Cupid in Crisis

by Amanda M. Lee

  It did to me. “I just want to know how he’s managed to track down her private medical information when we just heard the news from her doctor ourselves.”

  “He knows. That’s all that matters.” Something I couldn’t quite identify sparked in the depths of Galen’s eyes. There was a warning there … and something else. “Mr. St. Pierre, the thing is, June needs surgery. She’s in a great deal of pain.”

  “They gave me good drugs,” Mrs. Seaver countered. “I could do a cartwheel now and it wouldn’t hurt in the least.”

  Galen pretended he hadn’t heard her. “I’m sure if you make an appointment – say in two weeks or so – June would be happy to sit down with you then.”

  “No June wouldn’t.” The sprightly hotel owner was giddy enough thanks to the drugs to talk about herself in the third person. “June doesn’t ever want to see this guy.”

  “Even though I’m here to offer you a deal?” St. Pierre challenged. “I mean … you are incapacitated. It’s my understanding that your insurance is very basic. That won’t give you much leeway when it comes to treatment.”

  Even in her drugged state, Mrs. Seaver was lucid enough to realize St. Pierre was trying to pull one over. “I’m not selling my hotel. I’ve already told you that.”

  “How will you afford your DDA fees when so much of your money will have to go to your treatment?”

  “We already told you that we are helping with her treatment,” I snapped. “She’ll be fine. We’ll make sure of it.”

  “We certainly will,” Galen agreed. “If June doesn’t want to give up her hotel – and she obviously doesn’t – then you can’t force her.”

  “Another quarterly bill is coming due in two weeks,” St. Pierre noted. “How will you pay that and your medical bills? You’re not really going to allow these young men to pay your bills, are you?”

  It was a challenge. He obviously knew Mrs. Seaver well enough that he understood she was uncomfortable with others volunteering time and money to her. She insisted on paying me for the fence, but I made sure to funnel the money back into her establishment. I simply spent the money at the bar so she could add it right back into her coffers.

  “They’re not paying my bills,” she confirmed.

  “Yes, we are,” Galen protested. “I’ll talk to the administration board before I leave this afternoon. Everything will be taken care of.”

  “I’m not comfortable with that.” June stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “I’m an adult. I pay my own bills. I won’t have you boys wasting your hard-earned money on me.”

  “That’s our decision to make,” Galen argued. “You don’t get a vote in this.”

  Ugh. He’d picked the worst thing to say.

  “I don’t get a vote in who pays my bills?” she asked incredulously. “Um … I think I do.” She adjusted her tone. “I appreciate what you boys are trying to do, but I won’t have it. I’ll take care of myself. Besides, I have everything under control. I have plenty of money coming in.”

  That’s when I remembered what she’d told me over iced tea hours earlier. “You have people doing a photo shoot.” I racked my brain trying to remember. “They come tomorrow, right?”

  “It’s a bunch of models doing some swimsuit photo shoot,” she explained. “They want to use the beach … and they paid me a pretty penny. They’re coming today, not tomorrow.”

  St. Pierre’s eyebrows drew together. “I was not made aware of this event.”

  “I didn’t know I had to inform you of my business dealings,” Mrs. Seaver shot back.

  “But … you can’t be at the hotel.” He straightened, tugged at the hem of his coat to smooth it. “That means the contract is null and void because you won’t be there.”

  I knew what he was doing. “How so? She has staff. They know what they’re doing. They’ll handle the event. Everything will be fine.”

  “I’m sure June intended to act as liaison between the director of the shoot and the hotel. I very much doubt her people will be capable of understanding something that complex.”

  “What’s to understand?” I demanded. “You show the director and photographer to the beach, give them what they need, and it’s all taken care of. It’s not exactly rocket science.”

  “Except the director will have demands.” St. Pierre refused to back down and his gravelly voice was starting to grate. “The workers won’t understand what can and can’t be done. They’ll fall behind. This simply won’t do.” He made a tsking sound with his tongue. “I think it would be best if I intercepted them and moved them to another area of the beach. You know, just to be on the safe side.”

  It took everything I had not to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze until the last molecule of oxygen vacated his lungs. I managed to hold it together. Just barely.

  “That won’t be necessary.” I made up my mind on the spot. “I’ll act as the liaison between the shoot director and the hotel. I’m working there this week anyway. I can just add that to my duties and Mrs. Seaver can pay me when she’s able.”

  The look of profound gratitude on Mrs. Seaver’s face was enough to make my heart flop. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” I had a few other odd jobs lined up for the weekend, but they would have to wait. Mrs. Seaver’s needs were more important. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Who wouldn’t?” Galen was full of faux happiness as he slung an arm around my shoulders. It was a forced show of solidarity … and it didn’t feel natural to either of us. “Booker is uniquely qualified for this job.”

  “Oh, really?” St. Pierre’s smugness was on full display. “And how is Booker going to help the female models when they need assistance while changing? That sounds like a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen, and that is not the sort of reputation we want for Moonstone Bay.”

  He had a point, which I was busily attempting to puzzle out in my head when Galen spoke again.

  “He won’t be alone. He’ll have a female assistant … someone who doesn’t usually work at the hotel, so she won’t be missing her regular duties.”

  “He will?” St. Pierre was dubious.

  “Yeah, I will?” I was confused.

  Galen happily bobbed his head. “He will. This sounds like something Hadley would jump at the chance to do. She loves models. She makes me watch reruns of America’s Next Top Model all the time.”

  “But … .” St. Pierre trailed off. Galen had him, and he knew it. If he pushed too far we would have no choice but to openly question his motivation. He didn’t want that. “I guess we’ll have to see if you gentlemen can pull it off,” he said finally.

  “I think we have things well in hand.”

  “Right.” I agreed with him, but only for show. Once St. Pierre disappeared from the room, I turned on Galen. “Hadley? I don’t want her help. She’ll ask the models about their shoes. I hate listening to conversations about shoes.”

  Galen was sober as he pulled away from me. “You don’t have a choice. He’s looking for a reason to disrupt that photo shoot. You need a female assistant to keep him off your back. Even then I’m not sure it’s going to be enough. You have no choice but to put up with Hadley.”

  I sighed. He was right. I hated that he was right. “Fine. Send her over to the hotel.”

  Mrs. Seaver looked concerned when I turned my eyes to her. “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s going to take up your time for days. That’s going above and beyond.”

  “Nothing is going above and beyond for you.” I meant it. “We’ll take care of this. The only thing I want you concentrating on is getting better. Everything else … well … you leave it to me. It’ll be perfectly fine.”

  “THIS IS GOING TO BE a difficult couple of days,” I announced an hour later. I’d asked Mrs. Seaver’s staff to gather in the employee breakroom because I needed a space big enough to speak with all of them at the same time. It had to be away from the guests and out of earshot of casual lurkers. “Mrs. Seav
er will be okay. She’s in the hospital and facing surgery, but she’s expected to make a full recovery.”

  “And you’re in charge?” The question came from the back, the front desk manager. I recognized the woman – I’d known her since high school – and she was the last person I wanted to deal with. Paige Grace had been a bossy little thing when telling us we didn’t have enough school spirit more than a decade ago, and she’d grown into a bossy adult. She was obviously going to be a problem.

  “I don’t know that I would put it that way,” I said, searching for the correct way to get her on my side. She clearly understood how to handle the day-to-day operations of the hotel. I didn’t want to get in her way. “You’re clearly in charge of the hotel operations. I’ll take over the models and crew.”

  Nick Dorian, the concierge, snorted from a table to my right. “Oh, well, if you’re going to be handling the models … .”

  “I didn’t mean it in a dirty way,” I reassured him quickly. “It’s just … Mrs. Seaver needs this money. She doesn’t have full-coverage insurance. She needs to pay her DDA fees, and the funds from this shoot will cover that.”

  “The DDA.” Paige’s expression turned dark. “I can’t tell you how much I hate the DDA.”

  I was right there with her. St. Pierre seemed to have extra sets of ears around, so there was no way I would give that opinion voice. “I don’t want you guys focusing on the DDA. As long as this shoot goes off without a hitch, Mrs. Seaver will be sitting pretty. That’s the most important thing.”

  “She planned to handle the director herself,” Nick pointed out. “She said that we weren’t to involve ourselves in it other than to give the guests whatever they needed. She was going to handle the big stuff.”

  “Then I will handle the big stuff.”

  Paige’s frown was so pronounced I wouldn’t have been surprised if it carved permanent lines into her face. “Does that mean we’re answering to you?”

  I wanted to throttle her. “It means you’re doing your job as you normally would,” I countered. “I’ll handle dealing with the director … and the models … and whatever they need while they’re shooting on the beach. Everyone else should go about their jobs.”

  “Uh-huh.” Paige didn’t look as if my orders set her at ease. “And what happens if the female models need something while they’re getting ready?”

  Nick’s hand shot in the air. He was younger than me by a good five years, but I knew him well enough. He was the cocky sort, which meant I steered clear of him as often as possible. “I volunteer to wait on the models when they’re in the bathroom,” he announced.

  I pinned him with the darkest look in my repertoire. “I think we can all agree that’s a terrible idea.”

  “Definitely.” Paige nodded. “But someone will have to do that. I don’t want to do it because I have more important things that need attention at the desk. Someone will have to be responsible for them … and it can’t be you because you’re just as perverted as Nick.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I am not perverted.” She’d launched a weird conversational side journey that I didn’t have time to take, but my ego demanded I stand up for myself. “I have no interest in models.”

  One of the bellhops – I think his name was Brad – dissolved into hysterical laughter. “Oh, please. The only guys who are interested in models are the gay ones … and even they like models because there’s nothing better than having a fancy piece on your arm.”

  Brad was only eighteen, so I couldn’t help but wonder where he’d picked up that delightful attitude and knowledge. “Who says things like that?” I complained.

  “I do.” Brad wasn’t bothered by my annoyance. “There are plenty of us who would like to volunteer our time to help the models.”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about that. I have it all taken care of.”

  Paige wrinkled her nose. “How so?”

  Hadley Hunter entered the breakroom.

  Speaking of models, she sort of looked like one. She wasn’t waif thin and didn’t walk around in six-inch stilettos, but she was ridiculously pretty, with long dark hair and huge blue eyes. She also had an infectious smile. If we’d had any chemistry, I would’ve fought Galen for her. Unfortunately, we only clicked on a friendship level, which was probably best for all concerned because Galen and I could do real damage to one another if we engaged in a genuine fight.

  “Here she comes now,” I said, gesturing toward the brunette in question.

  Hadley widened her eyes when she realized multiple heads had turned in her direction. She looked confused … and a little pleased with the attention. “Did I interrupt something?”

  “Yes,” Paige answered without missing a beat. “You interrupted an employee meeting. You need to get out.”

  I cleared my throat and sent Paige a quelling headshake. “Hadley is part of the team for the next few days,” I said. “She’ll be helping me with the models. I know this doesn’t make everybody happy, but it’s what I’ve got.

  “Mrs. Seaver is important to all of us,” I reminded them. “She’s a good woman and she loves this hotel. It’s up to us to take care of it while she’s recovering. We’re her family.”

  Even those who were normally complainers nodded their heads in agreement as they stood.

  “Just go about your normal routine and I’ll handle everything else,” I offered. “This will work out.”

  Hadley pressed herself to the wall to make room for the exiting employees. When it was just the two of us, she pinned me with a curious look. “Galen didn’t give me much information. He just asked me for a huge favor, said there would be massive payback, and then gave me this address. I’m not sure what I’m doing here.”

  With little preamble – I didn’t have much time – I told her what we were up against. Instead of complaining or making jokes, she simply nodded.

  “That sounds doable,” she said. “Where do you want me to start?”

  “There’s nothing for you to do until the models show up. I’m not sure when that’s supposed to happen.”

  Hadley’s smile widened. “I think it’s happening right now. I saw them in the parking lot when I came in.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “It’s hard to miss a bunch of six-foot-tall blondes in icepick heels and low-cut tops.”

  She had a point. I heaved out a sigh. “Okay. This is the big show. It’s important we get it right. We need to work together.”

  She offered up a saucy salute. “No problem, coach. I’m with you. We’ll rock these models’ worlds.”

  I made a face. “That came out dirtier than you expected, didn’t it?”

  “Totally. But I’m not taking it back.”

  “Good for you. Just pretend you didn’t say it.”

  “That’s the plan.”

  Four

  Hadley seemed to take her new job in stride. She was all smiles as she waited with me in the lobby to greet the guests. Within seconds, long-legged, loud-talking women flooded the lobby. I wasn’t used to so many bodies in the space at the same time and internally cringed.

  “Ugh. I hate people.”

  Hadley slid her eyes to me, obviously amused. “You should wear a pin that says that. That should go over well with the DDA since you’re a member of the welcome committee.”

  “Don’t mention them.” I wasn’t over the foul mood St. Pierre’s audacity had put me in. “Those idiots are the reason we’re here.”

  Her expression shifted to something akin to concern. “Do you want to tell me about it? Galen didn’t have much time to share. I could tell he was worked up, though. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that frazzled.”

  Oddly enough, that made me feel better. If Galen was annoyed – and he was trained to take things in stride – that meant my reaction wasn’t overblown. “Not right now. We have to deal with our new friends first. If all goes well, perhaps I’ll tell you the whole story over drinks.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”
/>   I took the lead, zeroing in on the lone man standing at the front desk first. He looked to be in charge. I’m not sexist or anything. I wasn’t ignoring the women simply because they were women. It’s just that the man was the one waving a credit card.

  “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.” I used my best “I’m not a jerk and I don’t really wish you would all turn around and leave” voice. “My name is Booker. I’ll be helping you with your shoot. May I please speak to whoever is in charge?”

  Sure enough, the man peeled away from the desk and focused on me. Unlike the women, who seemed intrigued by what they saw – and probably smelled – he looked agitated. “You’re our liaison?” He pursed his lips. “I was under the impression that we would be working with the proprietor. I believe her name is June Seaver.”

  “That was the plan,” I confirmed, keeping my smile in place through sheer force of will. “Unfortunately Mrs. Seaver was taken to the hospital earlier today.”

  “Oh, no.” A murmur went through the assembled women. They were so tall they reminded me of giraffes. Their necks seemed too long for their bodies.

  “She’s going to be fine,” I reassured them. “She needs hip surgery, so I will be serving in her place.”

  Hadley cleared her throat to remind me she was at my side.

  “And this is my assistant, Hadley Hunter,” I added. “Anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask and she’ll make sure to appropriate it in a timely manner.”

  Hadley shot me a dirty look due to the “assistant” comment, but smiled at the women. “I’m happy to be here and can’t wait to see what you have planned. I’m assuming everyone wants to get checked into their rooms first?”

  Several heads nodded in agreement.

  “Well, great. I’m sure our helpful staff will get everyone settled in record time. Is there anything else you need before then?”

  The man gave her a long look before focusing on me. “Actually, there are several things I wish to discuss with you. Do you have a private room where we can talk?”