at least no open hostility seemed to be evident. Yet.

  “For today you’ll carry on with the schedule that’s already in place, but that’s the first thing I’m going to be dealing with. I’ve brought with me a questionnaire for each of you to fill out.”

  This was met with a few groans.

  “Yes, it’s a pain, but vital for any changes to work effectively. On it you’ll find the hours necessary to make this place run twenty-four seven. Please tick the time slots that you prefer. I’m not promising anything will change dramatically over the next week or so, but, where possible, I will ensure that you work the best hours for you as individuals.”

  “You can’t be serious. Everyone wants school holidays off and to work around their kids,” Rose blurted. She’d turned pink again, but looked determined to argue.

  “I understand that, and I hope we can work something out.”

  “Most of us have children. How the heck can it work?”

  Thank goodness she’d done her homework on the subject. “I believe the best way is to make a rotation so that everyone gets some school holidays off, even if it’s only a few days, but let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. I’ll try to catch up with everyone on a personal level before the end of the week. In the meantime, please drop those forms back to me before you leave today. Now, if there is nothing urgent, we’d better get to work.”

  They filed out and she heard a couple of whispers and some giggles as she sat down at her desk, glad that the first meeting was out of the way. Barely a minute had passed before Jordan walked in with a smile plastered across his handsome face, and leaned against the doorframe.

  “That was great.”

  “Were you eavesdropping?” She sat back and crossed her arms.

  “I most certainly was, and maybe it was a bit rude, but I had to see for myself that they didn’t beat you into submission.”

  “You never said that was likely.”

/>   “I didn’t want to scare you away.”

  “Give me some credit. I’m made of stronger stuff than that.”

  “Even though I knew that, I couldn’t help being a little worried. Rose, especially, doesn’t like to be told what to do, but she’s my best worker.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind.”

  He sat in a chair opposite her and grinned at her. “Were you happy with the overall way it went?”

  “It was predictable. No one likes change, but it’s not like you’ve all been working together for years, and most of them seemed interested in what I could bring to the table.”

  “I’m pleased to hear it. There’s a couple of stubborn ones who were friendly with the last manager, but they’re all good women who will work hard with the right leadership. And I think they have it now.”

  Megan could feel herself blushing. “I’d better get on and look busy before the boss catches me.”

  “Me too.” He winked, and left her to her files.

  Despite the image of Jordan that had burned into her memory as he stood in the doorway, looking exceptionally handsome, and making her hot in places that weren’t appropriate for the workplace, the first file grabbed her attention immediately.

  What had the old manager been thinking when she made up the roster? There were double-ups and huge blanks on nearly every day and what was worse, the roster was only filled in until this Friday. If she didn’t work this out soon, the weekend was set to be a disaster and, as Jordan had said, that was their busiest time.

  Fortunately, it seemed like that was the worst thing, even though, as she glanced at some other files, it looked like there were a million other details needing her attention. She would have to sort out her staff and give someone a bit more responsibility to help her. Her job as an event manager hadn’t been like this. Maybe it had been more pressured for smaller amounts of time, but she could see that the resort was a never-ending machine which needed to be maintained correctly to get the best outcome. Keeping it well-oiled would be an every-day necessity.