A Suite Geek (Suite Love Series Book 3)

by Sue Gibson

  Lily picked up the phone on the second ring. “So, what’s going on with you and this Edward character? When I suggested they host a fish dinner with their catch of the day, the first name that pops out of his mouth is yours.”

  “Good morning, Lily,” Christy said, the phone pressed to her ear with her shoulder, as she applied a coat of mascara with her free hand. “I was just about to call you! I’ve been meaning to all week, but I’ve been so busy…”

  “Apparently,” her friend teased. “Any chance the tall, crazy-smart hunky guy has anything to do with your busy week.”

  Until last night, she’d have denied Edward’s influence. Looking out for introverted guests was routine in her line of work. But after last night, the honest answer would be “Yes.”

  “He is my mother’s best friend’s son. And yes, he is not my type.” Christy cut right to the chase. “He is a workaholic, who prefers computers to humans. And wait for it—his mother and my mother are in cahoots. They’re hoping I’ll find him a wife while he’s on vacation.”

  “So what does he see in you? You know—beyond the obvious.” Christy took no offense at her friend’s words. Lily spoke in shorthand only lifelong friends could get away with.

  “Well, at first, nothing. Like most of his sort, he wrote me off as a ditzy blonde. But I think this place may have opened his mind a bit. He even took my Tai Chi class yesterday.”

  “Really?”

  “He’s agreed to try new things, think outside the box a bit—like fishing for example.”

  Lily laughed into the phone. “Well, it’s definitely working. And by the way, this Edward definitely has a crush on you.”

  Resting the mascara wand on the dresser, Christy pressed the receiver closer to her ear. “What did he say?”

  “It’s not so much what he said, but his reaction to what I said about you.”

  “Go on.” She caught her reflection in the mirror.

  Her cheeks sported two glowing spots of pink.

  “He said that you were great at your job. I agreed wholeheartedly.” The mirror now reflected a face rosy from neck to forehead. “And when I told him your talents were far too impressive to limit to just one hotel and that the Weatherall Board members wanted you to move up to Corporate, he almost flipped the boat.”

  At first, Lily’s kind words curled her lips into a smile, but as her friend chatted on, familiar doubts crept in, tainting her pleasure.

  Had Lily’s news precipitated Edward’s unexpected behavior? Now that he knew she wasn’t going to be a Recreational Director forever, had she become someone he respected? She slumped in her chair. Someone he would kiss.

  “Christy! The guy was happy for you. He thinks you’re great. I can tell he is fascinated with you.” Not the real me. She thought she’d touched something in

  his heart, opened his mind. Tears welled up.

  She swallowed hard and dug deep for a light- hearted tone. “Well, don’t start picking out your bridesmaid’s dress yet,” she joked. “He’s more of a project, than a boyfriend.”

  “Really?” Lily sounded disappointed. “He is a bit stuffy, but I thought he’d be good for you. You know, the yin to your yang and all that.”

  “You picked up all that from one fishing trip?” Again, she deflected.

  Now it was Lily’s turn to sound miffed. “Give him a chance. His voice changed when he said your name, his eyes sparkled…”

  “Newlyweds! You want everyone to find love. My guy will come along someday. Your love radar is a little off with this one.” Lily still bragged about how she’d predicted Trey and Delaney’s happy ending.

  “If you say so,” Lily trailed off. “What’s up for today?”

  “Brunch on Osprey Island,” she mumbled into the receiver.

  “Oh! Is Edward coming?” “I believe so.”

  Following her friend’s lead, Lily tempered her enthusiasm. “At least it’s a nice day for a picnic. The wind has really died down.”

  “That’s true. Why don’t you come along? Ethan too, if he’s available.” Both Lily and Ethan traveled a lot—Lily relentlessly fundraising for her Alma Mater’s marine biology department and Ethan as CEO of the Weatherall’s North American hotels.

  “We’d love to, but we both have appointments.” Disappointment lingered in her voice. “No, I really can’t cancel. But let’s get together soon.”

  “How about Sunday? My parents are hosting a

  BBQ and I know they’d love for you and Ethan to come. Paul and Jude and the kids will be there. Probably Edward too.” She hadn’t actually invited him yet, but she couldn’t see a tactful way out of it.

  At least if Lily and Ethan were there, they’d deflect attention. Plus, she missed spending time with her friend now that she and Ethan were married.

  “Thanks, I’d love to come. But I’ll be on my own on Sunday. Ethan promised to fly to Toronto with his sister Emma. She’s overdue for a visit with her friends.”

  “He’s a real sweetheart, that man of yours.” Ethan’s twin sister had Down Syndrome and he’d been her legal guardian since they’d come of age. His devotion to Emma was one of the things that Lily most admired about her husband.

  “You’re right. See, I do know how to spot a good man.”

  She ignored her friend’s pointed remark and checked her watch. “I’ve gotta run. See you Sunday.”

  Hanging up the phone, she screwed the top back on her mascara and tossed it in her cosmetic bag. With her anticipation for the picnic vanquished, she trudged down the steps to the driveway and her car.

  The ancient Corolla bounced unmercifully over the potholes until she turned onto the hotel’s driveway. She sandwiched her car between the hotel’s oversize van and a stone retaining wall. Squeezing between the two, she peered out. With no sign of Trey’s red SUV, she dashed for the side entrance. It was going to take at least two cups of coffee before she could face his inevitable teasing.

  Once in her office, she eyed the stack of papers piled on her desk and the blinking monitor before plunking into her chair. Grudgingly, she devoted one

  morning a week to paperwork, responding to the endless memos generated from Head Office.

  Today, at least, it’d keep her out of Trey’s sight and safe from an accidental encounter with Edward. She dropped her head into her hands. She was a fool for thinking that Edward could fall for her. True to form, his type rarely looked past first impressions.

  If he needed her to be someone more impressive, then she didn’t want any part of him. He could just muddle through the rest of his stay on his own. And grow old alone too, while he was at it.

  Three hours later she clicked off her computer screen and rubbed her eyes. She was right on target

  with her budget expenditures. The next two weeks of off-site excursions were booked and she’d tracked down a DJ with an enormous collection of disco tunes. She looked out through the floor to ceiling window. Like the postcards in the lobby, the scene outside was picture-perfect. A color-matched blue sky and lake backed the squealing children racing from playground to pool. Circus striped tabletop umbrellas dotted the patio. Wings spread, gulls dipped and circled above the beach, searching out minnows in the shallows. She rose from her desk and crossed the floor.

  On the tennis court, Tracy, one of the Winnipeg sisters, and a tall man whacked the ball back and forth. Idly, she wondered what the other sister, Brianna, was doing, and with whom.

  A weak smile formed on her lips. Her job wasn’t all about matchmaking, but this kind of thing happened almost every week. Just not to her.

  Her eye caught sight of the hotel’s pontoon boat chugging toward the dock. Jason jumped off and held his hand out to the departing guests. Earlier this

  summer, he’d eagerly offered to take over the guided tour whenever she was stuck in the office.

  She turned and surveyed her cleared desk before stepping into the lobby. After a quick detour to the kitchen for the picnic basket, she headed for the docks, determined to sa
lvage the day.

  “Let me get that, Christy,” Jason called out, bounding up the path. He hefted the basket to his shoulder and fell in beside her. Adjusting his long stride, he brought her up to speed. Unfortunately, he’d seen no sign of Sam today, but a baby moose had been spotted standing thigh-high in the reeds of Greensly Bay. “Everyone pulled out their cameras before it took off into the bush.”

  “Lucky you! I missed the last moose too.”

  He handed the basket to the captain and turned to face her. “If you picnic on the far end of Osprey Island—up on the high point—you might catch a glimpse of it again.”

  She knew he was right. This was his third and last internship at the hotel, and his experience was invaluable. “Thanks for the help…and the advice.”

  “No problem. I read your guest registration for the picnic.” He raised one eyebrow slightly and smiled a bit too broadly. “Have fun.”

  Before she could respond, he turned and called over his shoulder. “Better tell Edward to bring his lucky fishing rod, I hear the pickerel are biting this morning.”

  Clearly, Trey had told Jason about the kiss he’d interrupted last night. Hidden in her pockets, her hands curled into balls. Trey was an effective supervisor and consummate business man, but sometimes he acted more like an annoying big brother than a boss.

  Clamoring on board the swaying boat, she settled in her usual spot and waited for Maureen, Kendall, Stan and Marie and, of course, Edward.

  “I know it’s last minute,” Brianna called out,” but can we squeeze Greg in?” So both sisters had been busy making new friends this morning. Christy glanced at her list. “Sure.” She waved the two on board. “Glad to have you, Greg.” Last minute additions were common, and the chef always packed more than enough food.

  A loud male voice boomed from the far end of the dock. “Hey, everyone. Ready for some fun? How about letting me drive this big old water bus, Captain Highliner?”

  Stan had arrived. Marie scooted to the back of the boat, settled dark sunglasses on her tiny nose and clamped a large straw hat to her head.

  Swiveling on her chair, Christy shaded her eyes against the water’s glare and surveyed the crowded shoreline for the stragglers. Coming from the fairways, three golfers strode toward the pier.

  Anchoring her toe in the rough carpeting, she swung her seat back to position and out of their line of sight. She was beginning to feel a bit…. unnecessary.

  It made sense really. He was an intelligent man. Once he’d accepted her theory about “Teds” and “Edwards”, he’d executed his plan. Then why did her intuition tell her that it was Edward, not Ted, who had kissed her under the stars.

  “Ted!” she called out more sharply than she intended. “Please board the boat,” she added more graciously, including Maureen and Kendall in her smile.

  Edward dropped into the vacant seat closest to

  hers, and leaned back. He raised his arms and placed them behind his head, his white golf shirt straining across his chest. His legs stretched across the floor of the boat. Ted had arrived and was the picture of contentment.

  Dragging her eyes from his body, she checked the dock one more time. Giving the driver the signal to pull away, her attention returned to Edward. He in turn was studying the couple cuddling in the back of the boat.

  Brianna stared unabashedly back. If Edward had even a quarter of her bravado, he’d never have needed her help at all. Christy watched Brianna’s eyes widen with recognition.

  “Edward?” She squeaked from the rear of the boat. He dropped his hands from behind his hand. “Yes” he said, hesitantly. He studied her a bit longer.

  “We met at the disco lesson, right?”

  Brianna nodded, blushing. Their mutual embarrassment palpable, Edward dropped his scrutiny and Brianna returned her attention to Greg.

  The trip to the island took only minutes. After the Captain tied the boat to a large metal ring driven into the rock face, they climbed ashore and trooped up a winding path. Edward claimed the basket and settled it in the shade. Seconds later the boat’s motor fired and chugged back to the mainland.

  “Good thing he left us some food, eh?” Stan joked, breaking the ice.

  “So this is what it’s like to be stranded on an island,” Maureen’s husband said, running with Stan’s theme. He threw his arm around his wife, “Well, at least I’ve got you to snuggle with under the stars.”

  Edward’s feet shifted on the bald rock.

  “Hey, who wants to explore the island?” Christy called out. The whole stranded island scenario needed to stop. Next, Stan would have them paired up like Gilligan’s Island characters, and she’d be cast as Ginger to Edward’s Professor.

  “I’m in.” Edward moved to her side. “Lead the way.”

  Feeling foolish for encouraging an exploration trip—the island could be seen in its entirety from almost any vantage point, she tipped her head. “Follow me”, she instructed.

  Shifting into tour guide mode, she spoke with practiced authority as they climbed up the rocky slope. “Many of you may have heard that this island has been the sight of several marriage proposals. Most notably, right under this tree is where Ethan Weatherall, the CEO of the Nirvana Hotel chain, proposed to Ms. Lily Greensly, our resident marine biologist and occasional fishing guide.”

  The women in the group sighed appreciatively. “Since then, several local men have built on the romantic legend and proposed on the same spot.”

  “Why isn’t that story in the brochure, Christy?” Edward’s face grew serious as he reverted to type and began fortifying his case. “Stats prove that women have far more influence than men when choosing vacation destinations. This island and the tree,” he waved toward the tall spruce, “are not being marketed to their full advantage.”

  Brianna and Greg had wandered off during Edward’s monologue, but the other two couples listened-in while spreading the tablecloth over a flat rock.

  Leave it to Edward to reduce a romantic experience to a business advantage. “It’s not in the

  brochure because the Nirvana hotel is promoted as a vacation getaway in the quiet beauty of the Ontario wilderness. This isn’t Vegas, it’s Buttermilk Falls. We don’t want crowds of people trampling over the island, disturbing the wildlife and destroying the shoreline. And the Friends of Loon Lake Committee wouldn’t be happy at all.”

  “Ah. Yes. I’d momentarily forgotten about Lily’s affiliation with this environmental group.” He looked across the lake toward the forested ridges beyond the glass front of the hotel.

  “The guests are buying an escape from commercialism. Most leave here feeling as if they’ve been let in on a secret, that they are the select few.” She directed her last comment directly toward Edward. He wasn’t getting off the hook for taking advantage of last night’s tranquil beauty.

  Edward’s face lit up and he knocked himself in the forehead. “Of course, the Weatherall marketing team would capitalize on that aspect. Any research team worth their salt would. I’ll reference their Web site tonight. I bet it’s loaded with streaming visuals, with the amenities and services only sidebarred.”

  “Uh-huh.” Edward hadn’t fully morphed into the suave Ted quite yet.

  “I can see why the Weatherall brass want you on board. Your personal connection to this place is invaluable.” He smiled, like a proud parent watching his child take her first step.

  Reaching out, he placed his hand gently on her arm. His big hand easily circled her forearm, easing her closer. She pulled back. He’d confirmed, again, the connection between her job title and his attraction. Even if it wasn’t intentional, it still hurt.

  She looked at his face. He smiled. She knew he

  struggled with conversational nuances, but this was ridiculous.

  Perhaps she needed to connect the dots.

  “Lily told you about my upcoming promotion yesterday.” She stared steadfastly at the undulating line where the sky met the tree line, unwilling to reveal any emotion to thi
s robot of a man.

  “Yes. Lily thinks you’re perfect for the new job. I do too. Why limit your expertise to one hotel?” Flattered, in spite of herself, she allowed a half smile.

  Still determined to call him out on his sudden attraction, she pushed on. “Last night, you seemed different.” He stared at her, confusion clouding his eyes, saying nothing. Fractured by the breeze, conversational bits drifted up from the group below.

  There wasn’t time to drag this embarrassing conversation out any longer. “Which Christy did you kiss last night, the Recreational Director or Weatherall’s Director of Guest Services?” Heat charged through her body, tears barely suppressed. “Oh, Christy.” He reached for her hand and this time she let him keep it. He stepped closer and tipped her chin up to his face. Dropping his voice to a whisper he said, “I wasn’t trying to kiss either one.” He was blushing now, but didn’t stop talking. “I wanted to kiss the most fascinating, exciting woman I’ve ever met. Trust me. Your job was the last thing on my mind.” He bent his knees and looked into her eyes.

  “Christy?”

  Her knees wobbled. He didn’t care one way or other about her career. “Oh.”

  This wasn’t the first time she had arrived at a flawed conclusion. Lily and Delaney had called her out for

  being overly sensitive to innocent remarks. But twenty-six years of living as a blue-eyed blonde had taught her to be wary.

  “Is there a problem?” He sounded worried. “Was it a secret?”

  “No, not really. I’m fine with Lily telling you about the job offer.” That much was true.

  She searched for a better way to explain. “It’s just that nothing is written in stone yet. And I haven’t even told my parents.” Hopefully, he’d buy her rationalization for her behavior.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t say a word to anyone. I promise.” His eyes matched his tone, sincere and warm. He stepped closer, his body blocking the glare of the sun.