The Wedding Invite (Lakeview) (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 6) Read Free Page A

mosaic-tiled swimming-pool and jacuzzi had been installed and the centre also featured the essential steam room and sauna. But the most popular and most utilised area by far, was the alternative therapies area. Nicola’s first mission had been to employ a qualified aromatherapist, but her coup de maitre had been her insistence on the Hydrotherapy Unit – having experienced first-hand the popularity and benefits of hydrotherapy treatments while working in London.
    Luckily, the manager Ken didn’t object too much to her ambitious managerial plans, and had given her a loose rein on things. However, he wouldn’t budge on the staff issue and Nicola, instead of using her sales abilities and promotional aptitude to recruit more members, had been forced to look after the more mundane, everyday administration of the club.
    “Just until we find our feet,” he had said, when Nicola had complained about her growing pile of paperwork for about the umpteenth time.
    “But we won’t find our feet unless I have more time to get the brand out there. Ken, we don’t even have a website – let alone any kind of profile in Lakeview or the surrounding areas.”
    But he had been insistent, and Nicola had had to relent – for the time being. Maybe this feature would be just the thing to give the entire project a lift, and justify that she had what it took to really manage the place, if only he’d let her.
    She moved across to the window and adjusted the lateral blinds to let some much-needed light into the room. She stared idly at the lake in the distance for a few moments, until the telephone startled her out of her reverie.
    The receptionist sounded out of breath with excitement.
    “Nicola, you will never guess who’s on the line. One of the features editors from that new Mode magazine.”
    Nicola tightened her ponytail and smiled. Sally could be so juvenile sometimes. Irish features and fashion magazine, Mode had recently been launched amid much hype and furore upon the unsuspecting public. Star-struck Sally had obviously been lapping up the coverage.
    “Well if she’s enquiring about membership, just give her the information and –”
    “They want to do a feature on us!”
    “A feature – on the club?”
    “Yes. Her name is Fidelma Corrigan and she’s on line two. Will you take it?”
    “Of course.” Nicola was intrigued. A feature on Motiv8 Leisure Club in Lakeview –the sticks by Dublin standards. What had they done to deserve this?
    The features writer was polite and charming, and explained to Nicola that the magazine would be running an extensive Health and Leisure supplement in a forthcoming issue. Would Motiv8 like to participate? They really would be mad to miss this type of exposure at such a competitive advertising rate … blah-de-blah, blah. Nicola rolled her eyes. Quit the sales jingle and cut to the bottom line, she urged silently.
    When the woman eventually quoted a rate, Nicola discovered that it really was too good an opportunity to pass up.
    “We’d love to do it,” she told her warmly.
    “Great. We’d like to concentrate specifically on the club’s Alternative Therapies, Ms Peters. I understand your new Hydrotherapy Unit has resulted in a surge of membership. And of course you carry the usual – aromatherapy massage, health spa, jacuzzi etc, etc . . .”
    Nicola listened absently. The exposure would mean fantastic publicity for the centre, which would hopefully translate into a rush for membership. Which in turnmight translate into an actual pat on the back from Ken.
    When Ken Harris – her manager from a previous job in another leisure facility – had contacted her a year ago and offered her an executive post in his new centre in Lakeview, Nicola didn’t have to think twice. After almost two years, she’d had enough of life in London. She’d worked with Ken in The Metamorph Club, one of Dublin’s most popular fitness centres, and knew it would be a good move. Ken, a Lakeview native, knew the