Page 75 of Nightcaps at The Beach House Hotel

“It was delicious,” said Rand.

“Fantastic,” agreed Darryl.

I gave them a wave and walked into another busy day at the hotel.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

I walked into the office, carrying a cup of coffee and a sweet roll. “Good morning, chef!” I teased. “Dinner last night was spectacular as always and Darryl, Emma, and Rand wanted me to thank you again for it.”

“You’re just who I wanted to see,” said Rhonda. “I want the complete lowdown on everyone. Are Emma and Rand hitting it off as well as I think? Is Abbie coming back here? What’s going on?”

I took a seat at my desk, sipped my coffee, and said, “Abbie is returning, and Emma and Rand really like one another.”

Rhonda leaned forward. “Okay, they were the headlines. Now I need details.”

“Coming up.” I filled Rhonda in on my conversation with Darryl at dinner and then told her, “He’s calling Abbie today and inviting her to come and stay at the house with him.”

“You’re right,” said Rhonda. “If they’re going to make a relationship work, they have to be together through thick and thin.”

I gave her a thoughtful nod as I took a bite of the cinnamon roll.” “Ah, this is just what I needed.”

“Okay, now tell me about Emma and Rand,” said Rhonda.

I reiterated what Emma had told me, allowing myself to think about the two of them realistically. “It could work. They’re both at a time in their lives when they know what they want and need. If you had seen the looks they gave each other this morning, you’d not doubt their attraction.”

Rhonda rested her head in her hand. “You know, I’m really amazing. I somehow know when a relationship can work. I’ve pegged both of these latest ones.”

I tried not to roll my eyes. It made Rhonda happy to think she had arranged for these growing relationships to happen. If she helped things along by giving dinner parties and such, all the better.

“We have a small, VIP dinner party for the governor of Florida and three other governors from neighboring states tonight,” said Rhonda. “Annette and Bernie are both off today, and Lorraine is going to help make sure everything is set the way we want. I’ll handle the cocktail hour and you’d already agreed to be present for their private dinner. Are you still okay with those plans?”

“Sure. It’ll be like the old days when we did everything ourselves. Let’s see what Lorraine has written down for the event.”

“They’re flying in today and leaving late tomorrow. Room reservations are all set for them,” said Rhonda, rising and following me to Lorraine’s office.

“Hello,” said Lorraine cheerfully. Since marrying Arthur Smythe, Reggie’s father, thanks to Rhonda’s pressure, she seemed to glow with happiness.

“We’re here to check on the private arrangements for the governor’s group,” I said.

Lorraine lifted a folder off her desk. “I’ve got the details here. I understand you, Rhonda, will be overseeing the cocktail party, and you, Ann, will handle the private dinner.”

Rhonda and I nodded.

“Jean-Luc is already prepping part of their meal. The department heads have been notified, and the VIP pictures posted on the staff bulletin board,” said Lorraine.

“Have you assigned someone to give the governors a tour of the property?” I asked. Our state governor and his wife were well-acquainted with the hotel. Their daughter had even been married here. But we always liked for special guests to be shown the property. It was not only a good PR move, but it made them feel especially welcome.

“Yes, Laura is going to do that,” said Lorraine. “She’s such an asset to my staff.”

“Great,” said Rhonda. “Thanks for handling this for us.”

“Anything we should know about these guests?” I asked. “Any food allergies, dislikes, etc. for dinner?”

“Nothing that hasn’t been cleared with Jean-Luc,” said Lorraine.

Satisfied that things were under control, Rhonda and I returned to our office to discuss the PR advertising program Liz and Angie had set up for social media. Having had a person die at the hotel and another guest “outed” for his private marriage, we needed to keep the “positives” before the public.

We sat waiting for our daughters to arrive. The day would come when our roles would be reversed, but for now, having them do small projects for us was satisfying for us all.

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