Free Ravishing Room Service (The Heavenli Hotel Collection) by Cordelia King

ROGUES & ROOM SERVICE
    A Heavenli Hotel Story
    By
    Cordelia King
     
    First Kindle Edition, May 2013
    Copyright 2013 by  Cordelia King
     
    All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without written permission from the author.
     
     
    Regina was tired. Not that any of the customers would know it, of course. She had had her customer face on, the one that said that although it was 6.30 am, there was nowhere that she'd rather be than in Halo, catering to the breakfast needs of businessmen.
Mostly it was true. She had been more than happy to work every rostered hour in the hope it would block out all her personal problems. At work, she was successful – she was the manageress at one of the top restaurants in the city. The Heavenli Hotel was one of the top hotels in New York, and boasted five restaurants. Halo was the most prestigious.
When people saw her they saw her as one of life's achievers. When she was at work she felt like someone. But once she pulled on her coat and stepped outside the building she reverted to being the woman who hadn't been able to keep hold of her philandering husband. A husband who was suing for half her home, even though he had done little to contribute to it.
Originally work had blocked it all out, but now work was wearing her out. She needed to cut herself some slack, needed to jet down to Florida and lie on the beach. Or perhaps Cabo.
    But who would she go with? Her friends had their own set of commitments, jobs, families, pets. There was no one who could drop everything on a whim to go away with her.
And why should they? Regina had been so busy working over the past few years that she hadn't spent time working on her friendships. Every spare moment she had she put into her job. She'd had Ed at home for company, so she hadn't been lonely.
    But then Ed had found new playmates and here she was alone. No doubt about it, sometimes life sucked.
    'Excuse me,' said a voice behind her. She turned to see a man waiting to order. Seriously, they needed more staff.
    'Good morning,' she said. 'W hat can I get you today?' She couldn't tear her eyes away from this man. He had dark chocolate eyes and skin that hinted at Latino heritage. He was impeccable in a starched shirt and tailored gray suit, the only concession to the early hour was his hair which was still damp from the shower. She imagined him naked in the shower, his body slick with moisture...
    Seriously, she needed to get a grip on herself. She encountered eligible businessmen every day of the week. She was meant to be a professional.
    'I'll have the eggs Benedict and a pot of coffee please.'
    'Coming right up,' she said taking the menu from him. Their fingers jostled for a second and she felt a spark of electricity. She felt her cheeks colour, and she quickly walked away before he could see it.
    She gave his order to the kitchen, and then made her way to the office. The phone was already ringing when she got in.
    ‘Halo at Heavenli?’
    ‘Hi Regina, it’s Sarah. ‘I’m not going to be able to come in today.’
    ‘I guessed that was the case. You’re over an hour and a half late – you’re meant to let me know before your shift begins.’
    ‘I’m sorry, but I was up all night throwing up and I didn’t think that I was going to fall back asleep, but I did.’
    ‘All right,’ said Regina. Sarah was one of her best workers, and she had small kids to support. She didn’t usually pull stuff like this. If she had a stomach bug, there was no way that she could come and work around food. Regina had enough problems as it was without losing more of her workforce to illness.
    After she hung up the phone sh e rubbed her temples. She had a pile of paperwork which he had planned to work through with a pot of coffee, but that just wasn’t going to happen. There wasn’t enough staff on the floor to provide the kind of five star service that the restaurant was known for. There was nothing for it – she