"I'm surprised Ms. J. hasn't cut him loose," Dale commented, referring to the inn's general manager.
"Don't be. Adam's top-notch. He's implemented some really great ideas since he's been here. Not to mention he's awesome with the guests. It's only us he's making nuts. He just can't seem to make peace with selling romance."
That could definitely be a problem around here, and Dale wasn't inclined to place all the blame on Adam Grant. Falling Inn Bed and its concentration on sex had an interesting effect on people. Monique had run screaming. Dale had learned firsthand that it was best not to analyze or fight the effect but to go with the flow. When in Rome…
His gaze swept over Laura, from her braid that bounced with her light steps to the sound of her clicking heels, and readily admitted that his time spent at the inn had given him an appreciation for all things Roman.
Sidestepping her as they rounded the last flight, he pulled open the door that led to the promenade. She glanced into the windows of the restaurant as they strode past, and groaned.
"Everyone's been seated. There's no graceful way to make this entrance."
"We're not that late."
She didn't reply, only took a deep breath as he looped his arm through hers and led her into the restaurant.
Bruno's Place paid tribute to the turn-of-the-last-century charm so unique to Falling Inn Bed and this was the exact atmosphere Dale had successfully emulated in the new Wedding Wing. Victorian-influenced romance permeated the place where soft light from crystal-cut chandeliers sparkled against walls papered with busy florals and pinstripes. Decorative shelves displayed china and ornamental glassware.
Couples whispered together and savored five-star dishes over dark wood tables draped with lace-trimmed linens. Bruno's Place promoted togetherness with a capital rand Dale cast a yearning glance at one of those tables for two where he could have enjoyed some of that togetherness with Laura.
"Your guests are waiting at A-4, Ms. Granger," the hostess greeted them and Laura smiled in acknowledgment.
Their party had been seated in a windowed nook affording a semblance of privacy in the busy restaurant But the arrangement wasn't private enough for Dale's tastes. He'd been waiting too long for Laura. He wanted her all to himself tonight.
"Annabelle, my love." He leaned over to kiss her cheek then extended his hand to Adam, who stood. "Good to see you again."
He inclined his head in silent thanks for Adam's help in getting Monique safely on her way earlier.
Adam nodded. "Glad you could make it."
"Excuse our delay. I asked Laura to show me the atrium, so I can get a crew in to deal with the problem skylight before this grand opening gets underway. I don't want work to interfere with your events."
It was an outright lie. While there was a problem in the atrium construction, he and Laura hadn't even gotten close to that topic yet. They'd gotten close, and he intended to get a lot closer, but not to talk business. And he didn't mind lying one bit when it meant Laura gazing up at him with a grateful smile.
"Hello everyone," Laura said. "I'd like you to meet Dale Emerson, the senior project manager with Architectural Design-Finn. He's the brilliant architect responsible for our Wedding Wing."
Dale smiled while sliding a chair out for her and taking his seat as she introduced the guests.
"You already know our bridal couple," she said as Dale shifted his chair so they could bump knees under the table.
"I do, indeed Good to see you two again." During the Wedding Wing project, Dale had been training Jackson and Delia to move into the final phase of their internship before taking their places on one of ADF's junior restoration teams as full architects.
Laura treated him to one of those hospitality-perfect smiles that managed to make him feel as if it was for him alone. "But you're not acquainted with our Hottest Honeymoon couple, lieutenant Commander Troy Knight and his wife Miranda."
Dale dragged his gaze to the lieutenant commander and his wife, who went out of her way to lean around her husband to shake Dale's hand.
"A pleasure to meet you," she said in a cultured voice.
One glimpse at the dark-haired woman and her gracious smile told Dale that this woman knew her power over a man and exactly how to wield it to best effect He usually steered as far away from these highbrow society types as he did from rebounding beauties and romantic idealists like Laura.
But this trip had him breaking all the rules. And he wasn't sorry. Shifting in his seat, he brushed his knee against Laura's silk-clad leg as a promise of what was to come.
She gazed up at him through the thick fringe of her lashes, a sassy look that told him she got his meaning loud and clear. "These gentlemen are covering the press for our grand opening." She continued, "Benjamin Harris is a local reporter from the Niagara Falls Journal and Tyler Tripp is the photojournalist commissioned by the Worldwide Travel Association to film a documentary of our Naughty Nuptials events."
With his sports coat and tape recorder, Benjamin fit right in with the group at the table, but Tyler looked as though he should be shooting runway models in Paris. Dale recognized him as the guest who'd been checking out Monique at the front desk earlier.
Tyler darted a knowing gaze at Laura, and gave a nod of approval. Dale got the man's message, and this stranger noticing he'd replaced Monique with Laura bugged him. He wasn't sure why. Maybe he was still raw after Laura's revelations about hi gossiping former dates.
He forced himself to forget about any woman but the one at his side, who was both smiling and relaxed as she ordered lemon-laced mineral water from their waiter. He ordered wine, hoping alcohol would take the edge off of his impatience.
But the only thing that seemed to help was touching her.
Now that they'd started the ball rolling, he wanted some connection with her beautiful body. His need had been bordering on obsession before he'd gotten her undressed. Now that he'd seen her in the blush of passion and heard her pleasured sighs, he realized that a table filled with people wasn't curbing the effect she had on him.
He made a valiant attempt to distract himself by paying attention to the conversation, but even watching Laura interact with Annabelle and Adam wasn't doing the trick. The three of them took turns leading the conversation.
They made suggestions when the waitstaff returned to take orders, proving they all were on top of what took place in their kitchen, and were overall very gracious hosts, the epitome of luxury hoteliers. Their unity put their guests at ease long before Laura steered the conversation to the business at hand.
"Benjamin, Tyler, will you tell everyone your plans for the grand opening, so they'll know what to expect?" she asked.
"I'm your on-the-scenes reporter for the Naughty Nuptials," Benjamin explained. "I'll attend the functions and interview guests then report back to the paper."
Adam eyed them curiously. "I don't believe I heard how often you'd be reporting on the events."
"I'm running a daily article," Benjamin said. "We want our readership to be a part of the Naughty Nuptials from start to finish. An event of this magnitude can't help but make a big splash in our town."
"Sex can have that effect," Tyler of the piercings added.
"Speaking of," Annabelle said. "In case any of you are wondering how this coverage will work, Benjamin and Tyler won't have to attend the functions together. The general manager and I will be taking turns escorting these charming gentlemen to our various events."
"Two's company but three's a crowd." Dale raised his glass to Annabelle, deciding he'd never been happier with that particular philosophy in his life.
The Castaway Honeymoon Isle and a willing Laura.
Annabelle seemed in similarly high spirits. "That's our motto at Falling Inn Bed, as Dale knows after working with us for so long. I'm sure Jackson and Delia would agree."
"Without a doubt" Jackson idly wound an arm around his fiancée and addressed the group. "Delia and I were on this project with Dale through the entire construc
tion, and let me tell you that we had more conversations about sex than you would believe."
"That's the truth," Dale agreed.
It was no damn wonder he'd gotten a hard-on for tins gorgeous blonde by his side. Setting his glass back on the table, he rested his hand on her leg, brushing his fingers along her thigh. Her eyes widened, and he knew he'd surprised her.
"As we're a romance resort and all that," she said, "I'm sure you'll agree the conversations got the job done, Jackson. You were inspired to pop the big question."
Jackson nodded and Delia beamed one of those smiles that confirmed what Dale already guessed—Delia was as much of a romantic idealist as Laura.
"You got engaged here?" Benjamin asked. "What's the scoop?"
Delia explained how Jackson had popped the big question inside the new Wedding Wing, after the roof had enclosed the structure but before the first sheet of drywall had gone up.
Dale vividly remembered the day. It had been a wild gesture that had his crew cheering, and Laura popping open bottles of complimentary champagne in the middle of the workday. They'd gotten behind schedule because of the party.
"It's this place." Jackson laughed. "Romance is serious business around here. I don't think a day passed when Laura and Dale weren't going head-to-head about what constituted a decent size for a couples' bathtub—"
"Head-to-head?" Dale seized another opportunity to defend Laura's honor and hopefully earn a few more points to cash in later when they were alone. And naked. "Laura and I never argued. We negotiated. Construction involves compromises."
Delia eyed him pointedly. "You compromised very well, boss, because Laura generally won those negotiations."
Laura laughed, shooting Delia a conspiratorial look. "You noticed?"
"Hard not to." Delia exchanged a knowing glance with Annabelle, who agreed. "Laura's relentless in her pursuit of creating the perfect atmosphere for romance. She has a gift."
"As our special events coordinator and wedding consultant, Laura's function is to ensure our guests a perfect fantasy event," Adam explained to the guests. "Delia and Jackson will experience a perfect fantasy wedding this week. And from what I've heard the Knights did as well."
"Our wedding definitely qualified as a fantasy," Troy said.
His wife set her wineglass back on the table. "Special events coordinator and wedding consultant? I've heard Laura referred to as the bedding consultant."
Some women might have bristled at the emphasis this woman placed on her informal title, but not Laura. She faced Miranda with an easy smile and a lot of pride. "A resort like ours requires a few unique job titles to accommodate our guests. I'm fortunate enough to have claimed one."
"Is that how you managed to come out ahead in all those negotiations with your architect?" Miranda asked.
There wasn't anything in the woman's question to mate Dale take notice, but on a good day he was tuned in to Laura. With his fingers brushing her thigh and the promise of sex in the weeks ahead, he was more closely in tune than usual. Her expression never changed, but he got the sense that her control came at a price.
"As the Wedding Wing director, I was fortunate enough to have the final say," she said neutrally.
Tyler laughed. "But I want to know how hard Dale could argue with one of the owners. What do you say, Dale? Did you ever stand a chance?"
He gazed down at Laura and her perfectly amiable expression, and shook his head. "Not really."
He hadn't stood a chance around this woman, not ever. He just hadn't realized it until he'd finally gotten to kiss her.
Miranda looked puzzled. "One of the owners? Laura's the owner of what exactly?"
"We have a rather unusual arrangement on our property," Annabelle explained. "The members of our management staff are the stockholders in our corporation, which makes us all personally invested in our guests' satisfaction."
Troy gave a low whistle. "I'll say."
"It's one of those unique features Laura mentioned," Tyler added. "When the management company that held the property went bankrupt a few years back, the inn's supervisors pooled their resources and leveraged a buyout. A very innovative move. This hotel is known for them."
"So we have the pleasure of dining with the owners," Miranda said, and something about her gaze suggested she was taking stock of Laura.
"Not all of them." Adam wasn't one to let details slide. "I'm new on board."
From his days on the property, Dale knew that Adam wouldn't be eligible to purchase company stock until his probationary period ended. Given the speculation about the guy's fit for the job, Dale couldn't help but wonder if the stockholders would vote him in. Or if Adam would still be as committed to bringing sanity to Falling Inn Bed when his probation period ended.
Dale also couldn't help but wonder what had gotten into Laura. She'd leaned forward onto the edge of her chair with a slight air of tension. He tightened his fingers on her thigh, a gesture of reassurance he wasn't sure why he felt the need to give.
"That certainly explains the level of service around here. Miranda and I were amazed during our wedding." Troy glanced at Jackson. "You and Delia will be well cared for."
"No complaints so far," Jackson replied. "Laura and her staff have taken care of details we'd never considered."
Delia nodded her agreement "We're very pleased."
"And we love pleased guests." Annabelle shifted her gaze between her journalists. "Please take note, Tyler and Benjamin, and mate sure all this customer satisfaction gets a mention in the press. We simply can't pass up this kind of golden opportunity to toot our horn."
"I'll find some inspired way to work it into my documentary," Tyler said.
"Speaking of…" Laura didn't miss a beat and zoomed right in on her chance to change the subject "Tyler, why don't you tell us what you're planning? For those of you who might not be aware, the Worldwide Travel Association sponsors the annual Most Romantic Getaway contest."
"Tyler has sat on the judges' panel for the past three years. He'd been very instrumental in helping us win." Annabelle looked fondly at the man by her side and didn't seem to mind the piercings. "Winning that award factored into our decision to expand our services with the Wedding Wing. In a way, we all have him to thank for being together right now."
Applause rippled around the table, and Tyler stepped into the spotlight to detail why WTA had commissioned a documentary. "Laura's Wedding Wing and Naughty Nuptials campaign are groundbreakers in the hospitality industry. I'll record the trend and establish a standard for future generations of resorts looking to target the couples' market WTA wants every hotel to live up to the upscale standards Falling Inn Bed has set."
"Here, here, Laura." Raising his glass, Dale toasted his date. "To being an innovator in your industry."
More applause followed. Laura smiled graciously, and Dale dragged his gaze away with a reluctance that almost made him laugh. His fixation with her had been bad sex hadn't been a possibility. Anticipation made him downright dangerous now.
Dinner arrived, and Laura, Annabelle and Adam skillfully kept the conversation flowing while everyone ate. The meal progressed harmoniously, but too damn slowly for Dale's taste. Laura could only express a cursory interest in him, and as much as he would have enjoyed Bruno's apple cobbler at any other time, the dessert cart's appearance now only meant more of a delay in getting her back to their suite where he could claim her undivided attention.
This impatience wasn't something he'd dealt with before. Then again, Dale had never waited so long for any woman. He needed a distraction and this never-ending meal wasn't it.
He kicked off his shoe.
The exact moment he made contact was reflected in Laura's eyes, and he dragged his toes around her ankle-bone, lingered up the sweep of her calf.
"Tyler wants to capture how romance drives everything around here," Laura was saying. "Our atmosphere, our services, even our dining experience. Bruno runs an entire specialty menu seasoned with natural aphrodisiacs that has
become very popular with our guests."
Aphrodisiacs, hmm? Dale didn't need any help enhancing his desire. If he could just get Laura alone, she wouldn't either.
Working his way slowly upward, he wondered just how far he could inch up her leg before he wound up kneeing the lieutenant commander. But he hadn't made it far when…
"Oh, excuse me," Laura said, "I dropped my napkin." Leaning over before he got the chance, she scooped up the napkin and draped it over her lap. She performed the move one-handed because her other hand hadn't re-emerged above the table. Dale didn't get to wonder where it had gone before her fingers molded his groin and gave a solid squeeze. Looked like two could play this game.
Chapter Five
"Enjoy your evening," Laura said as her guests departed the elevator on the Wedding Wing's third floor.
Delia waved before the doors hissed shut again.
Off duty. Finally.
With the preliminary meetings behind her, she savored a feeling of mingled relief and pleasure that they'd success fully established the tone for the upcoming events. While the future Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Marsh had been a guaranteed pleasure to deal with, Miranda and her husband had been a question mark.
They were off to a decent start. She'd handled the Knights professionally and laid the groundwork for the weeks ahead. Troy might not have understood the significance of this welcome dinner but Miranda had. No doubt Falling Inn Bed was not Westfalls Academy. Nor was Laura still the odd one out in a preparatory school filled with overprivileged girls who didn't bat an eyelash when tossing around comments meant to hurt.
"Laura Granger is a strange ranger."
Once upon a time that remark would have hit the bull's-eye. Not because the words were so horrible but because the sentiment behind them had cut to the quick.
Laura Granger isn't good enough.
Granted, as bedding consultant and stockholder of Falling Inn Properties, Incorporated, she still didn't live a run-of-the-mill life by anyone's standards, but she'd made the choices that suited her. Miranda's arrival could have reacquainted her with hurtful feelings from the past, but, instead, her appearance had steeled Laura's commitment not to let the past shadow her grand opening.
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