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Chapter 4
Gen straightened the papers in front of her and tilted her chin up, thrusting her shoulders back and surveying the crowd. She felt comfortable and confident sitting at the head of the committee table, organizing things, taking charge. That was her wheelhouse.
Of course, this was just a planning meeting for Valentine Bay’s Labor Day picnic, which would kick off the (first annual, fingers crossed) Fall Festival.
A small event for a small town, sure, but Gen was determined to make it special.
Planning was what she did for a living. In her job as the special events coordinator at the Hearts Afire Resort and Spa, she arranged magnificent parties, from bridal showers to bar mitzvahs and everything in between.
She’d taken on the role of civic event coordinator as a volunteer. She saw an opportunity for Valentine Bay to become known as an event destination. People already came here for weekend getaways and day trips from Portland. The spectacular Oregon coastline, crisp mountain air, and quaint downtown shopping drew them in.
So, why wouldn’t they come for things like art fairs or music festivals? In Gen’s opinion, they certainly would, and she’d be the one to convince them. A tingle raced up her arms at the very thought of it.
But, that was all in the future. To build up to that, she was going to have to put on a few Labor Day picnics to prove her capability, and she was more than up to the task.
Plus, she added wryly to herself, it will help you take your mind off of Gavin.
Yeah. That would definitely be a plus—one stinking night where she was distracted enough to think about something other than Gavin Valentine.
Of course, it wasn’t like there wouldn’t be reminders. Gavin’s grandmother was the matriarch of the founding family, and she made it her business to involve herself in most civic affairs. Gen was sure she’d be there.
Not to mention, there would certainly be other members of Gavin’s family, mutual friends of hers and Gavin’s…hell, they’d grown up together in this small town. The entire municipality from border to border was pretty much a reminder of him.
But, yes… one night where she didn’t have to face the current situation, and more to the point how she felt about it, was going to be a welcome relief.
“So, how are you feeling? Ready?” Gen looked up at the question. It was Jim, her boss at the resort. She should’ve known. He’d been excited about the prospect of her serving as a community events coordinator for the town, thinking it would bring cachet to the resort– not to mention some prime recommendations to tourists. And, she suspected, what he was really after in the end was a steep break on the ad rates when advertising the resort in her festival programs.
He’d been asking her how she was coming on her proposals for weeks now, with a little nervous edge to his voice. In fact, he’d brought it up pretty much every time he’d run into her in the halls at the resort’s admin offices, or getting coffee in the break room.
She thought that, if it were possible, it might mean more to him than it even did to her.
She grinned. “Jim, just relax. Seriously. Who’s better at all this stuff than I am?”
He looked down, a sheepish blush creeping up his face. “Nobody, Gen. You’re the best.”
“And how lucky is Valentine Bay to have me as a volunteer, putting together this event?”
“Extremely lucky.”
“And how lucky are you to have me as your star employee?”
He laughed. “Even luckier.”
“Good. Glad we’re clear on that. Now have a seat and relax. I got this.”
As he returned to his seat, though, Gen did feel a small twinge of nerves. At any other time, she would’ve been a thousand percent confident in her words. But right now? She was slightly off her game because of the whole Gavin thing.
Yeah. She needed this to go well, and now her boss had just made it clear (yet again) that he did, too. She had to get Gavin freaking Valentine out of her head and focus. Immediately, if not sooner.
