A Perfect Fit (21 page)

Cami pushed back the sadness and realized Lana needed to
know as well—this was not the kind of news you sprang on someone the day
everyone checked into the hotel. She stood and walked up to the executive
offices on the second floor. She greeted the receptionist and walked on
through. Lana was at her desk and Blake sat beside her, peering over her
shoulder and pointing to something on the computer screen.

He glanced up first and concern washed over his face. “Is
something wrong?”

Cami considered whether she should ask to be alone with
Lana, then decided Blake was so mixed up in everything going on there was no
point in excluding him now. She shut the door and walked over to an empty chair
across from them, feeling numb. “Not wrong, exactly.” She met Lana’s gaze as
the smell of ripe strawberries wafted to her from candle warmer on the credenza.
“I was checking the guest list for the gala weekend and noticed the
others—their moms are coming. I don’t know how I missed it before.”

“The others?” Lana asked.

Slow down and try to make sense.
“Delphi, Jonquil, Sage.
All of their parents have reservations. I thought I should give you a heads up.”

Silence filled the room for a long moment.

“Are you okay with this?” Blake finally asked. His hand came
to rest on Lana’s shoulder, and he gave it a squeeze as he looked between the
sisters. “It must be hard for you.”

 Cami watched the emotions play over Lana’s face. She
recognized the feelings since she felt them as well. “I’ll be fine. I’m just
glad I noticed now instead of being surprised at the last minute.”

“No problem. It’s no big deal.” Lana’s face looked numb
despite her words.

Cami stood, not sure she believed either of them were okay.

As she left the room, she turned and saw Blake pushing hair
back from Lana’s unhappy face, saying something to her in a voice Cami heard
only as a low, comforting rumble. She wondered again at their strange
relationship, but the emotions that still pumped through her made her set it
aside for now.

Evenings in the Rockies were cool, even in early August, so
after double checking her form-fitting blouse, her boot-cut jeans and new
cream-colored cowboy boots, Cami grabbed a summer sweater she could slide on
later.

Cami met Vince at the bottom of the stairs, her heart
pattering with excitement as he watched her descend.

“Wow. Have I said that enough lately?” He pulled her in,
pressing a languid kiss to her lips.

“I don’t think you could ever overuse that word,” she
murmured when they came up for air.

“Yes, he could,” Rosemary said from where she sat at the
dining table. “But of course, he’s completely right. Those jeans were made for
you.”

“And the jewelry is awesome,” Jonquil added.

“I guess I pass inspection.” Amused, Cami looped her arm
through Vince’s and allowed him to lead her to the door. “Have a good night,”
she called over her shoulder.

“Not as good as you, I’m thinking,” Rosemary shot back.

Cami felt her face heat.

“You get caught coming in the other morning?” Vince asked
when they were in the open air.

“Oh, yeah.”

He helped her into the car, then joined her and pulled into
the street. He talked about work, but she could barely listen, thinking about
the party ahead with little idea of what to expect. Her hatred of big parties,
especially ones filled with strangers, filled her chest with anxiety, nudging
at her usual core of confidence. She hoped she didn’t become too nauseated to
eat—a problem she often dealt with at large social gatherings.

“What’s wrong?”

She smiled weakly. “I’m a little nervous.”

“Hon, I have a feeling this is going to be nothing like the
parties you’re used to.” His hand covered hers in her lap and gave it a
squeeze. “No need to worry. It’ll be fine.”

Time to deflect the comment before he realized how much her
stomach churned. “If it were going to be like my other parties, I sure wouldn’t
be wearing these boots.” She admired them again, liking them, despite their
being so different from her usual footwear.

“I like those boots. And Rosemary’s completely right about
the jeans.”

She laughed in pleased embarrassment.

“I’m glad you’re coming with me tonight,” he said, twining
his fingers through hers.

“I enjoy being with you.” She shrugged, feeling awkward. “Besides,
it’s my job.”

 “It’s more than a job; it’s family pride and love of what
you accomplish.” He squeezed her hand.

He understood. Tingles of emotion rolled through her. She
didn’t think he would grasp the way she felt about it. “That too.”

Vince lifted her hand, pressing it to his lips. “You’re an
amazing woman, Cami.”

“Tell me again when we convince the happy couple they want
to keep their wedding at the resort.”

He smiled against her knuckles. “I’ve enlisted some help there.
Do what you do best, and before you know it, the bride will be begging you to
keep her business.”

“This I gotta see.”

The first hour of the party went about as Cami had imagined
it. She met dozens of new people, only a fraction of whose names she recalled
ten minutes later. The food was a festive mix of Jell-O salads, spicy Mexican
dishes, and old favorites. Upbeat tunes spanning three decades lilted through
the air and the fresh scent of pine permeated everything—but because of the upcoming
discussion, Cami couldn’t enjoy it. Vince knew everyone, asked them about their
sister, son, cousin or grandmother. He talked about water shortages with the
ranchers and the high school football team’s chances at the state title.

He helped her make connections not only
with
the
locals, but about how they related to each other. And while Cami had been used
to paying attention to those kinds of things in the city, Vince did it with a
relish she never felt—and out of a genuine concern for everyone around him
instead of in the scheming worry about social rank that motivated so many of
her acquaintances. She knew every town had its social pitfalls and
expectations. She wondered, though, if he cared more about the people than she
did, or if he was really good at acting sincere.

Cami suspected it was the former and was fascinated to see
how enmeshed in the community he was. No wonder he had returned to Juniper
Ridge after completing his degree.

His ease and familiarity and the warmth of his hand in hers
eventually soothed her, lessening her anxiety.

She and the future bride greeted each other in passing, and
though Cami wanted to get it over with, she knew it was too soon to bring up
the wedding. These things took planning and precision and nerves of steel—at
least, they did if you didn’t want to be at the party. And despite everything, she
would much, much rather have been cuddled with Vince on his sofa. Or wherever
else he wanted to cuddle.

At dinner Vince maneuvered them so they sat with Jeremy and
his date, Gage and his mother, and within hearing distance of the future bride.
While everyone enjoyed the black forest cake the hostess had provided, Gage’s
mother, Etta, started in, “Cami, I’ve heard so much about your conference
center. The pictures Jeremy shot are breathtaking. Seriously, every bride
within fifty miles is going to want to be married there.”

My cue.
Cami plunged in enthusiastically, “You’re so
sweet, but I have to agree. Things have come together now. The last of the
furniture is arriving. I love the tablecloths and vases and all of the accessories
we’ve ordered for the room. We’re using it for the grand opening gala and
Delphi has kept all of the details so together. She’s amazing.”

Jeremy nodded reluctantly. “She’s very organized, efficient.
Made sure everything I needed was handy when I did pictures there.”

“My niece and her boyfriend are talking about getting
married. She’d love to stop by and see what you have to offer,” Etta said.

Cami glanced at the bride-to-be out of the corner of her eye
and saw both members of the happy couple listening in. “The sky’s the limit.
Sage has plans to offer wedding-morning massages for bride and groom so they
can relax, along with facials or anything else they need to feel their best,
and Jonquil is incredible with flowers. She’s working on the most gorgeous
arrangement with roses and lilies. She had so many ideas for the big party. The
pastry chef Rosemary just hired is to-die-for incredible. Her cakes are like
edible joy. Everything’s coming together so well, I can hardly wait.” She
turned to Vince, smiled. “And of course the grounds are more beautiful every
day.”

“She wanted a fall wedding—I know, they’re in a hurry and
scheduling is tight. Is there any way you could fit her in?” Etta asked.

“We do have a few open weekends left, and we just had a
cancellation, so everyone but Jeremy is available that day.” She looked at
Jeremy. “Your schedule must be pretty full.”

“Yes, but Delphi can check my availability and add sessions
from her office, so she should have no trouble coordinating.”

“Great.” She turned back to Gage’s mom. “Didn’t I tell you
everything’s falling right into line?”

“It sounds like it.”

Apparently Gage had his fill of the cheesy rah-rah talk
because he changed the subject. Cami was just as glad—being that perky always
made her face tired. Another glance at the bride and groom, though, showed them
whispering quietly and shooting looks in her direction.

The evening’s efforts were rewarded late the next morning
when the bride called to reschedule her wedding, apologizing and saying they
just had cold feet—as if Delphi would forget their comments about finding a
different venue. Cami listened in the living room as Delphi assured the client
that she could get the event reinstated, though there would be a fee to
reestablish the appointments, since the vendors may have been working to fill
the slot.

Delphi ended the call and danced in a circle. “Whatever you
did last night, it worked. She’s hooked.”

“I’m not sure that’s a blessing, considering what a pain she’s
been to work with so far, but with everything else hitting the fan, we need all
the bookings we can get,” Cami said.

“I don’t care how difficult she is, I’m going to make this
the wedding of the century, so everyone she knows will have to book here too.”

“Don’t crow too long and loud,” Blake said as he entered
through the front door, Jonquil trailing behind him. “The report about the
prince cancelling his reservation hit the news this morning, and we’ve already
had several more cancelations.”

Cami swore but stopped when he held up a hand. “There’s
more. A story got out about your father calling to talk to each of you at least
twice a week, and making clandestine visits to your homes every-other month. I
don’t know how much is true—”

A cold prickle slid down her spine and Cami stood and
hollered at the top of her lungs, “Emergency meeting now! Everyone get your
butts in here.”

Women came upstairs and downstairs and with a little calling
back and forth, everyone was in the room within a minute. Cami stood and faced
the other women, studying each of their faces as they arrived in the room. “Did
anyone discuss your visitation schedules and phone calls with Dad outside this
room?” When everyone just stared at her, she explained, “There’s an article in
the paper about it, so if any of you shared it with other people, we need to
know who so we can figure out where our leak is.”

Everyone looked around them while murmurs of “not me” and “I
didn’t” filled the room.

“You think we’ve been bugged?” Lana asked.

Cami looked at Blake. “We discussed the visits and phone
calls in this room. If it got to the press, we need to get someone in here to
sweep for bugs like yesterday.”

Blake pulled out his cell phone and dialed. After he
finished a quick conversation, he turned back to them. “Joel will be here with
the right equipment within the hour. Is there any other sensitive information
you’ve discussed in here?” He looked around. “Then again, maybe we should take
this outside.”

Everyone agreed and they moved to the lawn, far from the
porch railing.

Cami tried to think of everything they’d said in their
conversation the previous week, her heart sinking.  “We discussed my
relationship with Vince. General plans for the hotels. Specifics about
applicants. Way too much that shouldn’t become public knowledge. And if they
have a bug in the great room, who’s to say there isn’t one in other rooms as
well? Or cameras?”

“Oh no. What if someone recorded me trying to do Zumba?”
Delphi looked horrified.

“Har, har. You think this is funny?” Lana asked, crossing
her arms over her chest.

Delphi glared at Lana. “No, I don’t think this is funny—an
elephant is more graceful than I am.”

“Not true,” Rosemary piped up. “You’re somewhat more
graceful than an elephant. At least equal to a rhino.”

“Thanks.” Delphi shot her a nasty glare. “Maybe you set up
the bugs. You don’t seem to care who knows about your life. You’re so open with
no secrets to hide.”

Rosemary’s jaw dropped, then she narrowed her eyes. “I can’t
believe you would say that. I have as much to lose as you do.”

“Right. You, who claim you could get a job anywhere so you
don’t need your inheritance.”

“I don’t. And I’m not the one who stormed out in the middle
of the reading of the will.”

“Enough.” Blake raised his voice so it covered the two
women. “Give it a rest. None of you have anything to gain by bringing the group
down. It just comes out of your pocketbook if the hotel loses money and you’re
all under the microscope.”

“There haven’t been any bad articles with her name
headlining,” Rosemary pointed out.

“In some social circles, the fact that I’m known to be
related to you is enough.”