Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
IDK. Maybe longggg after the holidays since she’s been working her ass off with me and him. I don’t think we've slept more than a few hours.
Savannah
Is any of this hard work for my wedding? I sent you both mockups, and you still haven’t confirmed receipt.
Cousin Taryn
OMFG. NO!
O_o, maybe your fiancé needs to break in a few of *your* headboards so YOU can chill the eff out. Your wedding is in TWO. EFFIN. YEARS.
Text you later, tho. Georgia is sending me another list of tasks. Oh, and she’s grinning like a Cheshire cat. Dominic probably just finishing eating her out in the office. LOLOL
Savannah
Taryn! You left Grandma in the wrong group chat again.
Georgia
You left me in here, too… O_o
Grandma Hattie
What’s “Daddy play?”
TWENTY
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
GEORGIA
“I’m leaving a fresh batch of beignets in the kitchen for the Polar Express Suite guests!” I yell to the chef. “I’ll be back to help you with the S’more bar in an hour.”
“Thanks, Georgia!”
Too exhausted to think straight, I lean against the counter and consider taking my next nap here instead of wasting any time walking across the estate.
“Well, hello there, Georgia.” Grandma Hattie steps into the kitchen, and I use what’s left of my energy to perk up and smile. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve been relaxing since this place practically runs itself, you know?”
“Right...You handled this week beautifully.”
“I think you mean, ‘barely survived.’”
“This resort will be in great hands with you at the helm, and the staff is already planning one hell of a transition party.”
“Tell them to hold off on that.” I untie my apron. “I’m thinking of a way to punish them for leaving me hanging.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“They ditched work for a Taylor Swift festival and left me struggling at the worst time of the year.”
She shoots me a confused look.
“I mean, I could see going to the concert of course, but they took off the entire week!”
“They didn’t do that, Georgia.”
“Yeah, they did.” I wave my hand around. “See how empty this kitchen is?”
“I told them to take the time off,” she says. “Granted, I should’ve had them come up with more believable excuses, but I did that on purpose.”
“Why?”
“Because any manager can work well when everything is going their way.” She steps closer. “I wanted to see if you could handle this place when everything was going wrong.”
I stare at her.
“I would’ve stepped in to help you if it got out of hand. But you stepped up big time, and I’m so proud of you.”
I say nothing.
“The staff is scheduled to work their regular hours starting this evening. She steps closer. “So feel free to enjoy your evenings for the rest of the week. I only need you for the VIP suites and you know those guests don’t tend to call unless it’s an emergency.”
“Are you planning to say something, Georgia?”
“I don’t know yet.” I narrow my eyes. “I’m not sure exactly how to feel about you right now.”
She hugs me close. “You should feel accomplished and happy.”
“No, that’s not my current feeling at all...”
She laughs and pulls a golden name tag from her pocket. “Well, wear this around and eventually you will feel that way.”
I run my fingers across the engraved letters and my heart skips a beat.
Miss Georgia Grey
Executive Manager of The Grace Estate
“We’ll discuss logistics and the transition later.” She kisses my forehead. “I’m sure your fiancé would like to spend some quality time with you.”
She walks away without another word, and I turn off the ovens before taking the trolley to the cottage.
Dominic is leaning against the mantle, sipping a drink when I return.
“I’ll be ready to help you at the lodge in just a minute,” he says.
“No need for that,” I say. “I’ve got the remaining evenings off, so you can pack up all your stuff and go home.”
“What?”
“The deal is done, I’m officially the manager, and therefore I don’t need you anymore. Thank you for all your help.”
“Just like that?” He arches a brow.
“Yes. Just like that.”
“Okay, Georgia.” He sets down his glass. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Would you like me to get a bellman here for you?”
“Not yet.” He walks over to me. “I’ve been doing some thinking, and I realized that I called you every day for a month straight when you first left me.”
“I vividly remember hitting ignore.”
“Why?”
“For one, you fired me, Dominic.”
“For two?”
“I figured you'd eventually forget me and move on to someone else.”
“How’s that prediction going?”
“Pretty good.”
Laughing, he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me flush against his chest.
“I missed you.” He bites my bottom lip, sucking it between his teeth. “And I don’t think I’m over you choosing to date Dante while you worked for me.”
“Were you jealous?”
“Very.” He tears my shirt open, sending the buttons scattering all over the floor. “Were you dating him to fuck with me?”