The wedding planner picked up on the conversational thread that dangled, looking to ease the tension some more. She smiled at the guest attending her client's event with a sense of teasing, even though she knew it would be better to try and recover her professionalism.
"Used to be good… From what I hear, you still have quite the effect on people. I'm sure you've noticed plenty of admirers."
"Rumors of my continued charm are greatly exaggerated."
Renée leaned back to a more relaxed way of sitting on the resort bed. She let the posture enhance the lighter mood that was being created. Ayla had questioned her more than once, before they first started to date, why she hadn't just gone into acting instead.
[The answer to that is obviously that it would be even harder to hide my problems on stage and set.]
A nervous, throat clearing cough escaped Carmen as she let herself fall just a little back into more intimate bits of conversation. It would be one thing if the other woman had told her to get out, but she was still being so friendly. She was surprised at how easier it made things.
"I'm sorry to say that denial is entirely nonsense, Ms. Laurent."
"Oh, nonsense?
"Yes. I'm not exactly an *evenly* experienced bisexual. If we don't count celebrities, which no one should, I can count the crushes on women I've had with one hand."
The writer chuckled at her admission. Open talks about orientation was something she was perfectly comfortable with… though she understood that was not for everyone. It was always nice to find another of relatively similar mind in that regard.
"How much more flattered should I be here? Comparing me to people like that. But I'm just being honest. I don't turn any 'charm' on people… like I used to."
Renée said that, but her eye twitched when recalling the things she'd done on the island here while claiming to just be trying to look 'put together'.
"These days I mostly save it for brainstorming my characters and their smooth teen romance lines."
"What about certain lawyers in bronze dresses? There were no attempts to charm her?"
The question from the other woman was almost conspiratorial. Renée's eyebrows rose at how quickly she had become bold and sought more details. Of course, she couldn't help a small brittle laugh at being so thoroughly caught out.
"So it was obvious. I suppose I deserved that."
She ran a hand through her shortened hair, something that might be less noteworthy to most attendees at the wedding. People changed their hair all the time and showing up with a new style to a social event was not unheard of.
Yet, surely it had affected Ayla Bozkurt. If nothing else had.
"Do you know if everyone else is talking about..."
"About how you two keep looking for each other when you think no one's watching? Or about how she wore that dress *right* after you showed up to the ceremony in that lovely suit?"
Carmen's eyes sparkled with some friendly mischief, really getting into it despite herself! She waved at her cheeks, miming being flushed and moved by the memory.
"Oh, that suit. I feel sorry for Marcus, but if I could only pick a single photo to use in my portfolio for this event…"
"Okay, now. Flattery really isn't going to get you anywhere."
"We'll agree to disagree."
The woman stood suddenly and smoothed down her skirt. A bit of a wry smile formed as she sighed. In her heart, she knew that her little crush had been doomed the moment she started asking Leana some questions.
However, that didn't mean something good couldn't come of it.
"For what it's worth, I meant what I said. She watches you too. When you're not looking."
[Great. Even the wedding planner ships it.]
An even and polished look slipped back into her face, but with warmth still remaining in her eyes rather than distance. It was the sort of look the writer liked to see the various people leave the situation on when she had to have 'the talk' with them.
"I should get back to work. No rest for me. There's quite a lot to reorganize with everyone forced into staying longer."
"Carmen?"
The woman paused at the door, but didn't immediately turn around. Both not to seem overeager and because she had let her face loosen a bit.
"Thank you. For understanding my reasons. And for..."
"Being decent about it all?"
The wedding planner slowly turned her head back and smiled over her shoulder.
"Well, like you said. We're all trapped here together for a while. Might as well be adults about things."
Carmen's professional smile held until she closed Renée's door. Then she let out a long breath, pressed her back against the wall, and indulged in exactly five seconds of mortification that she'd been so *obvious* about her attraction to someone while working.
[At least she was nice about it.]
The clipboard tucked under her arm suddenly felt heavier as she remembered its purpose. The room assignment sheet was barely half full - most guests had been too concerned about breakfast or calling home through clogged cell service to deal with it yet.
She pulled it out, scanning the neat columns of names and room numbers. The structural damage to the east wing meant consolidating everyone into the remaining spaces. Which meant… doubling up in most cases.
Her eyes caught on two particular names. Neither had signed up for a roommate yet.
[Well...]
Carmen knew it wasn't exactly professional. Knew she should probably just let them sort it out themselves. But something about the way Renée had admitted to pining, combined with how Ms. Bozkurt had watched her all morning...
"What's the worst that could happen?
She murmured, already writing their names into a room together.
"They're adults. They can handle sharing for a few days."
Besides, it would make for a better story in the future if it worked out than her own brief little crush. And if anyone questioned it, she could cite space limitations and their connection to the wedding party… as completely logical reasons for the assignment!
[And if they end up thanking me at their own wedding someday, well...]
She straightened her shoulders and headed for the front desk while putting that thought aside. She really had a lot of logistics to coordinate. This was just one small detail in the larger chaos of managing an extended, unplanned stay for so many guests.
Even if it felt a little bit like meddling in an ongoing romance novel.
Carmen's steps quickened as she headed for the front desk. The urge to tell Leana warred with a strange desire to keep this her own small contribution to their story. The bride had plans, of course - she always had plans. But sometimes the best moments happened without orchestration.
[Though I suppose I am orchestrating. Just a little.]
She glanced at her phone clock. Most guests would still be at breakfast or making calls home. If she moved quickly, she could have these particular room assignments finalized before either of them thought to make more specific requests.
"Get everything officially logged and make it seem like simply the logical outcome of who hadn't signed up in time."
Her phone buzzed in her hand - another message from Leana about that more elaborate scheme she'd been planning. Carmen's thumb hovered over the screen. Then tucked the phone away without responding.
Better to focus on getting this done, she thought. She could always claim she'd been too busy to check her messages. Besides, if this worked out, Leana would be too happy with the result to care about *how* it happened.