Santa Maybe (The Duchess Hotel #1)

Chapter 1

One

53 Days Until Christmas

Rosie Gonzalez rarely left work before six. Or seven, if she was being honest. She didn’t want anyone to think she was doing the bare minimum. But tonight, she wasn’t staying a minute longer than she had to.

At exactly five thirty, she shut down her computer, grabbed her purse, and unpinned her shiny gold name badge from her blazer . As she set it beside her keyboard, she regarded it with a touch of pride: Rosie Gonzalez—Assistant General Manager, The Duchess Hotel.

Seconds later, her phone pinged with a text from the hotel’s front office manager, Charlotte, who was known to her friends as Charlie. Rosie suspected she’d been counting down the minutes until tonight’s happy hour.

Charlie: Time for drinks at Pepe’s! Duchess Damsels assemble!!

Rosie: Yes!! Meet you in the lobby in 5.

She bit back a grin, eager for the salty-sweet tang of Pepe’s irresistible house margaritas. Over the past two years, she and three of the hotel’s managerial staff—the self-proclaimed “Duchess Damsels”—had made a habit of meeting up every other Friday to let off steam.

Another text appeared on her phone:

Charlie: Just to warn you, Drew’s meeting us at Pepe’s.

Rosie’s stomach fluttered with a sudden bout of nerves. She’d been looking forward to sharing drinks with her coworkers all day. But the prospect of seeing Drew Richardson changed everything. Ever since she’d paused her membership to Northlife Fitness last winter, she’d made a point of avoiding him.

Not that it was his fault.

Back when he’d been her personal trainer at the gym, they’d become friends. But she’d screwed up. First, she’d developed a huge crush on him, and then she’d lacked the confidence to tell him how she felt. Just as she’d been on the verge of confessing, he’d gotten involved with one of his coworkers. Which had sucked so much that Rosie had stopped going to the gym and lost touch with him.

Rosie: Drew’s coming? Why???

Charlie: I thought you liked him. You used to talk about him all the time.

Rosie: I did. But that was 8 months ago. Why now?

Charlie: Ask Selena. She’s the one who invited him.

Rosie let out a shaky breath. Why was she getting so worked up about this? In a few minutes, she’d have all the answers she needed.

When her desk phone rang, her shoulders tightened. Please don’t let it be an emergency . Two nights ago, she’d stayed until eight, helping maintenance deal with a plumbing crisis on the third floor. When you worked at the oldest boutique hotel in Victoria, B.C., minor catastrophes like that were commonplace. It didn’t help that the owners hadn’t renovated the rooms in over twenty years.

To her dismay, the name Preston Hargreaves appeared on the caller ID.

Picking up the receiver, she greeted her boss with an enthusiasm she didn’t feel. “Good evening, Mr. Hargreaves. Can I help you with something?”

“Sorry I had to postpone your employee review this morning, but I can finally fit you in. You’re not on your way out yet, are you?”

Seriously? She’d spent all day waiting for that damn review.

“It’ll be quick,” he added. “I have to leave by six for a dinner reservation.”

“I’ll be right there.” She texted Charlie:

Rosie: The boss wants to meet now, but I’ll be done by 6. Can you wait for me?

Charlie: Yikes! I hope he has good news. We’ll meet you at the bar.

Now, Rosie would need to wait even longer to find out why Drew was joining them. Though she was desperate to know more, she couldn’t afford to lose focus. She silenced her phone and stashed it in the pocket of her blazer.

Seeing that Preston’s office door was open, she poked her head in. “May I come in?”

“Of course. I was just finishing up with your file. Give me a second.”

She eased into the rolling chair across from his desk, hoping he wouldn’t keep her for too long. Like her last boss, he was a wealthy white dude in his thirties whose wardrobe was “all Brooks Brothers, all the time.” Ever since his arrival last month as the new general manager, or GM, of the Duchess, she’d only had a handful of personal interactions with him. Most of the time, he communicated via phone or email.

He turned his attention away from his computer. “Rosalina?”

“Just Rosie, please.”

“All right, Rosie. I’m impressed with your file. In the seven years you’ve been at the Duchess, you’ve done well for yourself. When you started out, you were a lowly front desk clerk, and now you’re the assistant general manager. That’s quite an achievement.”

Lowly? Not cool, bro . Despite her discomfort, she kept her bright smile in place. “Thank you, sir. I realize it was a quick trajectory, but I’m really dedicated, and I love it here.”

Saying it made her sound like a kiss-ass, but it was the truth. She’d always put her whole heart into her job, even back when she’d first been hired at age twenty-two. As one of the few Latina hoteliers to have risen this high in Victoria’s competitive hospitality market, she’d worked extra hard to get ahead.

Her boss’s gaze flickered back to his computer screen. “While your past accomplishments were admirable, that’s not what I called you here to discuss. Right now, I’m more concerned about the future of this hotel. It’s no secret that the previous GM did a terrible job. For that reason, the Duchess needs a fresh start. A reboot like the one I carried out when I ran the Devonshire. Have I mentioned my experiences there?”

Only three or four times . “Yes, and your stories were very inspiring.”

“So I’ve been told. Not everyone could do what I did—take an outdated hotel and turn it into a well-reviewed gem—but I achieved it in less than a year.”

While Rosie had no desire to hear more Devonshire stories, she leaned forward, as if riveted by his words.

He continued. “I started by getting rid of the deadwood, and that’s what I intend to do here. For far too long, the Duchess has languished in the shadow of the Grand Duke. My goal is to reclaim some of our former glory, but I can’t do it unless my team is fully on board. And I’m not sure if that’s the case.”

Rosie’s pulse sped up. Ever since he’d taken the reins, she and the other senior staff had been on edge. They were afraid he’d replace all of them with his own people, which wasn’t an unusual move in the hotel business.

But even if he recruited the most highly trained managers in all of Canada, the Duchess would never be at the same level as its hated rival, the world-famous Grand Duke Hotel. Designed to resemble a massive French chateau, the Duke boasted over four hundred rooms, two grand ballrooms, and a well-reviewed restaurant. It stretched over an entire city block, occupying prime real estate across from Victoria’s popular Inner Harbour.

In comparison, the Duchess seemed like an outdated relic from a bygone era. Though it had flourished in the 1920s and ’30s as an iconic boutique hotel with an Art Deco vibe, by now, it had lost most of its glamor.

Preston tapped his pen on the table. “Are you aware of our rating on Tripadvisor?”

Rosie flinched. “Last time I checked, it was not quite at four stars. Three point eight, I believe. It was ranked seven point five out of ten on Expedia.”

“Mediocre, at best. And our occupancy rate hasn’t risen above seventy percent all year. Meanwhile, the Duke consistently sells out.”

“That’s true, but they gave all their rooms a total makeover four years ago.”

He frowned. “It’s hardly an ideal situation. Like I said, normally I’d clean house, but that seems unnecessarily cruel with the holidays almost upon us.”

Rosie smoothed her damp palms over the wool fabric of her skirt. “Thank you, sir.”

“You’re not off the hook yet. If you’d like to play a key role in my plans to revive the Duchess, then you and your staff need to get this hotel back on track. I want you to lean into the holidays— hard . Make us a must-stay destination for couples and families traveling in December. Push our occupancy rate to at least ninety percent.”

He couldn’t be serious. Given that it was the first week of November, she’d need a Christmas miracle to make that happen.

She kept her tone upbeat, hoping to hide the fact that she was freaking out internally. “Any thoughts on what you’d like to see? Would you like us to host a few holiday events or offer more amenities?”

“Whatever it takes. Brainstorm with your staff to make the Duchess the most festive, holiday-forward hotel in Victoria. Within reason, since there’s not much room in the budget. You’ll have to put in a lot of nights and weekends, but if you can turn things around by New Year’s, then you and your team can stay.”

Longer hours. More stress. And a tight deadline. Not ideal, but better than looking for a new job in January. “I’ll do my best, sir.”

“Thank you for understanding, Rosie. Considering your excellent track record, it would be a shame to let you go. Have a nice weekend.”

It would be a shame to let you go. Not quite a threat, but definitely a warning.

Upon leaving his office, she checked her phone. Though she’d missed a few messages from the Damsels, she didn’t have the heart to text them with an update. As much as she hated the thought of losing her job, she was even more concerned about them. What kind of a crappy New Year would it be if they ended up unemployed? For their sake, she’d do everything she could to meet Preston’s expectations.

Before heading to the hotel bar, she dashed into the washroom to freshen up. Under the bright bulbs, her light brown skin appeared paler than usual, making the bags under her eyes stand out. She freed her hair from its confining bun, letting the dark, wavy strands fall to her shoulders, then gave her lipstick and mascara a quick touch-up.

Normally, she wouldn’t fuss over her appearance, but with Drew coming to happy hour, she didn’t want to look like a complete wreck.

Stop worrying about him.

If anything, she should be glad for the chance to see him again.

But right now, she had a lot on her plate.

Not only was she expected to perform miracles at work, but once the holidays ramped up, the onslaught of family get-togethers would begin. The Gonzalez clan loved any excuse to celebrate. Which wasn’t a bad thing, except for the part where she’d be under more scrutiny than usual since she was still single at the ripe old age of twenty-nine. Worse yet, she’d have to endure more of her family’s awkward matchmaking attempts.

Best not to think about that now.

She walked through the lobby, which was painfully empty for a Friday night. Though the plush gray couches offered an inviting place to sit, they were unoccupied, as were the matching armchairs clustered around the tiled fireplace along the south wall. At the front desk, two clerks stood on duty, looking bored. She greeted them, then made her way to the Gilded Lily, the hotel’s cocktail lounge.

The 1920s-style bar was one of the hotel’s best features, decorated with green glass pendant lights, a tin-tiled ceiling, and brown leather club chairs. One wall displayed framed newspaper articles and photos from the twenties, along with vintage Art Deco posters. Unlike the lobby, it was half-full, mostly men and women in business suits who were probably attending the nearby convention on risk management.

Two of the Damsels—Charlie and Selena—were perched on leather stools beside the bar top, chatting with Knox, the head bartender. The two women made quite the contrast. Charlie was a petite, bubbly white woman with wide green eyes and an ash-blond pixie cut, whereas Selena was tall and shapely, with sleek black hair and a sharp wit. Like Rosie, she was of Mexican descent, fluent in Spanish, and had gotten her start at the Duchess by working as a front desk clerk. She now played an integral role as the hotel’s food and beverage manager.

Charlie’s brow furrowed as she greeted Rosie. “Are you okay? How was your review? Was it bad? You have those little stress lines on your forehead.”

“Is Preston going to fire you?” Selena asked. “Is he going to fire all of us? Please, no. I have to pay off my credit card debt.”

“No one’s getting fired,” Rosie said. “Not yet.”

Knox nodded her way. “Need a drink, Rosie? Shot of tequila? You look like you could use one.” He always spoke with a growl in his voice. The gruff, bearded bartender wasn’t known for being warm and fuzzy, but his mixology skills were unsurpassed. And it was no secret—at least not to Rosie—that Charlie had spent the past year pining for him.

“Thanks, but I’ll wait until we get to Pepe’s,” Rosie said. “I’ve already spent enough time at the Duchess this week.”

“Fine,” Knox grumbled. “First, tell me if I’ve still got a job.”

“Everyone’s okay for now, but the next two months might be kinda stressful.” She wished she could offer more reassurance, but she didn’t want to lie. She glanced around the bar, looking for the fourth member of the Damsels. “Is Laurel coming? It’s not like her to miss out.”

“She went home early to get ready for her cousin’s wedding.” Selena slid off her stool. “Let’s go. I told Drew we’d be there around five thirty, and it’s almost six.”

“Hang on,” Rosie said. “When did you decide to invite him to happy hour?”

“It was a last-minute thing,” Selena said. “This morning, I had a training session with him at Northlife. My regular trainer had to cancel, so he filled in for her. I told him we were going out tonight and suggested he join us. It’s no big deal.”

Maybe not to Selena. But to Rosie, seeing Drew again was a very big deal.

Last year, in her role as assistant manager, she’d negotiated an agreement with Northlife Fitness, the mega-gym located just around the corner from the hotel. Since the Duchess didn’t have an in-house workout room, the hotel’s guests received courtesy passes to the gym. As part of the deal, she’d also wrangled a discounted membership rate for the hotel staff.

Eager to take advantage, she’d signed up for ten weight lifting sessions with Drew Richardson, the club’s most popular personal trainer. Despite wanting to respect their boundaries as client and trainer, her attraction to him had grown into a full-blown crush.

She still wished she’d been open with him about her feelings.

Maybe if she had, he wouldn’t have gone after Evelyn, the stunning blond woman who taught the advanced spin classes. Once they’d started dating, Rosie had let her gym membership lapse rather than risk running into them. Not exactly a mature decision, but at the time, she’d also been dealing with an increased workload and a hefty dose of family drama.

Following Selena and Charlie, she left the Gilded Lily, then walked with them out of the hotel’s entrance. Outside, the air was brisk, and a light drizzle was falling. She shivered, pulling her wool peacoat tighter around herself.

Charlie placed a hand on her arm. “Are you upset Drew’s joining us?”

“Not upset. Just surprised,” Rosie said. “I wish I’d had a little more warning.”

“And given you a chance to bail?” Selena said. “No way.”

“I wouldn’t have bailed,” Rosie muttered. “Happy hour means too much to me. Besides, it doesn’t matter if Drew’s there or not. He’s taken.”

Charlie grinned. “Not anymore. Selena told me he’s totally single.”

“He is?” Rosie demanded, then cringed at how desperate she sounded.

Selena smirked. “Yep. He and Evelyn broke up in August. Something you would have known if you ever came crawling back to the gym.”

Rosie groaned. “I wanted to, but it was too hard seeing them together constantly.”

“Fair enough,” Selena said. “And for the record, I wouldn’t have asked him to join us if he was still with his ex. But when I talked to him, he seemed excited to grab a drink. I think he’s been having a hard time. I’m not sure if it’s related to his breakup or something else.”

For months, Rosie had wished he was still a part of her life. Even if her romantic feelings for him had been one-sided, she’d always enjoyed chatting with him during their workouts. Maybe now, she could rekindle their friendship.

“I’m glad he’s coming,” she said. “It’ll be nice to see him again.”

It was just one drink. What was the worst that could happen?