by Pratt, Lulu
“I think it’s a new client,” my mom shrugged.
“Hmm… and he asked for me by name?” I clarified.
“It’s right here in his notes. ‘Please schedule me with Holly Foster’,” she smiled.
“Okay, well, I’ll be back in time for him. I need to check with Dylan about something.”
“Okay. Oh my gosh!” she yelped, looking at her phone. “Look at what your dad sent me. Chris is making a spit bubble!” She squealed, turning her phone so I could see Chris with saliva coating his chin. My heart melted a little and I wished that I could be there myself to see my baby doing this, but I needed to work and my family loved having any reason to spend with Chris.
“I’ll be back, Mom,” I forced a smile before walking to the hotel with a little more urgency than before. I’d have to hurry to get back for the appointment.
“You’re missing a part of the uniform!” Dylan announced, holding up his arms with disappointment.
“I wore the red like you asked,” I glanced down at my scrubs. In an effort to really get into the holiday spirit at the hotel, even though it was still two weeks away, Dylan had suggested everyone wear festive colors.
“Yeah, but what about the hat?” he asked, reaching into the red bin filled with Santa hats.
“Dylan, I don’t need a Santa hat,” I argued after purposely leaving mine at home. Although he was wearing his proudly, I found some of his suggestions to be aimed at humiliating me.
“You can wear this here, I don’t need to give massages in a Santa hat. The clients can’t even see me,” I argued.
“It doesn’t matter. You wanted the entrance decorated, and I did that. I want the uniforms. You need to compromise,” Dylan said, as stubborn a big brother as he always had been.
“Fine. But we need to talk about the entrance decorations,” I relented, snatching the Santa hat from his hand before shoving it on my head, much to his satisfaction.
“The decorations look fabulous,” he defended his job before hearing of my request.
“They do look fabulous, I only want to take it up a notch,” I explained.
“A few reindeer?” Dylan teased.
“I was thinking more ribbon, but if you’ve got reindeer money left over in the budget, I say go for it!” I encouraged him with a smile.
As our parents grew older, Dylan and I had taken on more and more of the business. Dylan took care of a lot of behind-the-scenes matters, such as suppliers and maintenance, while I dealt with customers and the spa. But because of the nature of the business there was a lot of overlap. We were practically raised in the hotel, and when we added the spa portion of the business a few years ago, things really began to take off.
After graduating college, Dylan returned to help my father with the hotel, but he was more of an executor than an innovator. We needed a leader, and my mother and father knew it was up to me to fill the role. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we decided it was best if I left college for a semester to get the business back on track.
One semester turned into two years as my ideas began to bear fruit. What I’d learned in my first two years of business school was enough to catapult the business into a consecutive incline, leading to the upcoming opening of our second location, which was the next step in our expansion plan.
It wasn’t until I hired Leann as our full-time massage therapist, with me covering with her for double bookings or couples’ massages, that I could return to school to earn my degree, something that meant more to me than I was sure did to most people. Sure, I had a successful career already and didn’t need a sheet of paper to prove I knew what I was talking about, but I didn’t like starting things and not finishing.
Now my innovative, although often simple, improvements to the business had afforded us more success than any of us anticipated. Dylan and I enjoyed the sibling camaraderie, constantly competing with each other over one thing or another. I loved working with my brother, even though he could get me going quicker than anyone else.
The truth was, I enjoyed his enthusiasm even if I didn’t agree with the idea. So, with the Santa hat resting uncomfortably on my head, I led the way to the front entrance. Dylan and I both cheerily greeted a few guests entering the hotel before making our way outside.
“It’s getting colder every day,” Dylan remarked as the wind hit our faces.
“I know. I’m hoping for a white Christmas,” I admitted, always the romantic.
“Snow in Savannah? Are you crazy?” he joked.
From my childhood, I always dreamed of getting to experience a Christmas morning playing in the snow, but in Georgia, any snow was extraordinary. It was rare that we even got a few inches, but that didn’t damper my hope at all.
“You never know,” I shrugged before switching the topic. “Okay, do you see the gap between the tree and the Nativity scene?” I asked, pointing to the display. Dylan’s head slowly nodded as I focused his attention. “I was thinking someone could add some red ribbon around the railing, maybe spruce it up a bit.”
“Yeah, I could see that. Is that it?” he asked, his tone now more serious than before. Dylan, like all big brothers, enjoyed giving his sister a hard time, but when it came to handling things in the business, he respected my option. Regardless of whether he ever admitted it or not, I knew my family now looked to me as the leader of the business.
“Yeah, but have them do it today because we only have so long before the holiday season is behind us. Besides, we have that big event coming up,” I reminded him.
“I’m going to have the maintenance team take care of it now,” he nodded.
“Perfect. I’ve got a reservation at the spa, and then I’ll be back over.”
With Dylan close on my heels, I knew he needed help with something else.
“I’ve kind of got a problem with an upcoming booking,” he said as we made our way in the hotel.
“Go on.”
“Well, we accepted a booking for a big group booking at the end of the week, but I just saw there was already a single booking made a few months back. I’ll be short a room, and it’s a return client, so I know how important it is to be accommodating,” Dylan repeated one of my main lessons for the reception desk.
New business was great, but return business was what kept a hospitality business going. We had to take the best care of our guests, so calling one with a cancellation as we would have done in the past was a no go.
“When is the reservation for the single guest?” I asked, needing all the pieces to the puzzle before I could create a solution.
“Friday,” Dylan answered with anxiety on his face.
“Have Roy clear out the spare room upstairs. All it needs is a fresh coat of paint and new linen. He can find everything he needs to make it welcoming, but you check it to make sure it’s perfect before you let a guest stay there,” I instructed as I began down the hallway, needing to make my way back to the spa.
“Okay, you know, I actually thought of that myself. The thing is, that’s a deluxe suite and the reservation is only for a standard room,” he added as if that would complicate the situation.
“What’s worse? An unexpected complimentary upgrade or a cancellation?” I asked rhetorically, leading to a smirk from my brother. “Just make a note on the reservation so they’re alerted of the upgrade before they check-in. The last thing we want is for them to think going forward they can expect something as grand when booking a standard room.”
“Okay, I’ll get on that,” Dylan nodded as we arrived at the spa.
“I’ll see you in an hour or so.”
“There you are! This thing is giving me trouble again.” My mom looked up from the monitor with despair in her eyes. She was a lot of things, but a tech whiz was not one of them.
“What are you trying to do, Mom?” I asked, biting back my laugh as she squinted at the screen.
“Your dad said he emailed me some pictures of Chris,” she said, clicking the mouse harder than necessary.
“
Let me see,” I scooted her out of the way before scrolling down the page to see what the problem was.
“I’ve got to see if I need that password that man gave me when he installed the internet.” She left for the back office before I could tell her she wouldn’t need the Wi-Fi password.
Just then, the bell above the front door of the spa sounded, alerting me of my client’s arrival. Squinting at the monitor, I struggled to make out how my mother had opened the system preferences of the computer while robotically greeting the guest without looking up.
“Welcome to Savannah Serenity and Spa. Please have a seat and I’ll be with you in a moment,” I said without thinking or looking up. It was a phrase I said so often, the words fell freely.
“I think I’ll wait here,” a familiar voice announced, standing so tall above the desk, a shadow was cast on my computer screen.
“Jude! What are you doing here?” My mom’s outburst saved me.
Glancing up at the man who had spun my life upside down, a rush of feelings came flooding back. Dressed in a tailored suit, Jude looked nothing like anyone from Savannah. It was obvious he lived in a big city, only passing through for a visit. Even more handsome than I remembered him, his blue eyes raked over me and I felt the air leave my lungs.
“Hi, Mrs. Foster, it’s great to see you.” He bent to hug my mother before returning his attention to me. “I wanted to get a massage, Holly.”
My mind went blank, my heart beating so fast I feared it would pop out of my chest. There was no way I could massage him. Just the thought of my hands roaming his muscular body sent my body temperature through the roof.
“Unfortunately, Holly’s got an appointment,” my mother interjected, saving me yet again.
“Right. Yes, uh, I have a reservation already. Sorry,” I smiled, grateful for whoever had requested me by name.
“Oh, yes. Allow me to re-introduce myself. I’m Tom Widdow,” Jude extended his hand, and I glanced down as memories of him gripping my body resurfaced. Forcing a deep breath, I tried to regain my composure, telling myself it couldn’t be happening, but it was.
“I made the reservation under a pseudonym. I thought I’d surprise Dylan… and you,” he said with a smile that made my panties moist.
I looked at him and thought to myself, you have no idea.
Chapter Two
JUDE
FOR THE first time in the six weeks since I’d booked the appointment, I began to question if surprising Holly was a bad idea. Her cheeks were as red as her uniform when she learned I had made the reservation under a made-up name, requesting her specifically.
She had changed since our night together, but it was in a good way. Something about her seemed more confident and mature. As the younger sister to my best friend, there had been a childlike quality about Holly, but it faded as we grew older. Now, standing across from her, it was obvious that she had blossomed into a full woman, more beautiful than I remembered.
“You used a fake name?” she finally asked, although the answer was obvious.
“I wanted to surprise you,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
Attempting to hide my desperation, I omitted the part about coming straight from the airport so that she was the first person I saw. She didn’t need to know that my luggage was outside in the rental and my own family had no idea I’d arrived this early in the day.
“Well, you succeeded,” she said, a small smile flashing across her face.
With that one gesture, the weight on my shoulders was lifted. A breath I didn’t know I was holding escaped me when Holly turned to her mother to give her a few instructions. Always smiling, Mrs. Foster listened carefully, jotting a few notes before assuring Holly she could handle it.
The Fosters had been a second set of parents for me growing up since my parents had been their best friends. Dylan and I would joke that we didn’t have much choice in our friendship after being forced around each other for years.
It was while I was doing my master’s degree that our parents fell out over something none of the children ever knew the details over. I’d asked my parents for an explanation, but all my mom would say was that it was nothing to do with me or my sister. If Holly and Dylan knew the reason for the feud, they sure never mentioned it to me. Regardless of her relationship with my parents, Mrs. Foster had always been nothing but sweet to me when I came around.
“So, I guess we should get started,” Holly announced shyly before waving for me to follow her down a hallway.
“You’re in the holiday mood, huh?” I asked, touching the fluffy white ball on her Santa hat.
“Oh gosh! I forgot I was wearing this,” she blushed again, removing the hat.
“It’s cute,” I said, watching the compliment reach her beautiful hazel eyes as I wondered if they always had swirls of green through them.
“Umm, let’s go. We’re just going to this room,” Holly stuttered, a bit flustered from my compliment. I followed in silence as she made her way through the spa.
They had made a few improvements recently, and I could see how it was making the spa better. Even the hotel had shocked me when I pulled up. What used to be a dark and intimidating entrance had received a much needed facelift, and now the hotel was bright and inviting, more like something you’d see in a big city than slow Savannah.
“How’s business been going?” I asked, wanting to continue the conversation.
“It’s been really good, actually,” she glanced over her shoulder as she answered and I could see the pride written on her gorgeous face.
“I’m sure that has a lot to do with you,” I added, knowing how much she had sacrificed to help her family business.
It was something I admired, because I didn’t have that type of commitment to my family’s business. Hatch Towing had been in my family for two generations, but with my financial career, there was no way I could make a living in Savannah.
Holly had dropped everything when the hotel started to tank. I can still remember overhearing my mother telling my father that she didn’t think it was right for them to pull her out of school. Holly excelled in everything, so it was no shock that she was at the top of her college class. Still, she left it all behind in order to turn things around, and as we made our way to the quiet room, dimly lit as soft drums played through the speaker, I knew she was the one responsible for the new-found success.
“You look great. It’s good to see you,” I searched her face, trying to see if I’d imagined the connection I thought we shared during my last trip home. Something had now changed, but I couldn’t be sure what it was. Holly had always been bashful around me, but now she looked uneasy and I questioned my decision.
“You should undress to the waist. Below the waist, leave on your underwear. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she spoke too professionally, refusing to look directly into my eyes.
“Yes, ma’am,” I teased. If she wanted to be professional, I’d play along.
Watching her leave, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to give up on her too easily. Cascading down her back in big waves, her hair was much longer than I remembered, and as my eyes drifted lower, I noticed more changes about the woman who had dominated my thoughts for several years and certainly since that stolen night. Her hips curved deeper than I remembered, and my abs tensed imagining gripping her ass. She was a true Southern woman now, and she had the curves to prove it. It was a detail I’d missed living in New York.
Holly glanced back one last time before pulling the door closed behind her, and my cock swelled. God, she was sexy. Even if she’d still been wearing that damn Santa hat she’d had on when I first arrived, she had me ready to bend her over the massage table. Before I knew what was happening, I felt my grip tighten around my length, begging to be freed from my suit pants.
Undressing, I had to talk myself down as I gently laid my suit across an upholstered bench. It was the first time I’d been in one of the private spa rooms, and I was impressed with the décor. Knowing it had to have been
Holly’s doing, I felt a strange sense of pride brewing in my chest.
I’d just finished admiring a Buddhist sculpture sitting on a table when the door swung open, revealing a shocked Holly. I watched her eyes drift down to my package, and then her tongue shot out to moisten her lips. Instinctually, I flexed my abs, embarrassed to be caught in nothing but my boxer briefs.
“I’m sorry! I thought…” Holly held her hand above her eyes as if she was incapable of looking away voluntarily. “I can just…” She turned around, frantically trying to find her way out of the uncomfortable situation.
“Holly, it’s fine. I’m gonna lie down,” I calmly explained before walking to the massage table. I heard the door close and then I felt the softness of her hand on my back. My eyes closed slowly, as a breath escaped me. Much deeper than normal, this was the release of a simple desire I’d been carrying for a year – just to feel her touch.
“I’m sorry about that, Jude. Really,” she whispered while pulling a soft sheet up to my hip.
“Don’t worry about it,” I assured her, turning to catch one last glimpse of her before placing my forehead on the headrest.
Starting with my shoulders, Holly silently pressed into my muscles, her hands working miracles. Without watching her, I was certain she moved with the grace of a ballet dancer. There was too much finesse in her movement, too much rhythm for it to be anything less than art.
A soft groan escaped me when she moved to my neck. Standing at the edge of the table, Holly was close enough for me to smell the faint aroma of her rose perfume. Using her elbows, she pressed into my shoulder blades and I could feel her body bent over me. It was the most erotic, yet nonsexual, encounter of my life.
I was dying to flip over, wrap my arms around her and tell her how much I missed her. She deserved to know how many times I’d replayed my night with her in my mind. Every date I’d been on since New Year’s was an attempt to find a small piece of her in someone else. And it was only now that I had found what I was looking for all along. I’d missed her more than I cared to admit, and now that she was so close, yet so far, the desire was overwhelming.