Page 29 of Tempting Levi
For the first time, Emily truly considered the situation she was in. Club Tahoe’s financial crisis, Ethan Cade’s sons running the place, and her position among them. Why had she ever thought this was a stepping stone to her future?
Ethan had asked her for a favor and she couldn’t say no. She still couldn’t. No matter what happened, she owed the man. He’d been the father figure she never had. But she was on a sinking ship.
The Cade sons had taken on jobs they weren’t qualified for. Emily believed Levi could manage it with his leadership skills and intelligence, but even he needed to get up to speed, and fast, if he was to save this place.
Prior to Club Tahoe, Wes had been a golf instructor, Bran a waiter, and Hunt—well, Hunt’s new job was a bit of a promotion as well. He’d always owned a boat, giving booze cruise tours on the Lake. Now he ran the entire outdoor beach and boat program at Club Tahoe. None of them were qualified to run this place, and for the first time since she started working at Club Tahoe, Emily doubted her skills in assisting them.
She pressed her fingers to her forehead and took a deep breath. “You want me to smooth things over…in a food-poisoning incident?”
“I’m almost positive we didn’t cause it.”
“But they think we did?”
Bran nodded tensely.
Her hands shook. She had a job to do. It didn’t matter that her love life sucked. It had sucked before she started working here. Would she be held accountable if Club Tahoe went out of business? Not likely, but Levi would. Despite any lingering feelings Levi might feel for Lisa, and Emily’s strong feelings for him—most messed-up love triangle in existence—she couldn’t let that happen without a fight. She didn’t want to succeed only for herself or for Ethan Cade. She was in this for Levi too.
Even if she wanted to hurl every time she thought of him kissing her while still having feelings for her sister, he was a good man. She wasn’t going to stop giving him her best just because he didn’t love her…God,and when had love come into the equation? She had a crush on the man. No need to start thinking crazy when what was required was a level head.
Levi had a right to his feelings. He’d been in love with Lisa for years. And Lisa had been, at the very least, in deep like of Levi.
Emily had no claim on him.
She dropped her hands and straightened her shoulders. “Are you sure the food didn’t come from one of our restaurants?”
“No. But I doubt it originated here. We haven’t had an issue in over a decade, and that was from an E. coli contamination that affected multiple restaurants in the area. I’ve looked into it, and none of my employees or the front desk have received word about another food-related illness. If there was food poisoning, it most likely would have affected more than one person.”
“But they’re blaming us?”
He shrugged. “They’re staying here. They assume we caused the problem.”
Emily asked for the sick guest’s name and pulled out the phone her sister had been thoughtful enough to bring to her. She texted the hospitality manager and asked him to personally send up more towels and a selection of beverages and soup on the house.
Apart from that, there wasn’t much else she could do, except monitor the situation. “Have your workers gone through all the food and checked dates and looked for contamination recalls?”
“My assistant keeps up on the recalls and I already have him going through every scrap of food we have, but so far nothing.” Bran’s gaze rose, and he scowled in the direction of the entrance.
Adam walked in the ballroom in a dark suit, looking as dashing as he had the night she’d met him at Esther’s going-away party. He slapped Bran on the shoulder and peered around. “Looks good in here.”
“You decided to show?” Bran said. “Should be helping us run this place. You’re the only one who knows what you’re doing. The shit is hitting the fan while you’re playing manager at Blue Casino with your fiancée.”
Adam’s smile dropped. “First, leave Hayden out of this. Second, I said I’d make it tonight. And for the record, I already put in my time at Club Tahoe. It was you four jackasses who never did. But just so you know, shit going wrong comes with the territory in hospitality. Where’s Levi? I wanted to see if he actually wore the tux I sent him.”
“He’s wearing it.” Emily’s voice came out tight. She cleared her throat, but it was too late.
Adam’s head snapped in her direction. “My brothers aren’t givingyoua hard time too, are they?”
Giving her a hard time? Did kissing and ditching count? Technically, she had done the ditching, but only because she’d been the third wheel in Levi and Lisa’s stare-down.
Emily plastered on a smile. “Everything’s fantastic.”
Hunt walked up next, and Emily rolled her eyes. Did they all have to converge on her at the same time? Handsome Cade men were a plague.
“What’s this about Levi in a tux?” Hunt asked.
Emily spoke while she texted one of the party coordinators to bring up more champagne. They were starting to get low. “He’s with Lisa.”
Hunt’s eyes widened. “Lisa’s here?”
