Conference Cupid by Eden Elgabri

 
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    Devin Barnett pulled at his hair in
frustration. They’d been descending upon his hotel for the past twenty-four
hours. Extra pillows, extra towels—more, more, more, of everything. A hotel
full of men could get a little rowdy, but one full of women bordered on the
insane.
    He’d endured more than one predominantly
female conference. Make-up, jewelry, even Tupperware. None of them compared to
the onslaught of women entering the hotel in droves this fine April morning.
    Romance writers.
    They looked normal enough. But they
couldn’t be. Devin helped set up the marquee and the promotional table and read
the excerpts on some of the bookmarks. From what he read he expected the ladies
to resemble wannabe hookers. I mean, really, what kind of women wrote those
things?
    And their conversations? Hard to distinguish between who lived and breathed and who
only existed on the page. The graphic sex far surpassed his frat buddies
in their college bragging days.
    The main benefit, other than his hotel
being full, was he’d see his cousin Peter, body builder and romance cover
model. Ten years his junior, Peter, at twenty-five, took no interest in either
the contracting business or the hotel business associated with the Barnett
family.
    “Dev.”
    The one word echoed across the lobby and a
gaggle of women turned to ogle his cousin. Peter strolled over to him,
grinning. He nodded to his fans and shook Devin’s hand without taking his eyesaway fromthe ladies .
    “Your groupies are already lining up.”
Devin didn’t envy his cousin’s lifestyle. These women shared an intense gaze,
one that said they’d enjoy tying Peter down and taking turns until the poor guy
died from exhaustion.
    “What a life, huh?” Peter slapped Devin’s arm and nodded in the direction of another group of women
who giggled and laughed while pointedly checking him out. Their leers went from
one cousin to another.
    Devin’s eyes widened in
horror. The creatures had added him to their feast. He pulled at his
tie, instantly uncomfortable. “It’d scare the shit out of me.”
    “Are you kidding? I have women drooling
over me, fighting to have their picture taken with me, and if I see anything I
want...well, I never have to sleep alone at one of these affairs.”
    “You’re a dog. Know that? Don’t you think
it’s about time to get a job that’s a little steadier?”
    “Oh, I can see my father got hold of you.
Come on, you’re an old man before your time. Running this place must be boring.
What’s the most excitement you get here?” As he said it a young woman dropped
her purse and bent down to retrieve it. Her skirt hiked up so the bottom of her
tattooed ass graced their eyes. “Um, let me take that back. You must get your
share of interesting guests.”
    “Something to consider ifyou ever
graduate from being eye candy.”
    “They’re looking at you too. There is a family resemblance. You could join us. How toned are you under that suit, old
man?” Peter gave Devin a playful jab in the gut.
    “I work out in the hotel gym every day
before it opens. One of the perks. Come on, let’s move
into my office. These women look hungry.”
    “Not like you to be intimidated.” Peter
followed Devin to an ante room behind the front desk, next to his office. “Can
we wait here? I’m looking for the conference coordinator so I can get the
schedule. I know we’re taking pictures with authors after dinner tonight and before
the awards ceremony.”
    “I’ve got your room information set aside
anyway.” About to turn, Devin stopped breathing. A slender blonde placed her
envelope on the front desk. Desire hit the second he saw her.
    It couldn’t be. Could it?
     
    * * * *
     
    Keary’s hands
shookas she placed them on the frontdesk . Why had she
ever let her friends talk her into this? It would have been different if she’d
been able to ride up with her friends or if she registered in time to share a
room with one of them.