Escape With Me (Love With Me 1)

“The waiter didn't do anything wrong. He brought you the wine you never ordered. He fixed your meal. He's been nothing but polite.”

Two pink spots bloomed on Lorna's cheeks.

“Oh? So because you're some hot shot hotel manager, you think you know better than me?” Her eyes narrowed as she focused on Cassie. “You work in a crappy hotel. You wouldn't know customer service if it slapped you in the face. You don't have any class. If you did, you'd understand why I want to speak to this man's manager. It just shows how terrible you are at your job. No wonder no one important stays at your hotel.”

The table gasped and went silent. Hot tears stung at the back of Cassie's eyes. She was proud of the job she did. Cassie was damn good at it, and she was the reason her hotel was rated the best StarTree Hotel in the Phoenix area.

But Lorna wasn't done.

“I don't even know why you're here, Cassie. I get that you're friends with the bride, but you're going to ugly up the pictures, and you don't fit in with the type of people here. You're low class. We're high class. You don't belong with people like us.”

The table sat in shocked silence for three heartbeats. Even the other tables had quieted. Cassie put on her manager's face. It was the one she used when dealing with difficult guests and vendors. It was firm without showing emotion.

“Wow, Lorna. You're right. If you're class, then I don't want any.” She stood up, carefully placing her napkin on the chair behind her. “Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.”

“Running away solves all your problems,” Lorna replied. She leaned back and crossed her legs, daring Cassie to respond.

Cassie nearly sat back down, but she knew it would just be proving Lorna right. So, Cassie turned and left the table. Her hands shook as she headed out of the dining room and into the hallway leading to the bathrooms. Her face ached with the heat of her blush and her eyes stung with tears she refused to let fall. Not while Lorna might see.

She wouldn't give Lorna that satisfaction.

Chapter Three

Cassie

Cassie entered the bathroom and found it blissfully empty. Leaning against a stone tile wall, she let the hot tears escape. There weren't many. She didn't usually cry. She was typically strong and steadfast. She didn't let people get to her.

Cassie blamed it on being tired. She blamed the tears on traveling all day. She blamed it on the stress of her job. She blamed it on Lorna knowing the exact buttons to push to make her doubt herself.

She wiped her face off, checked the mirror to make sure she didn't look

like she'd been crying, and went to order more wine. She found their waiter in the hallway putting orders into a computer.

“Fernando?”

He looked up with a start and then relaxed when he saw it was just Cassie.

“I just wanted to let you know that if Lorna does speak to your manager, I'd be happy to speak to them as well. You've been great. She's the customer from hell, and I want to apologize to you for her. I don't want you getting in trouble with your boss because she's awful.”

Fernando smiled, his shoulders releasing from around his ears. “Thank you, ma'am. That means a lot.”

“I'm happy to do it.” Cassie shrugged, but inside she felt a little bit better. “And when you get a chance, I'd love some more wine. Me and everyone sitting at our table. Except the teenager. Don't bring her any no matter how much she asks.”

“Of course.” He nodded, then paused for a second. He glanced around and then leaned forward. “We didn't recook her steak. Chef just moved the potatoes around. Same exact plate.”

Cassie's eyebrows raised.

“I also would recommend not eating anything from her plate. Just in case Chef did something else. He doesn't like when orders get returned for no reason.”

Cassie had worked in hospitality and food services long enough to know you don't anger the people that make your food. They had all the opportunities to put things like bugs or food that had fallen on the floor onto your dish without you ever knowing about it.

Lorna apparently never had that lesson.

Cassie thanked Fernando and headed back to the table. Luckily, Lorna had moved on. She now sat at a table with a wealthy looking man who was currently trapped in a conversation with her. The poor man had no idea what he was in for. Cassie felt bad for him, but not bad enough to rescue him. She didn't want Lorna to come back to her table.

“You okay?” Brianna asked when Cassie sat down. Janessa and Kyle were making their rounds around the room talking to guests. Katy was off talking with her grandparents. The other guests had finished dessert and were chatting among themselves.

Cassie nodded. “I got us more wine.”