Santa Maybe (The Duchess Hotel #1)

Chapter 19

Nineteen

12 Days Until Christmas

Having formally accepted Bones’ offer, Drew was eager to take over the role of fitness manager in January. Good thing since Jared was completely focused on his wedding and upcoming move to Nanaimo. While the wedding was a popular topic among the trainers at the gym, Drew no longer flinched every time someone mentioned it. Instead, he was looking forward to showing up at the event with Rosie, enjoying her company, and taking her to bed at the end of the night.

In the four days that had passed since he and Rosie had indulged in their Santa-elf role-play, they’d squeezed in two more dates, which consisted of hanging out at her place after work, sharing dinner, and having sex. While he would have preferred to treat her to a night out, her overloaded schedule didn’t allow for it. Plus, she was usually exhausted by the time she came home from the Duchess. She was now clocking so many hours at the hotel that Drew wished she would set firmer boundaries. But she was dealing with enough emotional strain that she didn’t need him nagging her.

Besides, he had no right to tell her how to live her life. Not when their arrangement would be ending next month.

And yet…last night, when he’d held her in his arms, he’d started thinking about the future. The more time he spent with her, the more he could imagine taking the next step. Embarking on a real relationship, with all the highs and lows it entailed.

But then he remembered how Evelyn had upended his world. How the passion they’d shared had gone cold, only to be replaced by indifference and outright hostility. How her constant criticism had brought back memories of his teenage years, when he’d been at the mercy of his parents’ toxic behavior. He didn’t want to experience that pain again.

For that reason, it was best to keep things with Rosie as they were.

After leading an intense boot camp session at the gym, he needed to cool down before his next client. He grabbed his fleece jacket and told the receptionist he was going for a walk.

Outside, the air was brisk, the breeze off the ocean whipping at his ears. He paused at the crosswalk, waiting until a red double-decker bus loaded with tourists drove by. Given the chilly weather, he couldn’t believe how many people were out sightseeing. After crossing the street, he put on his hood to block out the wind and walked down to the causeway beside the harbor.

Though he normally got his coffee from Alma’s, he ducked into the nearby Starbucks. Since no one was waiting in line, he ordered a coffee for himself, then decided to grab a latte for Rosie. Even if she was too busy to chat, he could drop it off with her. The thought of seeing her immediately brightened his day.

He hustled over to the Duchess and went inside, once again appreciating how festive it looked. But he paused at the sight of a tall, slim, unnaturally tanned woman who was haranguing the front desk clerk.

“I can’t believe I have to put up with this,” she said. “I made my reservation at the Grand Duke weeks ago. There’s no excuse for sending me to this shit heap.”

“I’m so sorry,” the young female clerk said. “But the Grand Duke is overbooked due to some unexpected maintenance issues.”

The woman leaned on the counter, getting right up in the clerk’s face. “What about the other upscale hotels around here? Like the Magnolia or the Coast?”

“They’re also full. But we offer—”

“I don’t care what you offer,” the woman snapped. “I need to speak to the manager. Immediately .”

“Of course. I understand. I’ll call our assistant manager right now.”

Drew wanted to tell the woman to chill out, but it wasn’t his place. He edged over to the lobby, stood behind the fully decorated Christmas tree, and waited to see what would happen. A minute later, Rosie strode out to the front desk, looking sharp in her navy blue blazer and matching pencil skirt. Though she was sexy as hell in workout clothes, the sight of her in business attire really turned him on.

Rosie faced the woman calmly. “May I help you?”

“Only if you can get me back into the Grand Duke. This place is a huge step down. If this isn’t rectified, I guarantee you’ll be getting a scathing review.”

Drew still couldn’t figure out why disgruntled guests always took out their animosity on the Duchess when the Duke was the one who’d given them the shaft.

Rosie flashed the woman her brightest smile. “I wish I could send you back there, I really do, but we’ll try to make your stay here as pleasant as possible. Right now, we’re offering a host of holiday amenities, including a wonderful weeknight happy hour, a delicious, holiday-themed free breakfast, a goody bag filled with holiday treats, and some great discounts on our local restaurants and shops.”

“Do I look like I give a shit about discounts?” the woman demanded. “This place is sub-par. What kind of a dump doesn’t even have a workout room?”

“I apologize for that, but we do have an agreement with Northlife Fitness, just around the corner. It’s the premier health club in downtown Victoria.”

Sensing a role he could play, Drew emerged from his hiding place and headed for the front desk. He couldn’t miss the way Rosie’s eyes lit up when she saw him, but he kept his focus on the irate guest.

“Good morning,” he said, channeling as much enthusiasm as he could muster. “I just stopped by to chat with the manager, but I’m glad to be of service. I’m one of the personal trainers at Northlife Fitness, and we pride ourselves on having a top-notch facility. As a guest of the hotel, you’ll be able to work out there or attend any of our classes for free.”

Damn, he sounded like a freaking infomercial.

“What kind of classes?” the woman asked.

“All kinds—Pilates, yoga, spinning, you name it. Personally, I’m in charge of our boot camp classes, and most of our attendees agree that it’s a challenging workout.”

She raked her gaze over him, lingering on his body in a way that made him uncomfortable. But he kept his smile in place. Finally, she shrugged. “I suppose it’s better than nothing. But if a room becomes available at the Grand Duke, I want to be transferred over there immediately.”

“If that happens, I’ll contact you right away,” Rosie said. “In the meantime, Bri will get you all checked in.”

As the woman turned her attention back to the clerk, Rosie inched over to Drew. Taking his arm, she led him away from the front desk and flashed him a grin. “Thank you. Great save, Mr. Fitness.”

He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her thoroughly. But since they were in a public place, he played it cool by pretending to doff an imaginary cowboy hat. “Glad to be of service, ma’am.”

She glanced at the to-go cups in his hand. “Is one of those for me?”

He was tempted to tease her, but she was gazing at the cups with such longing that he didn’t have the heart. “It is. I got you a vanilla latte.”

She took it from him. “Thanks. I really appreciate it since today’s been kind of rough. This is the third guest in a row who’s complained to the front desk about the Duke situation.”

“Sorry you have to put up with that.”

“It’s okay, but I’m also bummed because Preston just informed me that he wants to add an event on Sunday night. That means we might have to miss my family’s Sunday dinner. My mom’s not going to be happy about that.”

Drew longed to tell her demanding boss to take a flying leap, but he didn’t want to add to her stress. “Maybe you could tell your mom that you’ll make it up to her after the holidays. She knows you’re under a lot of pressure right now.”

“I can try.” Rosie took a sip of her latte. “Mmmm. So good. I’d love to stay and chat, but I have a Zoom call in a few minutes.”

“No problem. I’ve got to get back to Northlife before my next client shows up at eleven.” He gave her arm a quick squeeze.

Once he was back outside, he shivered, wishing he’d brought his gloves. The bracing wind was a harsh contrast to the warmth of the hotel’s lobby. But he was glad he’d taken the time to walk over to the Duchess. Seeing Rosie—even for a few minutes—had already made his day so much better.

As he was heading back to the gym, his phone rang. He answered it without checking the caller ID, only to recoil as his mother’s brittle voice came on the line.

“Drew. You didn’t return my last call.”

No pleasantries, no asking after his health. She always got right to the point.

He forced himself to respond graciously. Going on the defensive would just rile her up. “Hey, Mom, it’s good to hear from you. Sorry I couldn’t answer the phone earlier, but I was teaching a class. I was going to call you back.” Eventually.

“Were you? Sometimes I think you deliberately avoid my calls. That’s no way to treat your mother.”

“Sorry, Mom.” He paused at the railing overlooking the harbor. Above him, seagulls glided along the air currents. He wished he could be up there with them rather than stuck trying to placate his mother. “How are you doing?”

“I was calling to talk to you about Christmas.”

Fuck. For the past two years, he’d managed to avoid going home for the holidays, mostly because his parents hadn’t acted as though they wanted him there. But if his mom was extending an invitation, he’d feel guilty turning her down.

“I’ve got plans for Christmas Eve, but if you want, Kate and I could drive up on Christmas morning.” He cringed inwardly, knowing his sister would be pissed that he’d included her. At least the drive to Cowichan Bay was less than an hour. If they played it right, they could be in and out by noon and go for brunch after.

“You’re welcome to drop by, provided you can somehow pull ten grand out of your ass,” his mother said. “If not, don’t bother showing up because there’s nothing to celebrate.”

Ten grand? What the fuck? “What do you need the money for?”

“We need a new car. Or, rather, a used one. I found a guy offering a Ford Fiesta for nine thousand five. It’s at least ten years old, but the mileage is decent.”

Drew almost didn’t want to ask. “What happened to your car?”

“Your dad totaled it. He claims he was trying to avoid a deer, but I smelled the booze on his breath. Fucking idiot. He’s lucky he didn’t end up in jail.”

A sick feeling lodged in the pit of Drew’s stomach. Though he wouldn’t call his dad an alcoholic, the old man often put away four or five beers in a sitting. “Has he been drinking a lot?”

“No more than usual. But he spends most nights at that dive bar with his buddies. I’d like to burn that shithole to the ground.”

I’ll bet you would. Despite his frustration, Drew tried his best to come across as sympathetic. “Sorry, but I don’t have any extra cash right now.”

“Didn’t you say you were getting a promotion? Aren’t they paying you more?” When he didn’t answer, her voice rose in anger. “Most kids would be glad to help their parents. You and Kate are so fucking ungrateful.”

As always, the guilt hit him hard. But this time, he wouldn’t give in. His parents still hadn’t paid back the money he’d loaned them three years ago. “I’m sorry, Mom. But Kate and I could still come for Christmas. We’d love to see you.”

“Would you? The last time you showed up for the holidays, you didn’t even spend a full day with us.”

“Because you and Dad started fighting. If you could lay off, just for once, I’d stay a little longer.”

She let out a snort of disgust. “Don’t tell me how to live my life. And if you can’t pitch in and help us out financially, then you’re not welcome at home.” With that, she ended the call.

Emotion clogged his throat. He stood still, letting the pain wash over him, like a wave breaking on the shore.

None of this is your fault.

In his heart, he knew he wasn’t to blame for his parents’ misery or their financial situation, but whenever he spoke with his mom, his insecurities came racing back. His parents were proof that even the most loving relationship could turn ugly and hateful.

Rather than sink into a pit of bad memories, he forced himself to focus on the positive aspects of his life. Thanks to Rosie’s encouragement, he was excited to start his new job. Spending time with her always lifted his spirits, and he’d truly enjoyed those Sunday dinners with her family. The last time he’d visited, he’d shared stories of his exploits as a volunteer Santa. Even if he’d only met her family a few times, they’d treated him like he belonged.

Thinking of them put an idea in his head. If Rosie’s schedule was so overloaded that she couldn’t make it to their next dinner, maybe he could arrange a way for her to spend time with them.