Their Festive Island Escape. Nina Singh

humphed out a small laugh.

      “What?”

      “That happens to be the only reason I’m here. My usual spot is in shambles.” The faraway look in her eyes told him she missed it. “This was one of the few places left to book.”

      Reid clapped his hand to his chest in mock offense. “You wound me. You mean to tell me the only reason you chose my resort was for lack of other options?”

      She smiled just as a slight breeze blew a dark tendril of hair along her cheek. How silly that his fingers itched to gently tuck it back behind her ear for her.

      “I’m afraid so. I rather miss the other place. No offense.”

      “I’m not so much offended as I am concerned as a business owner. What does it say about this place that you only booked it as a backup?” How many other potential clients were doing the same? The resort could face losing all sorts of business further down the line once the other resorts were back up and running.

      “Would you like my professional opinion?”

      “Can I afford it?” he teased. “You do have a reputation for being the best.”

      “Consider this a freebie.”

      He tilted his head for her to continue. “Well, to put it plainly, your marketing and advertising is somewhat subpar. Frankly, it’s garbage. Rubbish.”

      Double ouch. “Hey, don’t get technical now.”

      She laughed out loud. “Seriously. There’s nothing on the website to compel me to click Book Now. Aside from a few pretty pictures of the beach, you don’t really say anything very enticing about attractions, nearby landmarks, activities for the guests…”

      “Yet you booked it anyway.”

      “Like I said, I was running out of options and grew concerned everything would sell out. It’s competitive enough around Christmas under the best of circumstances. And it’s really important to me to get away from the city around the holidays.”

      He could guess why. It was hard to forget that she and Jack had planned their nuptials around the holiday season. A wedding during Christmas in Manhattan. It was supposed to have been so romantic. Until it had all come crumbling down.

      He’d been so quick to take Jack’s word for everything and toss the full brunt of responsibility for the mess on her shoulders. Alex’s words echoed through his mind. Are you sure you’re not confusing cause and effect, partner?

      Perhaps he had been. All this time.

      She continued, bringing his focus back to the matter at hand—his resort’s lack of a real media presence that would draw more potential guests. “And I have to be honest, now that I’m here, nothing really compels me to consider returning. Our mutual history aside.”

      Sighing, he answered her. “You’re actually not telling me anything I don’t already know. But you have awakened me to the urgency of it all. It’s just one more thing on the list. We’ve been interviewing various marketing firms. None seem to fit the bill.”

      “If I were you, I would make a decision fairly quick.”

      She wasn’t wrong. The implications of the failure to do so weren’t lost on him. This was all so new. Not for the first time, Reid wondered if he’d bitten off more than he could chew. The differences between running a high-rise hotel in a metropolitan city and running a tropical resort were surprisingly vast.

      He’d be even more lost if he didn’t have Alex by his side. But clearly it wasn’t enough.

      “Any suggestions?”

      “Are you asking for me to work on my vacation?” she asked, a teasing whimsical tone in her voice.

      He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m shameless.”

      They’d reached the pier that moored the excursion boats. A couple of them were still out, it seemed. He was due to participate in a few of the outings himself, to get a feel for the experiences as the owner. He rested his arms over the steel railing and let his hands dangle over the side. Several blue-gold fish could be seen swimming right under the surface of the water.

      “You’re absolutely right,” he told her. “About communicating better regarding all that we have to offer.” The excursions were a prime example. Sure, there were chalkboards and newsletters written up daily detailing the outings available to their guests. But they were only that, mere announcements. Nothing describing the thrilling adventures waiting for those looking for extra experiences, more than just beach volleyball or swim aerobics.

      A glimmer of an idea began to form in his head. Reid knew he was too tired and too distracted—a fact that had everything to do with the woman standing next to him—to voice the notion aloud just yet.

      But he certainly had some thinking to do. And when he did think it all through, he could only hope Celeste would be on board with his suggestion.