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)
“Come on in,” he says as he stands up. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
He’s so big. He towers over me. Those biceps are as thick as my thighs for god’s sake.
I can still picture him at his cabin out in his element. The snow, the whiskey, chopping wood with hardly any clothes on. I want to see more of that side of him.
Stop! This is not the time for that.
I’m trying to be professional, but this man makes it very hard for me to focus and stay on the ball. It’s like my mind transforms into a lovestruck teenage girl whenever he’s around. I don’t get it.
He motions to the seat in front of his desk, so I leave the door open and walk over.
“Can I say something first?” I say as I stand in front of his desk.
“Of course,” he says as he sits down while looking at me. “I always want you to be honest and speak your mind with me, Lauren.”
“Good.” I take a deep breath and look at the mountains so I can spit this out. “I know this has been a… strange day. But today is not indicative of how I normally conduct myself at work. I am a professional and I would never do anything inappropriate.”
“Inappropriate like kissing your boss at work?”
My cheeks flare up as I squirm. He’s trying to throw me off my game again, but I refuse to let him.
“Precisely,” I say with my shoulders back and my chin up. “I would like to interview for the manager position. Please treat me like you would any other candidate.”
He’s watching me with amusement as I sit down. I keep my back straight as I place my prepared notes on my lap.
“But you’re not like any other candidate,” he says as he leans back in his chair with his bright blue eyes on me. “You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Well, you’re going to have to act like I am. What is your first question?”
“Have you been thinking about that kiss all day or is it just me?”
I sigh. “Is that what you ask the other candidates?”
“I haven’t kissed the other candidates.”
I narrow my eyes on him as we stare at each other for a few seconds, which feel like they’re dragging on for an eternity. My treacherous eyes drop to his sexy lips and my mouth waters. I liked the way his beard tickled when he kissed me. I start to wonder how it would feel between my thighs until I catch myself.
Enough! Be professional dammit!
“I have some ideas to increase worker efficiency for the lodge,” I say as I ignore the heat swirling through my body and pull out the top paper. I place it on his desk. “Employees waste a lot of time on the outdated reservation system. With the new computers I ordered after the accident, we can install a new high-performing software that will allow all bookings—online, telephone, and manually entered bookings—to integrate seamlessly. It will save a lot of time and be more reliable.”
His forehead scrunches up as he leans forward and takes the paper. “Hmm,” he says as he scans it.
“The monthly fee is a bit of an increase than what we’re paying now, but it will more than offset itself in the increased efficiency and it will also eliminate all booking errors, which become expensive when you take into account the necessary upgrades and comped meals to placate the guests.”
He’s nodding as he looks it over. “I like it. Let’s do it.”
“Really?” I say, perking up. “Just like that?”
“Just like that. I trust you. I can tell you have a good head on your shoulders and if you say it’s the right move, then I agree.”
“Okay,” I say as the shakiness leaves and a new rush of confidence replaces it. “I’ll get right on it tomorrow morning.”
“What other ideas do you have there?”
I tell him all of my prepared ideas from changing the pool cleaning company who are not up to the high standard of The Greene Mountain Lodge, to courting online influencers to get bookings up, to offering customers who stay eight days or more a free breakfast, to offering complimentary pick-ups and drop-offs to customers arriving by train.
“The taxi service in this town is abysmal,” I tell him. “Last week, a customer had to wait two hours for her taxi to arrive to bring her here. I suggest tasking Mitch from maintenance with picking them up in the service van. It’s clean and already has the company logo on the side, plus Mitch is great with people. He’s very friendly and I think the customers would love him.”
Owen is watching me with a look of wonder on his face. I think I impressed him.
“Do it,” he says. “And give Mitch a nice raise to go along with his new responsibilities.