by Karen Booth
Autumn folded her arms across her chest. This was an annoying development, even when she had zero interest in romance and she and Grey were working together. She did like secretly admiring him, and it was just going to feel wrong if he was attached. So much for that little sliver of fun in her day. Of course, Autumn knew nothing about Grey’s personal life, and he was incredibly smart, rich and easy on the eyes. It should come as exactly no surprise that he might have a girlfriend. “What do you mean nobody knows who she is?”
“She’s staying in one of the guest cottages, but there’s no name on the reservation. It simply has a month blocked out. I saw Grey personally bring up her bags. She’s definitely staying a while. She had four huge suitcases.”
That seemed odd, and not just because Moonlight Ridge had plenty of porters available to handle a job like that. “If she’s his girlfriend, why wouldn’t she be staying in his cottage?”
Ross shrugged. “Do you honestly think I’ve figured out why the Holloways do anything? Jameson lets those three do whatever they want. Mack has practically taken over the place, and now we get Grey. It won’t be long before Travis is here.”
“They’re his sons. And they’re trying to make sure their dad is taken care of.”
Ross bunched up his lips. “I still don’t like it. Things were running just fine before they arrived.”
“It won’t be forever. Molly said Grey’s only here for the summer, and Travis will be here through the fall and the first part of winter. We can get through that. No problem.”
“It’s June. December is a long way away.” Ross looked at his smart watch. “I gotta run. Chef needs me. Just text me if you run into any rough spots today. And good luck.” He walked out of her office.
Grey appeared in her doorway mere seconds later, looking off down the hall. “Is that the catering manager?”
“Catering and events. Ross Barnes. Good morning to you, too.”
Grey turned his attention to Autumn. In a dark blue dress shirt that made his eyes even more intense, and black trousers that accentuated his long, lean lines in ways a pair of gym shorts could not, he made her want to bite down on her lower lip. Or at the very least, a pencil. “Sorry. Good morning.”
She waved him into her office. “Everything okay? You seem preoccupied.”
“No. I’m fine.”
Autumn wasn’t sure if she should mention what Ross had clued her in on. It was none of her business. Then again, knowing the circumstances of Grey’s personal life could help her. He held her future in his hands, after all. “I heard you have a friend staying on property.” She decided that qualified as fact-finding and not gossip.
The most unpleasant look crossed his face. “Heard from whom?”
Autumn felt bad about even mentioning it. “Don’t worry. Just someone on the staff.”
He blew out a breath, but didn’t take a seat. His posture was so stiff it made her uncomfortable just to see him that way. This was going to be a long day. “She’s not a friend. She’s a work associate.”
That seemed like a peculiar answer. “Someone from your architecture firm? Are they helping with the design of Mack’s brewery?”
Another frustrated grumble left his throat. “Not exactly. But close enough.”
Okay, then. Autumn could take a hint Grey wasn’t going to share and she’d pried enough. “Our bride and her mom should be here in about a half hour. Have a seat and I’ll brief you on our potential clients and what we’ll be doing with them today.”
“I’m just observing, aren’t I?”
He was acting as though he’d just arrived for a root canal, but she didn’t like this any more than he did. “No. We need to work together. Our wedding customers spend tens of thousands of dollars. You’re not following me around like I’m a trainee. It will look bad.”
Everything in Grey’s expression said that he did not get put on notice very often. Well, that was too bad. Autumn wasn’t about to let him sink her ship. Her entire future was staying in Asheville and planning weddings.
“Okay, then. Show me the ropes.”
* * *
Grey listened as Autumn explained who was coming in today. The upshot was this: important family, lots of money, this could be her one big booking. Grey would’ve taken all of those things as a positive a few days ago when Mack first asked him to oversee the wedding side of the business, but Autumn was wearing a royal blue dress that made her brown eyes sparkle. It made it incredibly difficult to concentrate.
“I noticed you aren’t wearing your glasses today,” he said, instantly regretting his decision to say anything at all.
“I try not to wear them when I meet potential clients. I feel a little more polished without glasses. The trouble is I don’t see as well with the contacts.”
He was about to counter that he liked her in glasses. A lot. They were sexy. Not that Autumn was unsexy without them. Quite the contrary. She could make anything look alluring. But he decided it was best to keep his thoughts to himself. She’d only get the wrong idea. “I see.”
“Anyway, Delilah is our bride. Her fiancé is Archer Morgan,” Autumn said. “He works in banking down in Charlotte.”
“I was on the swim team with an Archer Morgan in high school. He was two years younger than me.”
Autumn smiled from ear to ear, her entire face lit up, and she clapped her hands together. “Grey! That’s so perfect. You might actually end up helping me today.”
Grey felt her excitement from five feet away. For a man who didn’t get riled up, it was still infectious. He hoped he wouldn’t ultimately end up disappointing her. “Maybe it’s not the same guy.”
“It has to be. How many Archers do you know?”
“Just one.”
“Well, this is my first. I’m sure it’s him. I will definitely need you to play up your connection. Make sure the bride knows he’s your buddy.”
Grey wasn’t a “buddy” sort of guy. “We weren’t friends. We were teammates.”
“Just tell her that you liked him. That you remember him.” She flipped through her three-ring binder. “This would be a big wedding. They’re thinking 300 guests. In my experience, when people with lots of money and power have a wedding, the guest list is always bigger than they first estimate. So this would max out our capacity. The most we’ve ever done is 380.”
“Sounds promising.”
“Also a logistical nightmare.”
“What’s another eighty people? More chairs, more food. That doesn’t seem like a big deal.”
Autumn dropped her chin and he really missed the glasses as she delivered a look that was both admonishing and seriously hot. The thought of those dark tortoiseshell frames on the tip of her nose did something to him. He loved how strong she was. So comfortable in her own skin. “It’s huge. We won’t have nearly enough parking, which means shuttle buses and drivers. We’ll have to block out a large number of rooms and cottages, so we have to hope there aren’t any existing reservations that need to be moved around. Then there are extra bathrooms and staff and a million other things I haven’t even mentioned.”
“And you do all of this on your own?”
“Yes. I’m a one-woman show.”
It occurred to Grey that Autumn’s position at Moonlight Ridge might be more complicated than he and his brothers had first thought. “I had no idea.”
Autumn pointed at him with her pen. “That’s why I’m showing you the ropes.” Her phone buzzed with a text. “Looks like they’re here. We’d better head down to the lobby.” She rose from her desk, breezed past him to a storage armoire, then opened it to reveal a full-length mirror. “How do I look?”
He got up out of his chair, watching as she scrutinized herself, cocking her head to one side and swiveling her hips enough to make the hemline of her dress swish. He hadn’t fully appreciated just how lovely her legs were. Ap
parently, he’d spent too much time admiring the rest of her. Amazing. Gorgeous. He suddenly found it hard to swallow. “Fine.”
She looked back at him over her shoulder, just like she had out on the patio of his cottage. Her gaze was so powerful. It was like lightning in a bottle, even when it was clear she was disappointed. “That’s all you’re going to say?”
“I didn’t want to lay it on too thick.”
She closed the cabinet door and stepped closer, placing her hand on his shoulder. Her touch sent warmth rippling through him. “It’s not possible to lay it on too thick when a woman asks how she looks.”
“It’s still not my thing.”
“At the very least, I’m going to need you to muster some enthusiasm for something. Otherwise, this booking is not going to happen.” With a turn on her heel, Autumn marched out into the hallway.
Grey waited for a moment, trying to compute what she’d said. It wasn’t his job to make this happen. It was hers. Still, he’d promised his brothers he’d help and he wasn’t about to let them down. He hustled to catch up with her, and trailed behind her down two lengthy flights of stairs to the ground floor. He did his best to ignore the sexy sway of her hips, and the sweet fragrance left behind from every swing of her long blond hair.
When they arrived downstairs in the lobby, it was immediately apparent who they would be meeting with. Rebecca Barefoot was standing off in the corner, talking on the phone. Petite in stature, with perfectly coiffed short red hair and a face he recognized from the news, Rebecca had an air about her that took no time to identify. He’d had hundreds of powerful clients over the years. This he could handle.
“You must be Delilah.” Autumn walked up to the younger of the two women and extended her hand.
“Yes. Hi.” Delilah looked exactly like her mother, except her red tresses were long and wavy.
“Allow me to introduce Grey Holloway,” Autumn said. “His family owns the resort. I also believe he knows your husband-to-be.”
“Really? What a coincidence,” Delilah said.
Grey shook her hand. “Yes. We were on swim team together in high school. He’s a great guy. If you book your wedding here, I look forward to having the chance to catch up with him.” He hoped that would suffice.
“And I’m sure Archer will be thrilled to know that an old friend is one of the owner’s sons.” She glanced over at her mother. “Sorry. She’s on the phone. This will happen a lot. I’m used to it.”
Rebecca tucked her phone into the sizable designer handbag hanging on her arm, then turned and introduced herself. “Rebecca Barefoot.” She heartily shook hands with both Autumn and Grey. “I apologize. I’ve promised my daughter I’ll keep the phone calls to a minimum today. I would like it if we could get started though. I have an incredibly tight schedule.”
Autumn smiled, but Grey could tell that it was forced. She was in wedding planner mode. He made a vow to follow her lead. On everything. “Well then,” Autumn said. “Let’s begin the tour.”
They started with the main inn, which was the historic original building on the estate, constructed circa 1930. Since then, many additions had been made, the largest of which was in the 1950s when two large wings were tacked on. The finishes—carpet, tile, woodwork and lighting had all been the finest available when they were installed. But since then, parts of the inn were showing their age. Grey and his brothers agreed they needed updates after Mack came home to help with Jameson’s recovery and reported back on the inn’s condition. They got things started right away, but renovations were a slow process, as they wanted to remain open while updates were made. With crews handling small blocks of rooms at a time, it was going to take months.
Autumn described the various amenities available to guests and explained the system for reserving room blocks. They next toured the main ballroom, which had reportedly been quite the location for parties in the 1930s. Now, it was where most indoor wedding receptions were held. All the while, Autumn did an expert job explaining everything, making the history of the property sound far more romantic than Grey had ever heard. As she warmed to Rebecca and Delilah, she became even more genuine. One thing he was sure of—Autumn was amazing at her job. She belonged here, despite the problems she might have brought to their weddings business.
Next they walked outside and strolled down the winding paths leading behind the inn to the garden, which even Grey could admit was a lovely spot. Although it was carefully manicured—tidy hedges, rose bushes and perennials in full bloom, the meadow beyond it was an untamed sea of wildflowers, skirted by lush green forest.
“This is a beautiful spot.” Rebecca took survey of the garden. There was no mistaking the “but” hanging in the air. She had reservations. It was just a matter of how Autumn would handle them.
“It’s so pretty,” Delilah said. “I really think it’s perfect. It’s so grand and steeped in history. It’s like a fairy tale. I absolutely love it.”
“I can tell,” Rebecca said.
“I wasn’t sure I would,” Delilah replied. “I was worried it would be too old-fashioned. That’s sort of the reputation of Moonlight Ridge, unfortunately.”
Grey hated hearing the criticism, but he and his brothers knew that was the perception. It happened with any historic property—the age was part of the appeal but also a hindrance. “We’re in the process of updating a great deal of the facilities.” He wanted to let Autumn take the lead, but he had to chime in and defend the resort. “Including guest rooms. My brother owns Corkscrew Craft Beer Breweries and I’m helping him with the plans for a brewery right here on the grounds. It could be a great spot for a rehearsal dinner. We should also be breaking ground on our new state-of-the-art spa before the end of the summer. If you’re looking at next June, it will be open in time for you and your bridal party to enjoy the facilities.”
“That sounds amazing,” Delilah said.
Rebecca slid her daughter a look. “Darling, you know that’s not the main reservation I have. I promised you I’d come and look, but I’m not sure this is the right choice. Like it or not, my job is a consideration.”
“My wedding is more than an opportunity for publicity, Mother. And it’s ultimately my choice.” Delilah turned her back on her mom, and walked closer to the center of the garden.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what are your reservations, Ms. Barefoot?” Autumn asked.
Rebecca pursed her lips tightly. “I don’t like the attention you’ve received in the media lately, Ms. Kincaid. When my PR person found out we were visiting here today, she begged me to cancel. There’s just no reason to invite that kind of controversy when my daughter is getting married. It should be a happy day. Not a ding to my professional reputation.”
All color drained from Autumn’s face. “I assure you that I will do my best to remain in the background. And I no longer have any ties to my father.”
“Have you issued a formal statement? Because I’ve supported laws meant to take down men like your father. I can’t be associated with that.”
Ouch. Grey had thick skin, but he couldn’t help but feel bad for Autumn, especially when she looked truly shell-shocked. Surely she’d never encountered venom like this while planning a wedding.
“A formal statement?” Autumn asked. “I’m a wedding planner, Ms. Barefoot. I don’t really deal with things like that.”
“And I’m a very powerful woman who can’t afford to make a single mistake.”
“Mom. Stop it,” Delilah turned and begged.
Grey felt his blood at a simmer, listening to this woman be so uncommonly cruel to Autumn and not particularly nice to her daughter, either. He couldn’t watch or listen to this any longer. “Ms. Barefoot, can you and I have a chat for a moment? Just the two of us?”
She looked startled by the request. It seemed as close to an upper hand as Grey was going to get. “For a minute.”
G
rey escorted Rebecca over to a quieter corner of the garden. “I understand where you’re coming from. I own an architecture firm in New York and the power of appearances cannot be underestimated. But I would venture that Ms. Kincaid’s reaction to your line of questions should tell you everything you need to know about her and her character.”
Rebecca narrowed her eyes with suspicion. “I don’t know that I see where you’re going with this.”
“You caught her completely off guard, and I’ve seen Autumn handle plenty of difficult situations without getting fazed.” That wasn’t entirely true, but he would take Autumn’s word for it. “To my knowledge, she doesn’t have any contact with her father. That’s why she lives in Asheville. She left behind a life of privilege and glamour in Los Angeles, just so she could create distance between herself and him.”
“I suppose there’s something to be said for that.”
“And as for her skills as a wedding planner, let me tell you that she will handle every detail perfectly without skipping a beat. Honestly, she’ll take a lot of heat off you. You won’t have to do anything other than show up. As a busy woman, you must be able to appreciate that.”
“I do.”
Grey pointed to Autumn and Delilah, who were animatedly talking. Delilah even laughed. “And see that? That’s what you’re getting when you have a wedding here. Every member of the staff will give your daughter personal attention, especially Autumn. She genuinely cares. We all do.”
Rebecca eyed Grey up and down. “Is that why the owner’s son, an accomplished architect no less, is tagging along to give a bride and her mom a tour?”
“What can I say? I care a lot.” Grey knew then that despite his reservations about returning to Moonlight Ridge for the summer, he truly did care and it had been the right choice. He hoped he would feel that way when it was time to return home to New York.
“Okay, then. If this is what Delilah decides, I’m good with it.” She delivered a penetrating stare. “But if there’s a single problem, I’m going to get you to host a fundraiser here for me on your dime.”