Lana led Derek outside to the grounds underneath the warm Michigan sun. The trees were full and you could hear the sound of the river in the distance. Lana looked over at Derek with his low haircut and neat beard. His chest and arms looked very cut in his tight white T-Shirt.
“So welcome to Grayling,” she said as she began the tour.
Derek looked around then back at her. “It’s beautiful.”
She smiled. “The Sable Inn has been in my family since my grandfather, back when it was only a Bed and Breakfast. We turned it into a full-service Inn not too long ago.”
“And what do you do at the Inn?” Derek asked.
“I’m officially the Director of Hospitality. I take care of all the guests, reservations, and coming up with new ways to please the customers to keep them coming back,” she explained. “My sister Lena is in charge of marketing. She’s the one who named the rooms, and my sister Lorna is in charge of the kitchen and food.”
“I heard there were three of you,” Derek relayed. “I’m just going to assume that the third one is just as beautiful as the first two I’ve met.”
Lana looked at him. “Who else did you meet?”
“Lena.”
“Did she offer to give you the tour?”
“She asked if I wanted you specifically,” he answered. “And I said, yes.”
Lana turned away and began walking. “She could’ve told you the same thing.”
Derek followed, staring at the glorious curls on her head. “I’d already asked you.”
“The Sable Inn sits on twenty acres which the Au Sable River runs through at different points,” Lana went back to her tour.
Derek stopped and she turned back to him. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Should I not have asked you?” he questioned.
Lana shrugged. “I’m just surprised it even mattered to you, who gave you this tour.”
He smiled. “And how long is this river?”
She picked up the clue and continued with her spiel. “The Au Sable River runs approximately 138 miles and enters Lake Huron.”
Derek followed as they soon reached the river. He looked out over the sparkling water and felt the cool mist.
“It must be amazing to walk out to this, every day,” he commented.
“It’s the reason why I’ve never left.”
He looked at her. “I wouldn’t either.”
They continued to walk along the riverbank taking in the sights. “In French, Au Sable means ‘at the sand’,” Lana explained.
“Is your family part French?” he asked.
“Somewhere down in our ancestry,” she acknowledged. “But now, we’re straight up African American and proud of it.”
He nodded. “I like your hair.”
Lana touched it gently. “Today was a good day. Trust, it doesn’t always come out like this.” She looked at him. “Thank you for the compliment.”
They both turned back to the water and watched the scenery. “I needed this,” Derek breathed.
“We also have picnic baskets available if you’d like to come out here and eat,” Lana suggested.
“Does beautiful company come along with it?” he asked not looking at her.
Lana turned to him. “I’m sure you’ll have no problem in that area.”
He looked at her. “I guess we’ll see.”
“Let me take you to look at the pool and spa. It’s open twenty-four hours, so you can visit whenever you like,” Lana continued and they began walking again. “It’s indoors, so no matter what the weather, you can enjoy it.”
Derek followed along quietly until they arrived at the pool area. He surveyed the area with the mid-sized kidney shaped pool along with a gurgling hot tub.
“This is nice, is it new?” he asked.
Lana smiled. “Yes, this is a new addition. We’re trying to attract more business.”
“This was your idea,” he surmised.
She laughed. “How can you tell?”
“I can hear the pride in your voice,”
“I wanted to be able to offer the guests more and then I decided to close it in so that we could use it year around,” she explained. “It can get pretty cold in Michigan.”
“I know,” he agreed. “I was here during election time.”
They walked around and Derek looked over the immaculate space. “You did an excellent job. I can’t wait to get down here.”
Lana looked him over in his jeans before leading him back to the main house. Derek saw a few houses in the distance and asked about them.
“Those belong to me and my sisters. My Daddy had a house built for each of us on the land,” she explained. “Currently, he stays at the Inn when he’s not jetting off to see his lady love.”
“His lady love?” Derek raised a brow.
Lana nodded. “Yes, our mother died shortly after Lorna was born and my father raised us three girls on his own, and ran the Bed and Breakfast. A few years ago, he took a trip to Jamaica and met a wonderful woman named Lavender. We’re hoping that he’ll be able to convince her to marry him soon.”
“So are all of his daughters single?” Derek inquired.
Lana looked at him. “Yes, we are.”
Back at the Inn, Derek opened the door for her and she walked inside. Together, they walked to the stairs and he stared down into her face.
“Thank you for the tour, especially since I didn’t have a reservation in the first place,” he told her.
“I’m at your service,”
Derek smiled. “I won’t bother you anymore. I know that you have other guests.”
“I’ve told you that you’re not a bother at all…”
Another gorgeous woman appeared and Derek knew who she was immediately. She smiled at the pair before joining them.
“Lorna, this is Derek Wells. He’s here with us for a month,” Lana informed her sister. “Derek this is the last of the trio, my sister Lorna.”
Derek extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet another beautiful sister.”
“Thank you, welcome to the Sable Inn.”
Derek laughed. “You all have that down pat.”
Lana joined him in laughter. “We grew up here, so it’s automatic.”
He looked between the two women, then trained his gaze on Lana. “I’ll let you get back to work. Thank you again for the tour.”
She nodded and he turned to walk up the stairs as both Lorna and Lana watched in appreciation. When he was out of sight, Lorna turned to her sister.
“You took him on a tour?” she asked.
“Yes, around the grounds and out to the pool.” Lana explained walking to the front desk and picking up the mail.
Lorna followed. “He’s handsome and seems very nice.”
Lana shrugged and flipped through the envelopes. “I agree.”
“Lena said he only wanted you to show him around,” Lorna commented.
“Only because he’d asked me earlier,” Lana said still focused on the pile of mail.
Lorna looked at her big sister. “Or maybe because he wanted to spend time with you.”
Lana turned to her with a frown. “Lorna, please…the man is a guest.”
“I’m just repeating what Lena said,”
Lana lifted a brow. “And what has happened in the past when you repeated something that Lena has said?” she asked pointedly.
Lorna frowned. “Yeah, you have a point.”
“Derek is here for some much needed R & R. I doubt if we’ll hardly see him while he’s here,” Lana told her. “Now are you ready to go over the food budget?”
They both turned as the door opened and the local florist’s truck pulled up outside the window.
Lana turned to her sister. “Did you order more flowers for today?”
Lorna shook her head. “No we have enough for the dinner tables. Maybe Lena?”
They both watched as the door opened and the driver walked inside with a vase of lavender flowers and a single red rose wrapped in cellophane.
“What’s that Jamal?” Lana asked.
“An order to be delivered,” he told her, sitting the vase on the counter and holding on to the rose.
Lana frowned. “Who ordered them?”
Jamal pulled out his device and checked the screen. “Derek Wells, the Blue Room.”
Both Lorna and Lana blinked. “Um…he’s upstairs. You can take them up.” Lorna told him.
Jamal laughed. “Uh, they’re not for him. He’s the one who ordered them.”
“Who are they for?” Lorna asked.
He turned to Lana. “They’re for you.”
“Me?” Lana asked surprised.
Jamal nodded. “There’s a card too.” He smiled at Lorna. “I think your sister has an admirer.”
Lorna smiled. “I guess so.”
Jamal held out the single rose to her. “So do you beautiful.”
“Jamal…” Lorna whispered with a soft smile.
He tipped his hat. “Have a good evening ladies.”
Lana and Lorna watched him go, both in stunned silence. Holding her rose, Lorna turned and eyed the arrangement of lavender. “That must’ve been some tour.”
Lana also admired the fragrant flowers. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You should at least thank him,” Lorna advised.
Lena walked in and saw the flowers on the counter and the one in her sister’s hands. “Hey, what happened here?”
“Mr. One Month sent Lana flowers,” Lorna supplied.
“What?” Lena exclaimed. “I knew he wanted you.”
Lana sighed. “Sending flowers doesn’t mean that he wants me, Lena.”
Lena smirked. “What does the card say?” She plucked it from the arrangement and moved it out of the way when Lana tried to grab it.
Stepping away, Lena opened the small envelope and began reading, “Lana Sable, thank you for welcoming me to the Sable Inn. Derek.”
Lana snatched the card from her hands. “See, he’s just saying thank you.”
“No one has ever thanked me that way,” Lena pointed out.
“That’s why I’m in charge of hospitality,” Lana told her.
Lena looked at her younger sister. “What’s that in your hand? He sent you flowers too?”
Lorna smiled. “No, it’s from Jamal.”
“I swear, you two,” Lena shook her head. “Are you friends or lovers?”
Lorna’s eyes narrowed. “Leave her alone, Lena.” Lana told her middle sister, who loved to needle their baby sister. “Jamal and Lorna are whatever they want to be.”
Lena sighed. “I’m going to go finish working on my marketing plan for the Fall. Can you handle things here until Daddy gets back?” she asked Lana.
“Don’t I always?” Lana answered.
Lena glanced at the flowers on the counter. “Seems like you have some other business on your hands.”
“Go do your work, Lena.” Lana ordered. “Dinner will be served in a little while.”
Both sisters took Lana’s orders seriously and made themselves scarce very quickly. Growing up they hadn’t had to worry about Daddy, half as much as Lana. Although, she was only two years older than Lena and four years older than Lorna, she took her big sister role very seriously.
Their father, Lloyd, had leaned on Lana a lot, in helping with the girls and the Inn. Currently, he was out of town visiting with his woman, which all the girls encouraged whole-heartedly. He’d dedicated his whole life to them and this business and now they wanted him to have his own life.
Lana, in her own way had followed in her father’s footsteps and made her life the Inn and her sisters. Their father had required all of them to leave home for college and they’d all returned with plans to stay.
Glancing at the purple arrangement, Lana sighed. She hadn’t received flowers from a man in a long time, not even ones just to say thank you. She smiled and shook her head, thinking that she definitely would not be telling her book club about this. She’d never hear the end of it.
******
Two hours later, Derek awakened to a blinking light on the nightstand next to him. Wiping his face, he picked up the receiver and pressed the line. He listened to Lana’s message that dinner would be served in the dining room or if he preferred, he could have something brought up to his room.
Replacing the receiver, he looked around the darkened room. He’d blacked out as soon as his head had hit the pillow once he returned from his tour with Lana. Glancing at his watch, he saw that he still had time to make it down to dinner.
Climbing out of bed, he showered and dressed in slacks and a casual shirt. Standing in the mirror, he brushed his hair and rubbed his beard before adding some cologne. Nodding at his reflection, he grabbed his wallet and key then headed downstairs.
Walking into the dining room, he spotted Lana across the room. Couples were seated at the decorated tables with flowers and candles on top. As he moved to one of the empty tables, he was joined by Lena.
“Good evening, Mr. Wells,” she took the seat across from him.
He smiled. “Good evening, Lena.”
“Are you enjoying your stay?” she asked.
“Yes, I am…very much.”
Lena leaned closer and whispered. “She swims in the pool at midnight.”
Derek blinked. “Excuse me?”
Standing, Lena smiled down at him. “Midnight.”
He watched her walk away and she turned back suddenly. “Oh, and there are cameras.” She winked at him.
Derek nodded in understanding and watched her walk over to Lana before turning to point him out. Lana looked at her sister then smiled at Derek from across the room. He sat back and watched as she glided over to his table.
“Good evening, Derek.” Lana greeted. “You got my message?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you for letting me know.”
Lana toyed with her hair as he watched. “I received your flowers. That was very nice of you.”
He watched her intently. “You’re welcome. You wouldn’t let me tip you earlier, so I decided to send the bouquet.”
Lana’s eyes locked with his. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know,” he answered. “And you didn’t have to let me take up all of your time.”
Derek looked around the room. “Your message didn’t say that this was a couple’s dinner.”
Lana also glanced at the other tables. “We have all couples booked tonight, except for you.”
“Would you mind joining me so that I don’t look like the odd man out?”
“I usually eat with my sisters,”
He smiled. “They are invited as well.”
“Let me talk to them,” she said softly. “Can I get you something to drink? We have beer, wine and soda.”
“A glass of wine,” he agreed.
“Red or white?”
He leaned back. “What do you suggest?”
“I lean more towards white,” she answered.
“Then white it is.”
Lana smiled. “I’ll be back with that.”
“I’ll be waiting…”
With another small smile, Lana turned and walked to the kitchen. Inside, the dinner plates were being prepared and she went to the wine fridge to select a bottle of white wine. Grabbing two glasses and a corkscrew, she went to find her sisters. The two were busy making sure the dinner service was being executed seamlessly, when she approached them.
“I’m going to sit with Derek, since he’s alone.” Lana announced. “He’s also invited you both to dine with him.”
Lena raised a brow at the wine and glasses in her hand. “Tell him thanks, but Lorna and I have some things to discuss over dinner.”
Lana looked at Lorna. “Uh, yeah…we’ve got a lot of things to discuss.”
She looked at them both. “Do you need me to help you?”
“No!” Lena objected. “Go and accommodate our guest. You know hospitality comes first.”
Lorna nodded in agreement and Lana looked at them again. “Ok, I’ll be in the dining room.”
“We know where to find you,” Lena told her with a smile.
Lana joined Derek at the table and he stood as she arrived. Sitting the bottle and glasses on the table, she informed him of her sister’s decision.
“They say they have work to do over dinner,” Lana told him.
Derek smiled. “Maybe next time.” He moved to hold out Lana’s chair and she took a seat. They both reached for the bottle at the same time, then looked at one another.
“Please, allow me…” Derek said picking up the chilled wine.
“You’re supposed to be on vacation,” Lana reminded, and held out the corkscrew to him.
“This isn’t work,” he told her.
Lana sat back and watched him methodically open the bottle and pour two glasses before taking his seat across from her.
Holding his glass in the air, he lifted a dark brow at her. “What should we toast to?” Derek asked.
Lana raised her glass to his. “The tradition is to health.”
“I think I’d rather toast to the beautiful things in life,” he said slowly.
She agreed. “I can do that.”
“To the Sable sisters, in particular the incredibly beautiful Lana Sable.”
Lana froze. “Cheers,” she said softly.
“Cheers.”
They both took sips of the sparkling beverage. “That was a surprise,” she commented.
“The toast?” he asked watching her.
“The subject of the toast,” she told him.
Derek studied her across the table. “It’s no surprise that you’re an incredibly beautiful woman.”
Lana took another sip. “I’ve been told something similar.”
He nodded. “I have no doubt. I wonder why some brother hasn’t ‘wifed’ you already.”
She laughed. “Now we both know that brothers aren’t ‘wifeing’ on the regular. If that was the case, you’d have a wife somewhere already.”
Lana gave him a look. “Or maybe you do.”
Derek laughed. “No, no wife, no babies…just lots of work.”
“Here, here,” Lana told him. “Lots of work.”
He sat his glass on the table. “Then you understand.”
“Tell me exactly what you do,” Lana prompted.
“When someone wants to run for a political office, they call me in to manage the candidate and the campaign,” he explained.
“Manage the candidate?”
He nodded and picked up his glass again. “Tell them what to say, how to act, and basically keep them away from any bad press.”
Lana drank her wine, then asked. “How long have you done this?”
“I started out as a Political Science major at Howard. I interned at the White House for a year and cut my teeth on the Obama re-election campaign. For the past four years, I’ve handled more local elections where African Americans were the candidates,” he explained. “My success rate is over eighty percent.”
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
He smiled and sipped from his glass. “I hoped you’d think so.”
Their dinner plates were delivered and placed in front of each of them. They both thanked the attendant and turned to one another.
“I hope you enjoy your dinner. Mrs. Langston gets down in the kitchen,” Lana told him.
Derek looked at the plate. “If my lunch was any indication, I’m definitely looking forward to this.”
As they began to eat, Lana continued with her questions. “So you must really be in demand with a success rate like that?”
“Yeah, my phone never stops ringing.” He confessed. “Which is why I have it turned off right now.”
Lana studied him. “You really needed a break?”
He nodded and stared into his plate. “Watching what’s going on in politics right now has turned my stomach.”
“You believe in that system?” Lana asked and he looked at her.
“I did, wholeheartedly.”
“And now?”
Derek shook his head. “And now, I’m questioning everything I knew about this land of the free.”
“I didn’t vote in this last election,” Lana confessed.
He lifted a brow. “Can I ask you why?”
“We have basically this two party system that presented us with two unsuitable candidates in my opinion,” she told him. “My ancestors didn’t fight and die for me to be able to choose between the best of two evils.”
“You felt both candidates were unsuitable?” Derek asked.
Lana nodded. “I had strong reservations about both and neither moved me in one direction or the other.”
“Are you affiliated with a party?” Derek asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t think any party has served our community. We’re always the afterthought on display during election time.”
“I can’t argue with you on that. As a community we don’t use our power enough, especially in politics. Money controls everything in this country and it can buy just about everyone,” he told her.
“Are your candidates bought?” Lana questioned.
He shook his head. “I only work with the ones I trust and believe in.”
“You can afford to be that selective?”
Picking up his glass, he smiled at her. “I don’t come cheap.”
Lana lifted an arched brow clearly impressed. She sipped her wine then turned her attention back to the handsome man across from her.
“Thank you for having dinner with me,” Derek said softly.
Their gazes held. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“May I invite you again?”
Lana looked into her glass. “I don’t engage with guests. It’s very unprofessional and against the rules.”
“You want me to check out?” he asked.
She met his eyes. “No, I need your reservation.”
“The first thing I learned in politics is that all rules are made to be broken,” he said quietly.
“It would have to be worth the consequences,” she told him.
He smiled at her. “I’d love to show you some of my uh, urban tendencies.”
Lana dropped her head into her hand. “You heard that?”
“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop but I didn’t want to interrupt you either. After a few minutes, I decided I’d better make my presence known before you all went any further,” he confessed.
She lifted her head. “So you know all my secrets?”
“I’m cool with B-cups and I love your hair.”
“Oh no!” she said closing her eyes as he laughed.
Derek reached across the table and took her hand, causing her to open her eyes. “I’m feeling you Lana Sable and I’d like to spend time with you while I’m here. There it is…straight, no chaser.”
“A vacation affair?” she asked. “Is that how you do?”
“This is the first vacation I’ve taken in four years, so no. Spending my down time getting to know you, yes, that’s how I do.”
Lana removed her hand and picked up her glass. “I’ll have to think about that.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he replied.
“You’re here for thirty days,” she reminded him.
“At least,” he rebutted. “I can stay for as long as necessary.”
She looked at him confused. “Why would you continue to pay to stay here for any longer?”
“She’s sitting across the table from me.”