Suite Embrace Read Free

lecture,” Deena meekly offered. “Just feeling a bit overanxious.”
    Skylar paused before saying anything else, struck by the timbre of worry that had crept into her sister’s usually perky voice. Something more than Skylar’s love life was on Deena’s mind.
    Deena and her husband, Jerome Simpson, owned Scenic Ridge, a private lodge and ski school nestled in an unincorporated area of the Roaring Fork Valley, northwest of Aspen, Colorado. The nearest town was Woody Creek, and it was linked to Deena and Jerome’s property by a narrow winding road that ran high into the mountains, which no one traveled unless they were going to Scenic Ridge. With ski season in full swing, it was no surprise that Deena sounded as if she were under pressure. She had a staff of twenty to manage while dealing with demanding guests whom she treated like royalty. “Overanxious?” Skylar repeated. “What’s going on, Deena? Problems at the lodge?”
    â€œYeah, but more so with Jerome,” Deena slowly volunteered. “It’s his father.”
    â€œMr. Simpson is kind of up in years by now, isn’t he?”
    â€œEighty-two.”
    â€œAnd he still lives in Oregon?” Skylar clarified, recalling having met her brother-in-law’s father only one time—at Deena and Jerome’s wedding twenty-one years ago.
    â€œRight, and he’s set to undergo surgery for prostate cancer day after tomorrow. Jerome’s an only child and he has to be with his dad. I want him to go, but the timing is awful. While Jerome is away, everything he usually takes care of will fall on me for God only knows how long.”
    â€œYou’ll have to run the ski school in Jerome’s place?” Skylar asked, aware that Deena was only an average skier, but hell on the slopes when it came to snowboarding.
    â€œOh, no. We hired a guy last fall…Mark Jorgen, you ever heard of him?”
    â€œNo, should I recognize the name?”
    â€œHe’s a former Olympic gold medalist. He’s our new ski school director and head instructor. He’s great. Especially with the younger skiers and he’s really boosted our bookings, too. But the biggest problem is that Jean-Paul, our long-time, trustworthy guest relations manager…or concierge, as he preferred to call himself, quit yesterday. Lured away by a Hyatt Regency in Utah. I need a new concierge now.”
    â€œThat’s a bummer. Call an employment agency.”
    â€œNot so easy. I’ve tried. No one I approve of is remotely interested. I’ve got to find someone I can absolutely trust. Not just some stranger to come in and play the role. You know?”
    â€œSo what are you going to do?”
    â€œWell, I was thinking. Skylar…”
    â€œWhat?” Skylar interrupted, suspicious of the ingratiating tone her sister was now using.
    â€œI was hoping that you might consider coming up to Scenic Ridge to help me out. Just until I can hire someone else?”
    â€œMe? A concierge? I don’t think so, Deena. I’m a paralegal, remember? Guest relations are not remotely related to my chosen field of work, and I know zilch about the Aspen area. Thanks, but no thanks.”
    â€œThink about it, Skylar. Please. You’ve worked in hotels before.”
    â€œFront desk duties while I was in college.”
    â€œSo? You can do it. I’ve got to have someone I can absolutely trust,” Deena pressed the issue. “Information on local entertainment, attractions, restaurants and transportation is prepackaged and ready to hand out to anyone who wants it. Not being from this area won’t be an issue. What I need is a personal link to the hotel. You know…a discreet person to take care of sticky issues and unusual requests.”
    Skylar flinched. “Do you get a lot of those?”
    â€œWell, you never know what can come up when people are on vacation and out of their usual element. My motto