All Night Long: Kiss The Bride #2

by Cynthia Cooke

  “I still can’t believe that happened. Sally saved my life. I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t see her.”

  “She’s a good dog. You should go by and see her.”

  “I would love to, but I’m getting short on time.”

  “How was the conference after I left?”

  “The afternoon sessions were wonderful. I’m learning so much.”

  “My sister will be happy to hear that.” He parked outside the restaurant and pointed to a little sports car. “Good, she’s already here.”

  “She drives that up here?” Phoebe couldn’t imagine.

  “Paige lives a couple hours away outside Sacramento. She comes home whenever she’s needed.”

  “Nice. Have you ever thought of leaving Snowy Mountain?”

  “I left. Once.”

  That surprised her.

  “Joined the military.” He opened the door and got out of the truck.

  Now there was a story, she thought as she opened her door. “What did you do?”

  “A little of this and that. Saw way too much sand and decided I preferred the snow.” He put a light touch on her back as they walked toward the restaurant.

  As they entered, Phoebe recognized the woman with the pixie cut who waved to them from across the room. They walked over to her table.

  “Sorry, I’ve already started on the bread. I’m starving.” She stood and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Paige.”

  She shook Paige’s hand. “Phoebe. Nice to meet you.” She took a seat next to her at the small table.

  “The food here is really good,” Paige said as a waiter approached with their menus.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked.

  “Just water.”

  “How about a bottle of wine for the table?” Beau suggested.

  “Sounds great,” Paige said, and Beau ordered a bottle of Cabernet.

  Phoebe looked over the menu and made her selection.

  “So how are you liking the conference?” Paige asked.

  “Loving it,” Phoebe said. “Though I missed the welcome panel. Was there anything said I need to know?”

  “Not really. We talked about the schedule for the conference and the Valentine’s party at Beau’s place. I’ll drop off the handouts you missed at your table.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “So tell me what’s up,” Paige said, looking at Beau. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, but why did you want me to join you for dinner?”

  “I’ve asked Phoebe to be my fake fiancé,” Beau said abruptly.

  Paige’s eyes widened. “What? You mentioned Rich’s insane demand this morning, but how is this better? Do you think he’ll change his mind if you have a fiancé for one weekend? That’s crazy.”

  At that moment Candy walked through the door. Beau took one look at her and grabbed Phoebe’s hand. Paige didn’t miss a thing. She leaned forward. “This isn’t about Rich; this is about Candy Stevens, isn’t it? I told you last year you were making a huge mistake hooking up with that one.”

  “And I should have listened. But I didn’t. So, yes, you’re right about Candy. But this is also about Rich.”

  Paige turned to Phoebe. “How did my crazy brother drag you into this mess?”

  “It’s a long story, but he rescued me from a snowdrift today. That’s why I missed the welcome panel. I fell in and couldn’t get out. I thought I was going to freeze to death.”

  “So what did you do?” Paige asked her brother. “Tell her you wouldn’t help her if she didn’t pretend to go along with your harebrained scheme?”

  “Of course not!”

  Paige took a deep breath. “Sorry, Phoebe. That must have been terrifying.” She looked at Beau. “It’s a good thing you found her.”

  “It was Sally who found her,” Beau grumbled.

  “She is one special dog,” Phoebe added. She was kind of enjoying the grief Paige was giving her brother, and curious to see how he would deal with it.

  “Phoebe’s helping me out, and I’m helping her,” Beau added.

  Paige’s eyebrows raised.

  “By comping her room and conference fee,” he clarified. “After all, she almost froze to death on our property. It seemed the only fair thing to do.”

  “I get that,” Paige said dryly.

  “So we’re good?” he asked.

  She smirked. “We’re good.”

  The waiter brought their dinners. The food was fabulous and so was the company. They were silent for a moment as they ate. Phoebe hoped Paige meant what she said and that she really was okay with their plan.

  “So, I was going to tell both you and Mom this later,” Paige said, looking at Beau. “But now might be the best time.”

  “Okay, what’s up?”

  “It looks like this might be the last year we can host the conference at the chalet.”

  Beau choked on his chicken piccata. “What? Why?”

  “I’ve been approached by Destination Weddings. They are expanding, and they’d like me to run their West Coast office. I’ve accepted the position and put in my notice at Prestige Events.”

  “But you know how much we depend on your business. You do an event with us twice a year. We need that income. Not only at the chalet, but at the bar and hotel too.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. But I want more out of my career than being an event planner.”

  Beau was quiet.

  “Maybe it’s time Mom sells the chalet. When Dad was alive, they could manage it together, but it’s too much work for one person.”

  Beau looked stunned, and Phoebe was feeling uncomfortable. This was definitely a family conversation.

  “If she sells it to one of those ski chains, the whole village will change,” Beau said.

  “I know. But sometimes change is inevitable. Obviously, I will suggest to the person who takes my place that she continue to hold the events here, but I can’t guarantee they will.” She stood. “I’m sorry, Beau. You got the check?”

  He nodded.

  “Thanks. It was great to meet you, Phoebe. Welcome to the family,” she said loudly, then walked out the door.

  Phoebe took Beau’s hand, and not just because Candy was watching with narrowed eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  He was silent for a moment, then looked up at her. “Don’t be. We haven’t lost yet, and I don’t give up that easily.”

  “I can see that, and that’s something we have in common.” She really hoped for his sake his tenacity would be enough.

  Beau refilled her wineglass as the waiter returned to take their plates. “When you live in a dying town, you’re used to adversity. We’ll find a way to make it work. We always do. We’ll just have to think of something.”

  “You really could use some help with your internet presence and getting Rich to create an online site. I tried to research Snowy Mountain before I came, but I couldn’t find anything. Even the ski chalet doesn’t have much. You’d get a lot more business if people could see what they were signing up for.”

  “I know. I’ve been working on Rich, but it isn’t easy. Right now, we depend on word of mouth and repeat visitors. During the summer, this place becomes a ghost town. That’s why I really need him to sell the place to me now. There are so many changes I want to make, and I’m afraid that if we don’t make them soon, our businesses will have to shut down before I can save them.”

  “You just need some kind of draw. It must be beautiful here in the summer.”

  “You have no idea. You should come back and visit. I’d love to show you around.”

  She hoped he wasn’t just being polite. “I’d like that.”

  “Come on, let’s get back to the bar. It’s getting late, and customers will be arriving soon.”

  “Sounds good. I need to get back to work.” She stood.

  “Oh, no. You can’t just run back to your room. One dance,” he insisted.

  She grinned. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”

&nb
sp; “Tenacity is my middle name.”

  That was what had her worried.

  Chapter Eight

  It was already eight o’clock, and the bar was only a third full. The DJ Beau hired was setting up and would soon be playing. Rich still sat at his table in the corner and nodded his head as they walked in. Beau hoped the night would pick up once the ladies returned from dinner. They had to make changes soon, or he wouldn’t have a choice; the bar and the hotel would have to shut down or die a slow death. He feared it might be too late to save it.

  Paige’s news didn’t make the situation any better. He hated the thought of having to leave this mountain, but soon he might not have a choice.

  “What can I get you to drink?” Beau asked Phoebe.

  “Oh, I don’t know if I should drink any more. The wine with dinner was wonderful, and I have to work this evening.”

  “Soda?”

  “Sounds great.” They took a seat at the bar. He poured her a soda and himself a scotch. “How long have you been running this place?”

  “Since I returned from the military. Wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, and I started working here and fell in love with it. I enjoy interacting with the customers. Trying new food options, coming up with new drinks, and finding different ways to keep the place humming. Right now, it’s a well-oiled machine. I think I could do the same for the hotel side of the business. All Rich has to do is sell it to me.”

  “I hope he does.”

  “Thank you for helping me. I know it’s a crazy idea.” He took a drink of his scotch.

  “You don’t really think he will sell it to you because we’ve been engaged for a weekend?”

  “No, but I’m hoping I can get you to come back for visits. I’ll tell him we have a long-distance thing going and that I’ll visit you a couple times a month until he believes it.”

  “That’s a lot of effort for a lie, but I suppose it could work.”

  “Would you come back for a visit?” The hope on his face was endearing. She wondered if it was only for the lie or if he wanted to see her again.

  “I was just thinking earlier how much I like my room. It would be a wonderful place to work on my jewelry in the summer.”

  “See, I knew we could pull it off.”

  She gave a nod. “It would give us a chance to get to know each other better, so it wouldn’t feel like a complete lie. I don’t know about the long term, but we can try for a little while.”

  “That’s all a man can ask for. So what about you? Why do you want to be a wedding planner?”

  “I love weddings. Always have ever since I was a little girl.”

  “My sister is the same way.”

  “I can see that. It sounds like this new job with Destination Weddings is everything she’d hoped for.”

  “I am happy for her. I guess I didn’t make that clear, but I’m worried about losing the event business. I’m sure she’ll talk to her replacement about us, but our attendance numbers are down, so it might be tough. That’s why we’re hosting the Valentine’s Day party tomorrow night. We want to make sure everyone has a good time and will want to return next year.”

  “I hope it works out for you.”

  “We have a great band and cheap drinks. What else do we need?”

  “Do you have ideas to attract the summer crowd? You know mountain biking, gondola rides up at the ski runs, like the other winter resorts do in the summer.”

  “Nah, my mom can only manage to keep open in the winter, and barely then.”

  “Well, maybe you can come up with another draw. Have you tried showing Rich a business plan?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean other than telling him you’re engaged, show him your plans for the hotel and bar. Show him on paper how you plan to save it. What your proposed changes will cost, and how you will get the capital to cover it. You know, a business plan.”

  “But he’s practically family.” Did he really need to do all that?

  “True. But if he’s not trusting you to run the whole business, then you need to stop acting like family and start acting like a businessman.”

  Beau stared at her. He didn’t know why he didn’t see it before. That was exactly what he had to do. Okay, a business plan. How hard could that be? He would get started on it first thing in the morning.

  “I overstepped, didn’t I?”

  “No, you didn’t. That was exactly what I needed to hear.” She smiled, and he had the urge to hug her. “Rich will leave soon. Do you want to dance before he goes? Give him a good show?” He held out his hand.

  She placed her hand in his. “Sure, why not?”

  He led her to the floor, pulled her up against him, and held her tight as they swayed to the music. She looked up at him adoringly, and for a moment his breath caught.

  “Laugh at something I’m saying,” she said. “And look at me like I’m the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen. He’s watching.”

  “That isn’t hard to do,” he said, laughing softly and staring into her gorgeous brown eyes.

  “You know, I didn’t really believe this would work. But with your help, I’m thinking it might actually happen.”

  “Never give up on your dreams. I haven’t. A year ago I was in a dead-end relationship doing an accounting job I hated. Now look where I am. All you have to do is believe.”

  “You make me believe I can make this work.”

  “You absolutely can.”

  He held her close, not because Rich was watching, but because he wanted to. He liked the way she felt in his arms, but even more he liked the way she made him feel—like anything was possible.

  They swayed to the music, her head nestled beneath his chin. There was something special about Miss Phoebe Lawson. She was down-to-earth, not afraid to take risks, and said exactly what she was thinking. She was a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of person, and in his book that was the best kind of person to be. Many admirable traits and being beautiful wasn’t bad either. Besides, she liked his dog, and what was better, his dog liked her.

  “You know, if you want the ladies to have a good time, I have some ideas for games you can play while they’re here,” she said, breaking into his thoughts.

  “You do?”

  “Your sister can come up with a list of questions from the panels today and do a conference trivia with drink tickets as the prizes. She has a whole basketful of garters she’s giving away. You can attach them to the hook and ring toss you have on that far wall and give drink prizes for those who can hook the garters.”

  “I like the way you think.”

  “And don’t forget karaoke. Women love karaoke.”

  “We have a karaoke machine in the back.”

  “You should totally bring that out.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now. The DJ can help run it.”

  The door opened, and a group of women came in, emphasizing her words.

  He grinned. “Okay, but are you going to break the ice?”

  “Me?” she squeaked.

  “It was your idea.”

  “How about we do it together?”

  He laughed. “You’re on. And I know the perfect song.”

  “Oh, boy, I’m afraid to ask.”

  “Do you know Captain and Tennille?”

  “Let me guess. ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’?”

  He gave her arm a squeeze. “See, I knew we made a great team.”

  “I will need something stronger than soda for this.”

  Ten minutes later the karaoke machine was wheeled out; they were belting out the songs, and the room was in an uproar all night. Sales doubled; the bar was hopping, and even Rich stuck around and seemed to enjoy himself.

  “I really need to get some work done,” Phoebe said finally, begging off after another song.

  Beau didn’t want to see her go. He couldn’t remember the last time he had this much fun. “All right. At least let me walk you to your door.”


  “But it’s down the hall. I think I can find it without getting lost.”

  “I know.” He waggled his eyebrows. “But we want to make a good show of it, don’t we?”

  She rolled her eyes. “All right, fine. But don’t forget our no sex deal.”

  “How could I possibly forget that?”

  Chapter Nine

  What was Phoebe getting herself into? She was attracted to Beau, very attracted. But getting into a relationship with him, no matter how short, was a mistake. She had a lot of things to focus on, and a new man wasn’t one of them.

  But he was just so damn cute, and when he smiled, her heart flip-flopped all over the place. She practically melted into a puddle of ice cream on the sidewalk on a hot summer day. She shouldn’t be going anywhere with him, and yet here she was taking him to her room.

  With his hand on her back, he walked with her through the room. She was getting way too used to him touching her. She was afraid she would miss it once she went back home. Luckily, it was a short walk to her room. She took out her key and opened the door. “Thank you for a great evening.”

  He stood in the hall outside her door staring at her expectantly. He wasn’t leaving.

  “I had a great time.” She shifted from one foot to another. It was obvious he wanted to come in. What was worse, she wanted to invite him in, and that was exactly why she shouldn’t.

  “Do you mind if I come in?” he asked.

  She opened her mouth to tell him exactly why he had to go.

  “It’s just that Candy and Rich both watched us leave. If we’ve been seeing each other for a while, then I would spend a little time here. Let Candy and the others talk about us. I won’t bother you. You can work on your project, and I’ll just watch the TV.”

  She sighed. “Okay. But just for a little while.”

  He smiled, and her knees weakened. Why did that little boy smile of his have such a strong effect on her? She walked into her room and shut the door behind them.

  “I really appreciate this.” He dropped on the sofa next to the desk and picked up the remote to turn on the TV. “See, I won’t bother you at all.”

  She opened the fridge. “Want a water bottle? It’s all I have. That and chocolate.”