Love in a Moment: Mile High Romance Series

By J.L. Petersen

After losing her parents as a teenager and struggling to support herself and her sister, Jenna Waters has now worked her way up from receptionist to a top event planner at MeetEasy. When she is assigned to plan a charity event for a high-profile client with her bosss irksome wife as her unwilling teammate, Jenna knows she has her work cut out for her. As a grueling schedule looms ahead, Jenna mentally puts the task of finding Mr. Right at the bottom of her to-do list without any idea that she is about to meet someone who will change her life.

Tucker Davidson is an energy company executive who is preoccupied with determining how to fend off his marketing directors unwelcome advances when Jenna walks into his office, extends her hand, and causes an unfamiliar twinge in his heart. The attraction is instantaneous, strong, and mutual. As she begins working on his event that seems more problematic than not, Tucker focuses on helping Jenna see that he is her Mr. Right. But first, they must deal with two women who are hell-bent on destroying anyone who dares to stand in the way of what they want.

In this contemporary romance, an event planner and her tempting client must overcome many challenges before discovering that love does not have to be complicated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491780602

J.L. Petersen

J.L. Petersen is a lifelong reader of romance and mystery novels. She resides in Denver, Colorado, with her husband. Love in a Moment is the first installment of an intended trilogy.

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Copyright © 2016 J.L. Petersen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-8061-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8060-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016900886

iUniverse rev. date: 01/20/2016

Contents

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

To my husband and dear friends,who encouraged me and gave me the wings to chase my dreams.

Chapter 1

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Thank God it’s Friday! exclaimed Jenna Waters as she flopped down in the chair behind her desk. And no events this weekend!"

Amy followed Jenna into her office and sat down across the desk from her boss, smiling. I don’t know about you, but that last event kicked my butt. But it went off like clockwork, and the client is singing your praises as usual.

Jenna smiled, too exhausted to do anything else. The praise was always welcome but sometimes a little embarrassing. Jenna took a lot of pride in giving the clients what they wanted, or what she was able to guide them to wanting, to eliminate the tacky.

She had gotten lucky when she landed the job as a receptionist at MeetEasy nine years ago. She was at a point in her life where landing a decent-paying job was essential to keeping her family together. After the loss of her parents at the early age of eighteen, Jenna needed to show she could support herself and her sister. With the help of their aunt Judy, she was able to convince the court that the siblings should stay together. Bless Aunt Judy for moving into the family home and helping keep an adult presence in their lives.

Jenna fondly remembered when Harry, the owner and CEO of MeetEasy, had approached her at the reception desk and asked her about the help she was providing to some of the other event planners. He challenged her to take on some easy event assignments to see how she did. And the rest, as they say, was history. Now she was one of the top and most-requested event planners in the company.

The team deserves an undisturbed weekend off. I, personally, am going to go home, take a hot shower, and have a girls’ night in. I feel like I haven’t had any time with my friends in the last couple of weeks. So a bottle of white wine and girl talk is in order, Jenna shared as she stood to prepare to head home.

Amy stood also and turned to exit Jenna’s office. Tim was standing in the doorway.

Amy, Tim said in acknowledgment.

Amy blushed as she returned his greeting on her way out of the office.

Jenna, could you join Harry and me in the boardroom for a few minutes? Tim asked.

Jenna narrowed her eyes at Tim. If this requires me giving up my weekend, I would appreciate you pretending I already left and you just missed me.

Tim feigned surprise. You want me to lie? I am so disappointed in you.

Would a bottle of Jameson help you get over your disappointment? she asked, referencing his favorite whiskey.

Tim just shook his head and crooked his index finger, indicating she should follow him.

As they entered the boardroom, Jenna noticed Harry’s new wife, Robyn, was also present, along with one of the sales managers, Steve Wilkins. Considering the group included Tim, the vice president of sales and marketing, Jenna knew this meeting had to do with a new high-profile client.

Gathering her flagging energy, Jenna greeted everyone in the room as she took a seat at the table and waited. She didn’t have to wait long. Harry outlined the new client and the scope of the event. A strong and growing company called TD Energy Corporation, located in Denver, wanted help expanding their employee culture and taking their fundraising for their charity branch to the next level. The contract was multifaceted. There was to be a golf tournament with dinner for the employees and sponsors, to raise money for the charity. In addition, there was to be a two-day annual meeting for the employees, with nighttime events for them and their spouses or significant others. The event was to be hosted in Denver in August of this year.

Jenna could hear the excitement in Harry’s voice as he outlined the contract. She herself was excited about the scope of the contract and that it was in Denver. While she didn’t mind traveling for business, it was always a joy to have a client who was local. Considering the fact that they’d brought her into the meeting, Jenna assumed she was going to be the main event planner on the contract. She was already making lists in her mind on what she would need to wrap up on her desk to be able to launch the project.

I am very excited to bring this client on board. If we make him a satisfied client, we can expect repeat business. The budget is a generous one that will allow us to be very creative. The client is looking for creative options, not a standard event, Harry said as he wrapped up his outline of the contract. Jenna, I suspect you know the reason I brought you in was to assign you to the contract.

Jenna smiled. I did have a glimmer of suspicion once you started outlining the project.

Harry returned her smile. I also want to take a new approach to the way we will manage the contract. As you know, my wife, Robyn, is very interested in the family business, Harry said with blind love and pride for his new wife.

Jenna’s smile started to wane, and she got a sick feeling in her gut that she was not going to like what Harry said next. And she was right.

So with this being a large local event, I would like Robyn to work with you, Jenna. Robyn knows you are the main point person on this. But I want you to let her shadow you and learn how to be the best in the business, Harry continued.

Tim was casting her a sympathetic smile while, oddly enough, Robyn was shooting daggers at her. Most everyone in the company had had a run-in with Robyn at one time or another. Robyn tried to insert herself into the business and displayed ineptness when it came to understanding even simple business practices—including common courtesy with the employees.

Jenna was frantically trying to figure out how she could gracefully excuse herself from the project when Harry said, I know this will be a challenge, but I have complete faith in you to help my wife learn how to be a part of the business. There is no one better than you to guide her.

Damn, Jenna thought. I’m stuck. I wonder if I have two bottles of wine chilling for tonight instead of one.

Robyn, I look forward to our working together on the project. How about I set up a meeting for us Monday morning to start developing the action plan? Jenna offered.

Robyn inclined her head in a way one might call regal but remained silent, her eyes still shooting daggers.

Sighing, Jenna picked up the file containing the contract and other details Steve had slid across the table. She stood and wished everyone a great weekend and then escaped, pausing only long enough to gather her things from her office before heading out of the building.

*****

Um gonna wash dis stuff off now. If dis stuff gets any harder, my face is gonna crack, Liz announced, getting up from the floor. ’esides, I can’t dink my wine with my face like dis.

Jenna and Baylee giggled as Liz went off to the bathroom to remove the facial mask. Liz was testing Jenna’s witch hazel blend. Considering Liz’s tight face, she would need to adjust the moisture balance. Making a mental note of what changes she needed to make, Jenna touched Baylee’s face to check the consistency and setup of her facial. It looked like the frankincense formula was more successful.

Leaning back against the couch and reaching for her wine, Jenna sighed to release tension in her shoulders. Girlfriends, wine, and testing some of her new formulas for natural skin care and aromatherapy was her idea of mixing fun and business. Her longtime and trusted friends chose to burn the new sandalwood-scented candles she had made as they tried and reviewed her new batches of cleansers, masks, and moisturizers.

When Liz returned, Baylee went to remove her mask. Handing Liz the face moisturizer, Jenna got up to top the wineglasses off and bring out some brownies. A girls’ night was not complete without brownies.

Once they were all back, Baylee brought up the new project Jenna had told them she was going to be handling. So tell me again how working with Robyn the Witch is going to be good for your career and mental health.

I don’t recall saying it was either, just that I don’t have a choice, so I might as well start out thinking positively. I think if I can help Robyn develop some skills, maybe she’ll lighten up. I think her attitude comes from insecurities and a need to prove herself.

Her friends shared a look and then burst out laughing.

Pollyanna has nothing on you, Baylee said. Bet you even think she’ll be grateful.

Jenna couldn’t help but think her friends were right. They knew her so well. They had met in junior high. Three gawky girls feeling out of place in a junior high that two elementary schools fed into. Jenna and Baylee came from opposite schools, and Liz’s family had just moved to the area, making her the stereotypical new girl. Somehow during the first week of school, they recognized kindred spirits in one another, and their friendships only strengthened over time. They were there for each other.

When Jenna had to start working more hours while going to school to help support the family, she didn’t have a lot of time to do goofy college things, but Baylee and Liz made sure she had some fun in her life. They loved to go to the house and hang with her and her sister, and they just adored Aunt Judy. To them, family was more than just blood; it was who you let into it.

The three of them made quite a sight when together. Baylee was a petite, green-eyed blonde who looked like the wind could easily blow her over, belying the strength underneath. Liz, another blonde with brown eyes, was a step taller than Baylee, with a slightly fuller figure and to-die-for legs. Jenna, yet another step taller than Liz, was the hazel-eyed brunette with a slim hourglass figure. They were known to catch a few looks throughout the years.

No bet, but someone get another girls’ night on the calendar soon because I think I’m going to need it, Jenna said, refusing to take a bet she was sure to lose.

How about we expand our next gathering to include the opposite sex? Baylee suggested. I’m tired of the dry spell I’ve been experiencing. I know Liz is suffering from a lack of attention too. And while you seem just fine without a cuddle now and then, it might help you get through the Robyn experience.

Trying hard to come up with a good reason why a night prowling for men wouldn’t fit into her schedule, Jenna was stopped short in her thoughts when Liz said, I dare you. Dang—no way out now. The I dare you was sacred. Used sparingly and only when someone in the group truly believed it was in another’s best interest.

For some reason, her lack of interest in finding a relationship caused her friends great concern. Jenna didn’t have anything against men or relationships; she just never had time and hadn’t met anyone willing to adjust to the financial demands she had while getting her sister through school. Ann was going to graduate this spring and had been lucky enough to land a job as a teacher for the start of the next school year at the school she had interned at. But there were still bills to be paid, and Jenna contributed time and money to help get them to their goals. Not too many men had understood her time and financial limitations.