Page 16 of Summer Ever After

A few moments later, the front doors opened, and in swept a woman who looked like she’d stepped out of a designer catalog. She was wearing stylish linen pants and a tight knitted navy blue top. She had oversized sunglasses on with beautiful gold jewelry on her wrists, fingers, ears, and around her neck that caught the light with every movement. She carried herself like the entire resort had been built solely for her benefit.

Beth had always wanted to look and carry herself like this woman.

“I need to speak to someone immediately,” she said, her rich tone dripping with indignation. Her gaze flicked to Aaron and lingered there a beat too long.

Beth stood suddenly, conscious of her simple summer skirt and blouse, and her lack of jewelry. “Of course, how can I help you?” she said, getting the woman’s attention.

The woman took off her sunglasses with a dramatic sigh. Even her makeup was perfect. Her eyeliner skills had Beth remembering the one time she’d tried to pull off the look and had failed.

“I specifically ordered champagne to be waiting in my cabin when I arrived.” She waited a beat. “There was none. Not even a bottle of prosecco. Do you have any idea how disappointing it is to travel all this way only to be greeted with… sparkling water?” She made the last words sound like a slur.

“I’m so sorry for the inconvenience. What cabin are you staying in?” Beth asked.

“The High Roller.” The woman said it as if Beth should’ve recognized her on sight.

Beth kept her tone even as she answered, “Of course.” She turned away and typed in the cabin code on her computer and pulled up the guest notes.

“Miss Liza Fairchild?”

“Yes.” The woman’s eyes narrowed as if she was fully annoyed now.

Sure enough, the request for a bottle of Moët & Chandon had been put into the notes section, along with a confirmation that the bottle had been delivered to the High Roller cabin half an hour before the woman’s arrival almost an hour ago.

“I show here that the champagne was delivered at two o’clock today,” Beth said with a polite smile.

The woman gave a sharp laugh, more dismissive than amused. “I don’t care what your computer says, sweetheart. I’m telling you that it wasn’t there. I don’t plan to start my vacation arguing about one little bottle.”

Beth’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, but she refused to let her cheeks flush. “Would you like me to have housekeeping check again?”

“No.” She lowered her tone and leaned slightly forward. “What I’d like is for the bottle I paid for to be delivered.”

“Of course,” Beth said easily as she typed in a new request. “I’ll have them bring a replacement.”

That earned her a cool, appraising look before the woman dismissed her with a flick of perfectly manicured nails and turned to Aaron. “And who might you be?” Her smile warmed instantly, slipping into sultry. “You don’t look like the rest of the staff.”

Aaron straightened, his face unreadable. “Security, ma’am. Making sure everyone stays safe.”

“Mmm,” the woman purred, tilting her head and giving him a once-over. “I certainly feel safer already.”

Beth bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to taste copper.

Aaron didn’t even blink. “Glad to hear it, ma’am.” He stepped aside, angling himself towards the side doors like he had somewhere better to be. The move was so efficient, so casual, it stopped the woman’s flirting in its tracks.

Beth quickly typed in a note for guest services, who would deliver another bottle of champagne and confirm the first was not in the cabin. If an empty bottle was found on the premises, they were to document proof and charge for both.

When she was done, she glanced up with a polite, practiced smile. “I’ll have that bottle waiting in your cabin within the next ten minutes.”

The woman’s gaze lingered after Aaron before she finally looked back at Beth. “Fine. See that you do.” She adjusted her designer sunglasses and sashayed towards the exit, clearly more disappointed about Aaron than the champagne.

Beth let out a slow exhale the second the guest was out of earshot. Her shoulders sagged as though she’d been holding her breath the entire exchange. She picked up her smoothie and took a long sip, letting the cool, sweet, tangy taste calm the racing of her nerves. She snuck another glance at Aaron.

He was watching her again, that infuriating, steady grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. Not the cocky kind he’d used on the guest, but one meant only for her. Her stomach responded like a traitor with a tumble of warmth and butterflies all at once.

“She was hurt that you wouldn’t flirt back with her,” she said, suddenly.

He chuckled. “I tend to steer very clear of woman like that.”

“What? Rich? Powerful?”