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He’d heard about her, of course. Jack wasn’t someone who knew how to be quiet these days. Since Rory had entered his life, he’d changed into a regular Chatty Cathy.
“Mandy looks amazing, man. Whole new closet. Who knew she was hiding all that under there.”
Ted had smiled, nodded, and pretended he was really happy hearing how the men in this town were suddenly aware of Mandy Robbins. Which he thought was an insult; she’d been pretty special before her transformation. Ted had certainly noticed her. Her smile was sweet, and those lips sinful. Then there was that way she had, shy and serious. The men in Ryker Falls were fools for not noticing her sooner.
Apparently, she was also working out now at the local gym. Strange how her aversion for sweaty bodies, shyness, and not to mention her self-consciousness seemed to have fled.
“You’re being bitchy.” He sighed. Ted was never bitchy; he left that to Jack and Fin. Joe rarely, but sometimes. He and Luke, never.
Ted sat behind his desk and watched his four managers file in. Drinking coffee, he listened to the reports his staff gave him and the suggestions he asked for. Making himself look like he didn’t want to kill Lenny, he nodded after he’d finished delivering his.
“Nice work. Sounds like you guys have everything running smoothly.”
Looking down at the notes he’d made earlier, Ted saw the last sentence and swallowed. Be social.
“So I thought maybe we could have a staff party, use a couple of the hot tubs, that kind of thing.”Shit, this is hard.Absolute silence greeted his words, and Niki’s jaw actually dropped.
“Give me a break here,” he muttered. “I’m trying to be a better boss, as it’s been pointed out I’m a hardass.”
“Not a hardass exactly,” Maria said. “Just a tough one.”
“Thanks, but it’s always been my way. So how about we look at some kind of staff function every month. It doesn’t have to be a big deal,please God, don’t let it be a big deal.Pizzas, beer, and wine. Whatever you guys think will work.”
They all smiled as one, and Ted knew he’d made the right decision bringing it up. Damn, he had to thank Mandy for that too. He still hadn’t thanked her for the inside knowledge about Niki.
“Okay, good. Great,” he added, trying to sound enthusiastic. “How about you guys put a few ideas down, and I will too, and we’ll discuss them next meeting?”
They all agreed and scribbled in their books. Ted looked down at his notes and saw something he hadn’t addressed. He’d rather have a boil lanced than all this hand of friendship shit.
“Who is on the lodge float?”
Hands went up.
“And you, Ted,” Lenny said. “The boss should be on there.”
It’d rather have pins stuck in my eyes.
“Sure. What’s the theme?”
“You haven’t seen it yet?”
“Heading there to have a look after this meeting,” Ted improvised.
“It’s looking great,” Lenny said. “Kind of jungle safari themed.”
Ted made himself smile. “Sounds awesome.”Sounds like hell.He only just refrained from glaring at Lenny.
There was absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t go out for pizza with Mandy. No reason at all…, except that Ted didn’t want her to go out with any man. Which made no sense, as he didn’t want to date her.
Deciding it was time to lock those thoughts away, he called the meeting to a close and left.
He checked rooms, talked to the kitchen staff, and interacted with guests who all told him how much they loved the lodge.
“Coming to the meeting tonight, Ted? We’re reading Shelley.”
“Oh hey, Mr. Goldhirsh. What’s the deal with you and dead English poets?”
“Classics that need to be savored, Ted. Those words are some of the best you’ll read.”
