Page 30 of The Wedding Twist

“Well, I think your skin is absolutely glowing,” Celeste said. “With no puffiness at all.” She gave her a quick smile.

Kassie glanced sideways at her sisters. Melissa was busy steaming her satin gown, and Siena was removing the balled-up tissue paper from her high heels.

Celeste took a seat next to Kassie on the bed. “Are you feeling better than last night?” she said quietly.

Kassie nodded. “All good.” It was clear she didn’t want to speak any more about it, and that was fine with Celeste.

She stood up. “Glad to hear it. I’ll check in again in a little while. Oh, and Jack will be here around five.”

That got a grin from Kassie. “Nice work,” she said.

Put that on your socials, Celeste thought as she went to check on things downstairs.

Setup was almost complete in the great room when Celeste arrived. She moved through the space, examining the floral arch by the windows, the cocktail bar, and the buffet table in the conservatory.

Jeff had gone with her recommendation of the floral chandelier, and the great room was now presided over by an astonishing cascade of delicate blooms in shades of blush pink, ivory, and soft lavender, with roses, peonies, and hydrangeas spilling forth from the intricate framework. It was a showstopper.

In a quiet lull, Celeste excused herself to her office. She took a moment to open her email and found a message from Gus Evans. It was a forward of the job posting at the Keystone Ridge Resort. Celeste scanned through the text.

Classification:Full-time, permanent

About Us:The Keystone Ridge Resort is a prestigious destination renowned for unparalleled luxury, exceptional service, and exquisite experiences. Nestled in the heart of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, our hotel embodies elegance, sophistication, and a commitment to providing guests with unforgettable moments of indulgence.

Job Description:As the Director of Guest Experience, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of operations to ensure the highest standards of excellence are maintained. This role requires a dynamic leader with a passion for luxury hospitality, a keen eye for detail, and a proven track record of success in managing upscale properties.

So far, so good. She’d only managed a property, singular, but the Butterfly Lake Lodge would definitely qualify as luxury.

She continued to scan through the key responsibilities, which included everything fromLead and inspire a team of department heads and staff to deliver exceptional service and exceed guest expectationstoMaintain impeccable standards of cleanliness, maintenance, and safety to uphold the hotel’s reputation for luxury and sophistication.Okay, she could do that.

When she got to the qualifications section, two of the eight requirements made her stomach sink a little.

Qualifications:

•Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field; master’s degree preferred

•Minimum of ten years of experience in luxury hotel management, with a proven track record of success in a leadership role

She had no business applying for this job.

Just as she was about to delete the email, her phone pinged with a message from Gus. “Just go for it,” he wrote. Clearly he saw right through her when she said she was inquiring for a friend. “What have you got to lose?”

She stared at her phone, her mind whirling.My pride?

*

What in thehell did you agree to?Jack thought as he sat in his truck outside the Butterfly Lake Lodge. Was it too late to back out?

The last wedding he’d been to had been for his brother and Julie, four years earlier at a reception hall in a suburb just outside of Calgary. He’d been asked to make a speech, which had resulted in at least three sleepless nights and only a smattering of polite applause and had to do everything he could not to roll his eyes when Caden and Julie had had their first dance to a Celine Dion song.

It had been painful. And they were hisfamily.

What he was about to walk into might be a whole new sublayer of hell.

The only thing keeping him from doing a three-point turn and beelining it right back to the highway was the promise of continued business from the McCarthys. From what he understood, Celeste’s dad usually led the excursions, but they didn’t include river expeditions, so he might be able to snag a booking or two a week.

The idea of seeing Celeste again might have factored into things too.

When he entered the lodge’s reception area, a woman with short gray hair, a pale blue dress, and a wide smile was passing through with an empty tray. The sounds of a piano floated through from the great room, and the whole space smelled of fresh bread and scented candles.

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