Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Oh no. My stomach drops. He’s going to annihilate us in the number one travel magazine in the world.
And it’s all my fault. I don’t even care about the promotion anymore. I just don’t want to ruin my new man’s business.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, Mr. Reynolds,” I quickly say, desperately trying to do some damage control. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”
“No,” he says sharply. “I just want to leave.”
The little girl with the twisted ankle from the other day comes limping over on crutches with her mom. They both light up when they see me and Owen behind the counter.
“That’s him, daddy!” Eloise says as she points at Owen. “He’s the man who saved me!”
Her mom is all smiles as she comes over and hooks her arm under Mikey Reynolds’ arm. “These are the two people who came up the trail to rescue us! You have to mention them in your article!”
Mikey looks nauseous. “These are the two?”
“Thank you again so much,” the mom says with a big smile. “I don’t know what we would have done without you guys.”
“It’s our pleasure,” I say with a grin. “All part of the wonderful service we provide at The Greene Mountain Lodge.”
“Well, you’re going to get a glowing review in The Luxury Traveller Magazine, aren’t they, honey?”
She looks confused when Mr. Reynolds doesn’t say a word.
“He wasn’t a fan of our service,” I tell her. “We try our best, but sometimes there are hiccups and mistakes.”
She turns to him with a fierce look. “Sometimes Mikey can be too hard on hotels,” she says in a tight voice. “But what better service is there than a staff who will come running to save his daughter while he’s in our room writing with his phone off?!”
“You’re going to give them a good review, aren’t you, Daddy?” Eloise says, jumping in. “He carried me down a mountain.”
I try really hard to hide my satisfied grin as I watch Mr. Reynolds squirming under the glare of the two girls in his life.
“I guess when you put it like that…” he says, giving in.
His wife gives me a big smile. “Don’t you worry. We had a wonderful stay and this magnificent lodge is going to get a terrific five-star review.”
Mikey drops his head in defeat as they grab their bags and the wife pulls him to the exit.
“And that’s why you’re the new manager,” Owen says as he stares at me in awe.
“Oh, about that…” I say as I give him a flirty look. “We never discussed the salary.”
He gives me a wolfish grin. “Come into my office and I’ll be happy to discuss it.”
Heat rushes to my core and I get so inappropriately wet, knowing what’s coming.
Not very managerial, I know.
I grin as I eagerly follow him to his office.
But hey, I’m not the manager yet!
Epilogue
Lauren
Six weeks later…
“Look what came in the mail,” Tina says as she shakes the magazine I’ve been waiting weeks for.
I dart up from my seat and rush over. That’s it. The May edition of The Luxury Traveller Magazine.
It’s sealed in brown paper, which I rip to shreds in record time.
“Yes!” I squeal when I see a gorgeous photo of our spectacular lodge on the cover. It looks amazing!
“The Greene Mountain Lodge Where You Come With Your Family And Leave With Some New Friends,” I read off the cover. I was still worried that Mikey Reynolds was going to annihilate us in his review, but I can see that the adorable little Eloise and her nice mother came through for us. I wish I could hug them right now.
Tina and Tiffany look over my arms as I flip to the article. “Five stars!” I squeal in delight. Tears fill my eyes as I scan the glossy pages.
“Looking good, boss,” Tina says when I turn the page and see a full-page spread with my photo on it.
“Very professional,” Tiffany adds.
“And very hot,” Tina says, nodding. “Your hair looks amazing.”
I take a deep breath as my body fills with excitement. The photographer came about four weeks ago and took pictures of everything. When I was posing for this, I really didn’t think it would make it into the magazine. I thought it was a huge waste of time, but I’m thrilled that I did. This is soooo fun!
Tina reads the caption. “The wonderful manager, Lauren Hurst, will take care of your every need, from saving your daughter on a mountain trail to making sure your room is impeccable.”
It goes on to say more nice things about us. I flip the page and my heart does a little squeeze when I see Owen’s handsome face staring back at me. This photo should have been on the cover. It would have been the bestselling magazine in the company’s history if they would have put it on there. Wasted opportunity, for sure.