Can't Help Falling In Love (26 page)

A woman in love wouldn’t steal away without a goodbye, would she? So she’d cried when
she’d spoken to Willodean and Laura. But he never would have guessed Randa Whitmore
would leave him that way. Maybe the old Randa could be sneaky but she was no coward.
And the new Randa, the real woman he’d spent all night with… she should have
known he deserved every minute of her messy goodbye. She’d made him a promise that,
good or bad, she’d be honest.

So when a tall blond man slid smoothly out of the taxi and shut the door, Tony didn’t
think much of it. He had other things on his mind. And when the guy marched into the
lobby like he routinely conquered places like this before breakfast, Tony thought
he could see a little resemblance to… someone but he wasn’t sure. Maybe a catalog.
The guy looked like he’d be at home modeling tube socks.

“Good morning, sir. Are you checking in today?”

The blond was staring fixedly at Misty. She was not returning the favor. Her whistling
breaths were stirring the palm fronds. When he finally managed to drag his eyes away,
he shot two quick looks around the lobby and straightened his tie.

“Uh, no. I was hoping to speak to the owner. Is she around?” When Tony didn’t immediately
answer he added, “Or I suppose if she’s out, I could get a tour from the manager.”

Tony crossed his arms over his chest and felt the weight of the guy’s stare as he
took in the ink on his arm. “I don’t think a tour is a good use of your time. Is there
anything else I can I help you with?” The blond didn’t seem sure whether to believe
him or not. Finally he held out his hand. Tony noted a fine cuff, an unwrinkled suit
jacket, and what seemed to be a very expensive watch and suddenly he knew what he
was dealing with. He didn’t know which one, but this had to be one of Randa’s brothers.
“Marcus Whitmore III.” His voice was pompous, like he was certain Tony would know
the name and react accordingly. “But you can call me Trip.”

Tony shook his hand and asked, “What brings you here, Trip? Seems like we’ve already
shown everything to the Whitmores, and Randa was pretty convinced to move right along.”

Trip Whitmore smiled. Apparently he shared the same smile repertoire as his sister.
Tony would call this one the “All American.” Whereas Randa’s might have worked, Trip
didn’t stand a chance. She’d blinded him with beauty, but there was nothing to distract
him from the insincerity on Trip’s face. There was something in his eyes though. An
intelligence and possibly the question about just what exactly Tony knew about Randa.

“I’d like to speak to the owner. Is she available?”

Tony said, “I don’t believe she’s in. Maybe I could take a message. I know you’ll
be in a hurry to get back to Chicago.”

Trip Whitmore crossed his arms over his chest. “So, how well did you get to know Randa?”

Tony didn’t react.

“Because she looked like hell the last time I saw her, like she wasn’t sleeping maybe.
And she’s not acting like herself at all.” Trip raised his eyebrows. “You wouldn’t
know what caused that, would you?”

A hundred questions were on the tip of Tony’s tongue. He didn’t know where to start.
“What do you mean, not herself?”

Trip didn’t smile but Tony had the feeling he’d just shown the guy more than he meant
to. “Demanding her own hotel.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I hope she’s not
planning to come back to Memphis to manage this one. Father will not be happy.”

While that was not an answer to the question he’d asked, Tony didn’t want to ask for
more. He was going to Chicago. He’d just find out for himself. And if he could, he’d
pick her up and bring her home. He didn’t know what he’d do with her when he got here,
but they’d figure it out. Together.

Tony picked up the phone and dialed Willodean’s suite.

Willodean didn’t even answer with a hello. “For the last time, you’re going on vacation
if I have to drive you to Chicago myself.”

“There’s a Trip Whitmore to see you here at the front desk.”

There was silence for a second before Willodean said, “His name’s really Trip Whitmore?
Good Lord.” She sighed. “I’ll be down in just a second. You boys play nice.”

Obviously feeling no need to make polite conversation while he waited for the real
player to make it downstairs, Trip wandered the lobby and read the plaques outlining
different attractions at Graceland.

Tony watched Trip not look at him and dissected his clothes, his haircut, and his
general moral failings while he answered the phone and assisted a couple of Japanese
Elvis fans who wanted to get out for lunch.

After they left to grab a taxi, Misty rolled up with a sigh and padded over to stand
by the elevator. And when Willodean Jackson stepped off, it was clear she was ready
to do her thing. Her black hair was perfectly teased into a large pouf, her green
denim jacket had enough sparkle to blind a man, and her lips were bright red to match
her nails. She looked a whole lot of rich with just a smidge of eccentric thrown in.

She waved at Tony and sashayed across the lobby, her faithful hound drooping along
at her heels. “Why, you must be Randa’s brother. It’s quite a surprise to see you
here. Y’all really ought to learn to call ahead, maybe set a little something up so
I’ll know you’re coming. I believe in the business world they call ’em meetings.”

Trip held out his hand and Willodean shook it before she wrapped her arms around his
neck. Tony watched him open and shut his mouth like a catfish looking for air. “I
feel like we’re about to be family. Let’s not stand on ceremony.”

And the look on Trip’s face said he was off kilter. Tony shook his head. Now she’d
go in for the kill. He’d seen it over and over, usually when Willodean was trying
to help someone. This time, he wasn’t sure who that was, but Trip followed her across
the lobby like a lamb to slaughter.

“I’ll bet you’re wanting a tour of the place, aren’t you? Randa said such nice things
that y’all want to take a page from my book. That’s all right, hon. I can stand some
healthy competition. Let’s start out by the pool, why don’t we?”

Willodean’s voice slowly died out and Tony wished they’d stayed right where he could
hear them. He wanted to know every detail about Randa, what she was doing, why she
was tired, and why her brother had shown up to reinspect the place.

Before she’d left, he’d tried to convince himself Randa was just for fun. There’d
be another girl who was perfect for him. Since she’d been gone, he knew better. And
he was even angrier at himself and a little more peeved with her as every minute on
the clock ticked by. He’d gone back to his usual insomnia but something about it felt
different, like it wouldn’t last forever. He just had to keep working at it and things
would get better. No matter what happened with Randa, he owed her thanks for showing
him there was more to hope for.

Tony pulled out his phone to check the list of all the things he still had to do to
get ready for his trip and sat down to work on some paperwork while the hotel was
slow. He lost track of how long he’d been entering information in the spreadsheet
Laura had set up to track the scheduling and overtime hours for the year, but Willodean’s
trilling laugh brought his head up. She and Trip were leaving Viva Las Vegas. He was
rubbing his stomach in the universal sign of eating too much, and she was patting
his arm.

“Sam, get Mr. Whitmore a taxi. He’s not staying.” Tony watched them without watching
them, wondering what they’d talked about. Whether Willodean had thought to ask about
Randa. What Trip thought now that he’d seen the hotel.

He gave up on surreptitiously watching because they were headed his direction. “And
this guy’s my secret weapon. Keeps the hotel running regular and has a very nice way
with the ladies.” Willodean’s eyes held a twinkle and he frowned. Since when did he
have a way with the ladies?

Trip frowned too. “Ladies? Like my sister? You don’t seem her usual type.”

Tony crossed his arms over his chest.

Willodean patted Trip’s arm again. “Oh, now, Trip, from what you said, sounds like
maybe y’all don’t know Randa as well as you thought you did.”

He pursed his lips. “Maybe you’re right.” Tony thought he looked a little worried
about it too and felt a little less ready to toss him out into the sizzling sunshine.

Willodean sighed. “Too close. It happens that way sometimes. Maybe a little space
is all you really need to get to know her better.”

“Maybe you’re right. I’ll have to see what I can do to get her a hotel. A Whitmore
hotel. She’s confused now, but that’s what she’s always wanted. Maybe that’s all it
will take to make her happy.” Trip smiled. “But not here in Memphis. I don’t think
I’d want to compete with you, Willodean.”

“As smart a businessman as you are good-looking, Trip Whitmore.” She led him over
to the door where a taxi waited. “Better work quick, hon. And you be sure you tell
Randa I’m looking forward to seeing her again.”

“I will.” He stared hard at Tony again and then left. Willodean looked happier than
the cat that ate the canary. She looked as happy as the cat that ate the canary and
washed it down with a bowl of cream. “Poor guy. He didn’t even get his own first name.
That’s just sad.”

“How’s she doing?” Tony couldn’t help but ask. He was dying to know.

“Good. Sounds like she’s doing good.” Willodean tilted her head.

Tony sighed. “Come on, Willodean. Tell me.”

She tapped her fingernails on the desk. “She asked for her own hotel. Her daddy said
no. So now she’s shaking things up.” She smiled. “What time did you say you’re leaving
for the airport tomorrow?”

Tony didn’t like the look on her face. “Eleven. Why?”

Willodean shrugged. “Oh, no reason. I think that’ll work out perfectly.”

Tony frowned. “Perfect for what?”

“I’m going to head on back upstairs, maybe take another look over the drawings for
the expansion. Can’t hardly wait to see the walls go up.”

Tony nodded. “Yeah, when I get back, we’ll need to figure out what we want to do for
the spa manager so we can get some input once the building’s framed.”

Willodean winked. “Put that at the top of the list of things to do when you get back.
And then don’t you think another thing about it. We got plenty of time.”

Tony bit his tongue. Thanks to Willodean’s charm and open pocketbook, they’d have
the building up in four months or less. Knowing Willodean, she’d have it decorated
in two days. And then she’d want the doors flung open to welcome the world in. That
was how she did everything. She was already advertising and booking the conference
rooms and the building didn’t even exist yet.

“See you in the morning, all right?” Willodean and Misty got on the elevator and Tony
was left trying to figure out just exactly what he was going to say to Randa. His
charms wouldn’t stand much chance against a hotel of her own and the opportunity to
do what she’d always wanted.

But he’d never been a quitter. He wasn’t about to start now.

W
HENEVER HE SPENT
time in street clothes, T-shirts, and jeans that had nothing to do with Elvis or
Hawaii or anything except comfort, Tony had to adjust. So he was standing on the wrong
side of the front desk, his duffel by his feet, and shifting from one foot to the
other while he tried to go over his list of things that had to be watched, fixed,
paid, booked, returned, and filed while he was gone. Willodean was paying almost no
attention to him. He’d been pretty sure that was going to happen so he’d left a more
detailed list for Laura.

When she showed up and leaned against the desk, he was glad to have the chance to
show the list to both of them.

“Now, Consuela’s ordered some new housekeeping items. They’re supposed to be delivered
on Wednesday. Somebody needs to check the delivery before they sign. If she’s around,
she’s the best option. If not, whoever’s on the desk will need to…”

He trailed off when he noticed Willodean and Laura smiling at each other and clearly
paying zero attention to what he was saying.

“What’s going on with you two? I’m going to be gone for a week.”

Willodean patted his hand and yanked the list away from him. “And we may not do everything
like you would, kid, but I was running this hotel while you were acing trigonometry.
We’ll be okay.”

Tony wanted to argue. He wanted to be impossible to replace. But he knew better.

“Fine. Just tell me you’ll miss me while I’m gone.”

Laura said, “Sure thing, boss. We’ll miss your lighthearted disposition and easy smile.
But we’ll be here when you get back and just imagine the mess you’ll have to straighten
out.”

Tony didn’t want to smile at her but he couldn’t stop it. He looked down at Misty,
the only one there who seemed to be mourning his departure. That might have just been
her skin though. Most of the time she looked like she was mourning.

“See you in a week, Misty. Don’t let the place fall down around your ears, okay?”

He scratched her behind the bows and she gave his hand a delicate lick.

He straightened and pulled the strap of his bag over his shoulder. “Guess I’ll just
head out.”

“Shuttle’s almost here.” Willodean walked around the desk to give him a hug. “Have
Bernie drop you instead of taking a taxi.”

He hugged her back. “Good idea.”

Willodean nodded. “I’m just filled with ’em.”

All three of them laughed, and Laura whistled. “Shuttle’s here, but get a load of
this.”

Willodean and Tony leaned over the desk to see the security monitors. Randa Whitmore
was standing beside the lobby doors. Even in black and white, Tony could tell she
was wearing a killer business suit and sky-high heels. They watched her shift her
suit jacket, smooth her hand over her hair, and pick up the briefcase at her feet.

Sam pointed to the small rolling bag next to her. Randa nodded, straightened her shoulders,
and walked through the doors.

All three of them swiveled to watch her walk through the automatic sliding glass doors.