cut the car engine. She grabbed her purse with her electronic notepad inside and then got out of the car. She’d power dressed today in a stylish dark brown skirt and suit jacket with a beige blouse. Brown pumps adorned her feet and tiny gold hoop earrings were her only jewelry.
Drawing in several deep breaths as she walked to the hotel entrance, she shoved all thoughts from her mind except what needed to be here to do her job well.
She still couldn’t believe how lucky they had been that the Regent’s ballroom was available on a Friday night two weeks from now. Two weeks was the mere blink of an eye in planning the kind of event they intended to have.
Whenever possible, Debra used the hotel’s event planner, but the Regent had a new woman working in that position, somebody Debra had never worked with before. It wouldn’t take long for Debra to discern if the woman was adequately prepared to do the job they needed and if she wasn’t then Debra would bring in an event planner of her own.
Debra knew she had a reputation as being sweet and accommodating, but she could be a vicious shark when it was necessary to get what was best for the Winston family.
She went to the reservation desk and asked for Donald Rasworth, the hotel manager. She smelled Trey before she saw him, the expensive scent of a slightly spicy cologne that had clung intimately to her skin the morning after their wild, impetuous encounter.
She turned and nearly bumped into him. “Oh. You’re here,” she said.
He smiled. “Aren’t I supposed to be here?”
“Yes, but I just didn’t know that you were here... That you’d actually arrived...”
Thankfully she was rescued from her inane ramble by a tall slender man who approached them with a hand extended and a wide smile of welcome on his face.
“Mr. Winston,” he said as he grabbed Trey’s hand in a shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. We’re hoping here at the Raleigh Regent that we can meet all your needs for whatever event you want to plan.”
Trey turned to Debra and introduced her. “This is the person you need to please,” Trey said. “She’s our special weapon when it comes to planning these things.”
“I understand you have a new event planner. Will she be joining us?” Debra asked.
“Stacy Boone and yes, she should be joining us at any moment.” He looked around the lobby, as if expecting the woman to be hiding behind a potted plant or an elegant column. “While we wait for her why don’t I go ahead and take you to our main ballroom and let you have a look around.”
One demerit for the late Stacy Boone, Debra thought as she followed behind the two men. Trey was clad in a navy suit with a matching shirt, and she couldn’t help but notice that he looked as good from the back as he did from the front.
Broad shoulders, slim waist and long legs, the man was definitely eye candy even without his confident stride and the aura of power that radiated from him.
A vision of his naked body flashed in her brain, causing her to stumble over a bump in the carpet that didn’t exist. Trey turned in time to put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “Okay?” he asked with concern.
“I’m fine,” she assured him quickly. It was a relief when he dropped his hand from her. He was a warm and friendly man, a toucher by nature, but she didn’t want him touching her in any way. It evoked too many memories she definitely needed to forget.
They had just reached the ballroom’s double doors when a young blonde in a pink dress and high heels to heaven came rushing in. She carried a messy pile of paperwork and a smile of apology. “Sorry I’m late.” Her gaze landed on Trey and admiration filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Donald introduced the woman as Stacy, not only his new event planner but his favorite niece, as well. Uh-oh, Debra thought. She didn’t have any real problem with the nepotism, but Stacy looked very young and definitely had the aura of an airhead about her.
Even Trey looked slightly troubled as he said hello and then exchanged a quick glance with Debra. Debra returned a reassuring smile to him. She’d know within an hour if Stacy was up to the job or not and if she wasn’t then she’d be out and Debra would be working with somebody she knew could help her get this job done right.
Stacy led them into the ballroom and set her papers on a nearby table. “You’re lucky you called when you did. Most people don’t know yet that we just recently finished the renovation of the ballroom. New lighting, carpeting and wall covering. We also have the ability to remove the carpeting, which is actually big squares, in order to lay down a fantastic dance floor.”
“I like that,” Trey said with enthusiasm. “Dinner and dancing.”
“That means we’ll have to hire a small orchestra,” Debra said as she stifled an inward groan. She’d been so flustered yesterday when she’d initially met with Trey they hadn’t talked about the budget for this affair.
“Then we’ll hire an orchestra,” he replied breezily. “I want people leaving that night feeling good about their evening and me. Dancing after dinner definitely has to happen,” he replied.
“Then we’ll make it happen.” Debra pulled her tablet out of her purse and made notes to add to the computer file she’d started for Trey’s dinner party.
Stacy pulled a paper form from her stack and gestured for the three of them to sit at the single table just inside the room. Debra took off her coat and flung it across the back of her chair while Trey took off his overcoat and did the same.
As they began talking about the basic logistics, the date and time and how many would be attending, Stacy took notes and Trey leaned back in his chair and looked around the room, making Debra wonder what thoughts were tumbling around in his head.
Was he thinking about the dinner and maybe writing, in his head, the speech he’d give that night? Or perhaps he was mulling over how difficult the Senate race would be. The incumbent Senator William DeCrow was seeking another term and he was known to be a down and dirty fighter.
Thankfully, Trey had no dirt from his past or present that could be thrown on him, as long as nobody ever knew about their night together, as long as nobody ever knew about the baby she carried he should be fine.
Stacy might have flown in like an airhead, but when it got right down to business, she appeared to be savvy and eager to please, a perfect combination for getting things done properly.
“I can email you a variety of menus first thing tomorrow,” she said to Debra after they’d both signed a contract to rent the ballroom for the date. “And are we doing a cash or an open bar?”
“We’ll serve wine with dinner, but set up a cash bar,” Debra replied. Trey leaned forward and opened his mouth as if to protest, but Debra didn’t allow him.
“Cash bar,” she said firmly. “This night is supposed to be about you beginning to build a support base, not about a bunch of drunks who won’t remember what you said in your speech the next morning.”
“And people never drink as much when they have to pay for it out of their own pockets,” Stacy added.
“Okay, then I guess I’m outvoted on this topic,” he replied and once again leaned
