“Comfort and a warm bed?” Robyn interjected, trying to lighten the mood and make her laugh.
And Kimberly did laugh. Something she hadn’t done enough of lately. “He offered me some words of wisdom.”
“Sounds promising.”
“Doesn’t matter.” She walked back over to her desk and slid into her executive chair. “Because it won’t happen again.”
“Why not?”
“You know my policy on dating guests.”
“Policies are made to be broken,” Robyn said, sitting on Kimberly’s desk. “Jack Scott got you to open up about a subject you’ve been pretty closemouthed about the last few months, even to me and Gabby. There’s something there. Don’t you owe it to yourself to find out? What harm would be there to share a meal with the man?”
“Perhaps.” That was all Kimberly was willing to concede.
As if sensing she couldn’t keep pushing Kim or she’d bolt in the opposite direction, Robyn changed the subject. “So, have you heard from Sean?”
Kimberly shook her head. “Nope. And it sucks. I miss him.”
“I heard he’s opening up his own restaurant in LA. The SP Grill.”
“I—I heard those rumors, too,” Kimberly replied, “And I wish him much success. Really I do. But we could have run this place together, like Batman and Robin. No pun intended.”
Robyn laughed. “Maybe you will one day. In the meantime, I’d like to go over the Brooks wedding for Saturday night.”
“Let’s get to it.”
Kimberly was busy for the remainder of the afternoon, walking around the hotel, visiting with staff, answering emails or having lunch with a congressman’s aide to prepare for his arrival. She finished the day by holding her daily staff meeting before the shift change. At 6:00 p.m., she was finally able to leave the resort to go to the Parker family home because she had some paperwork her parents needed to sign. After the promotion, she’d been so busy she hadn’t had a chance to visit them much. Or so she told herself. Deep down, she knew that wasn’t the only reason she hadn’t gone home.
Family dinners felt empty without her two brothers, Sean and Ryan. Sean had left and gone to Los Angeles, while her younger brother, Ryan, had taken his guitar and headed for New York. He’d said it was to strike out on his own and finally make a go of his music career. Even though she knew Ryan’s interest extended beyond the resort, Kimberly knew the real reason he’d gone at just that moment: he’d sided with Sean and had abandoned her, too.
She swiped her access card against the panel, and the large wrought-iron gates opened, allowing her entry into the Parker compound. Her parents lived in a large Spanish Colonial–style house just a few miles from the Belleza Resort and Spa. The two-story main house had white stucco walls and a red-tiled roof. There were also a pool house and a two-bedroom guesthouse on the grounds.
As she got out of her red Audi S7, Kimberly looked up at the wrought-iron balcony facing the large swimming pool. She’d spent many a summer there just reading a good book while Sean and Ryan played in the pool below her. Her head had always been in a book back then. She smiled at the fond memory as she walked up the cobblestoned path of the long driveway up to the house.
She heard music coming from the side of the house and walked up the side path to find her mother in a big straw hat and apron tending to her garden. Ilene Parker was proud she’d been able to maintain a vegetable and herb garden given the desert climate around them. She was knee-deep in dirt without any gloves on. Why did her mother persist in not taking care of herself? Kimberly resolved to get her a pair.
Her mother must have sensed her presence because she turned around. “Kimberly!” The happiness in her mother’s voice made Kimberly feel bad for keeping her distance.
“Mom.” She bent down to give her mother a hug while lending her a hand to rise to her feet. Her mother looked comfortable in her jean capris, T-shirt and tennis shoes.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?” her mother asked, wiping her hands on her apron. “I didn’t prepare anything special for supper, just some homemade chicken soup and salad. I came down here to get some fresh tomatoes.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Kimberly responded. “I just came by to get you and Dad to sign some final paperwork about the management turnover. I’m not really hungry.”
“Okay. We can take care of that over dinner.”
As usual her mother didn’t listen and insisted that she stay for supper.
“Where’s Daddy?” She looked up at the stucco house.
“In front of the television watching the Golf Channel.”
Kimberly laughed. Her father had always been an avid golf watcher, but now that he’d retired he was enjoying playing the sport, as well.
“I should go inside and have him sign these.”
“They can wait,” her mother said, removing her big straw hat. Her reddish-brown hair had been pulled back in a bun. “Why don’t you tell me how it’s going at the Belleza. How are you coping with all the changes?”
“Well, I’m honored at the faith you and Daddy have in me.”
“But...”
“But nothing. I can do the job. No, correction. I was born to do the job. Sean was always in the kitchen creating masterpieces, while I,” she asserted, as she patted her chest, “worked all over the hotel, absorbing as much information as I could from you, from Daddy, from anyone and everyone. I developed the marketing plan that put the Belleza back on the map and reminded folks of our history, not to mention those pesky rumors of a buried treasure stashed on the property.”
Her mother smiled at the reference. “You certainly capitalized on that with your ‘Discover a world of hidden riches’ theme when you renamed the common areas after precious gems. That campaign was ingenious, baby girl. Emerald Empire, Sapphire Sanctuary, Ruby Retreat and of course The Pearl were featured in luxury travel magazines because of you.”
Kimberly smiled. “Thank you, Mama. That’s why I can say without any doubt that I earned my place.”
“Earned what?” her father said from the top of the deck that overlooked her mother’s garden.
“Earned a right to come over for dinner unannounced,” Kimberly replied, glancing in her mother’s direction. She knew her father didn’t want to rehash this topic. He’d made his decision and didn’t appreciate it being second-guessed.
“Of course,” her father said. “You don’t need to ask. This is your home. Whatcha got in your hands?”
He inclined his head toward the manila envelope she held.
“Some papers for you to sign.”
“Well, come on up,” he said, “and let’s take care of the business before your mama finishes up supper.”
Kimberly
