This was perfect. This was everything I’d never known I needed. I held her tight, and for the first time in my life, felt like I was home.
Chapter35
Tessa
Two months later
My heels clicked on the floor as I headed toward the ballroom. I spotted Debra, one of my events organizers.
“Deb, is everything ready in the ballroom for the wedding?”
“Yes.” She blew a strand of brown hair out of her face. “The tables are set, the flowers have been delivered. Chef Harvey is roaring around the kitchen like a wounded lion.” She smiled. “It’s going to be a beautiful wedding.”
I smiled back. “Of course it is. It’s going to beperfect. That’s how we do things at the Langston Windward.” I looked at my watch. “I need to check that the outdoor chairs are set for the ceremony. Did the flower arch get done?”
“Done.”
“You rock, Deb.”
She beamed. “Thanks, Tessa.”
“The happy couple will have the best wedding ever.”
I headed out and then back down to the lobby. I heard the now-familiar sound of power tools. The renovations had started. There was never a good time to do renovations in a hotel, but Piper was like a general organizing things. Several renovations were happening in the restaurant, lobby, and they’d made a start on the new spa. Several things would be completed before our busy winter season.
Smiling, I waved at the workers on the scaffold. They waved back.
My new terrace would have to wait until the summer to get done. Piper was planning upgrades to the guest rooms as well. We were doing them in sections to minimize disruptions.
To think I’d been so dead set against becoming a Langston hotel. I grinned. Now, I’d embraced it. The new upgrades were going to be amazing.
I’d definitely changed my tune about the owner of Langston Hotels too.
“Tessa?”
Jillian raced over. Our excited and anxious bride-to-be.
“I saw the flower arch.” She clapped her hands to her cheeks. “It’s perfect.”
“Did you have any doubt?” I took her hand. “You’re going to be a stunning bride and have a stunning wedding.”
She blushed. “I can’t wait to marry my man. Speaking of men, where’s your hot rich guy?”
“In New Orleans. Designing a new hotel down there.”
“I bet you miss him. I saw pictures of the two of you on TMZ the other week. You looked gorgeous and all you two were doing was getting coffee.”
I controlled my scowl. The shot of Ro and I at Mountain Brew had been splashed all over the website. Thankfully, the locals of Windward had rallied around us and did their best to help us have some privacy. The other week, even Clyde Parker had chased off some photographers.
I did miss Ro. He’d been gone for several days, but he called me morning and night. There were some issues with the planning of the New Orleans Langston, and it was an open-ended trip. I had no idea when he was getting back.
I couldn’t wait for him to return. The best part of him traveling was our reunions when he got home.
He’d slowly started delegating more work to his team, which meant more time off for him and less trips away.
“I had better run,” Jillian said. “Or my bridesmaids will drink all the champagne.”
Smiling, I watched her dash away.
