It Started At Christmas…. Jo McNally
the owner suites at whatever resort I’m at.”
“How many resorts do you own?”
He shrugged. “Five. You still haven’t answered my question. Can you have it done by the holidays?”
“Some of the furniture will need to be ordered and may not be here in time…” Amanda looked around, and he could tell she was calculating in her head. It was a hot look on her. Damn it. He stood and moved away. Where the hell did that thought come from?
Her face scrunched, then relaxed, as if coming to a conclusion she approved of. “With enough skilled people, I could probably get most of the work done in time. I’ll need a place to live…”
“If you want to commute from the city, I can send a car for you.”
“Umm… I’m actually…between apartments right now. It would be easier to find a rental here in town.”
He kicked himself. He forgot Mel had told him Amanda was losing her apartment.
“Stay here at the house.”
He probably should have thought that idea through before saying it out loud.
“What?” She stood, her gaze darting around the empty hall. “Here? No.”
“Look, it’s a big place. There’s a nice suite upstairs with a balcony. I’m leaving for Hawaii and Bali in mid-September—I won’t even be here part of the time. I’d give you a room down at the resort, but September’s probably booked solid for leaf season.” He could tell she was considering it. “You can order your meals from the resort, of course. We’ll configure lodging and meals as part of the package. I’ll have Julie make all the arrangements. Her brother’s a contractor, and he’s done good work at the resort and around town. Bobby can handle what you’re planning to do, and he can find workers locally. And don’t worry about being alone here. The security system is excellent…” He was practically begging, and he had no clue why. He just knew he wanted her to say yes. She stared at him for a long moment, then nodded, all business.
“I’ll need a week or two to pack my things and get settled. I’ll need to meet with the contractor as soon as possible so we can set up a schedule.”
“I’ll call Bobby in the morning to set up a meeting.”
He wasn’t prepared for her next question.
“You don’t even like this place, so why spend the money? Why the rush to be ready for Christmas?”
He started to answer, but emotion tangled up his words and kept them from coming out. He looked up at the high ceilings and blew out a deep breath.
“I have a nephew. He’s my responsibility now that my sister is dead.” He ignored her small sound of sympathy. “Being a nomad worked for me before, but that needs to change. I’d never considered this place an option before you showed up. It’s close enough to the city to be workable for me. And Zach…well, a boy should like living in a castle, right?”
She started to laugh, then apparently realized he was serious. Yeah, he was damned serious. He had no clue what a ten-year-old boy liked.
“Blake, every child in the world would love to live in a castle.” She patted his arm affectionately. “I’ll make sure he loves this one when I’m done with it.”
They exchanged business cards and cell phone numbers, then Blake called the resort and had someone pick her up so she wouldn’t have to walk. He watched her go down the front steps. Her long blond curls swayed in counter rhythm to her hips. Damn, she was the real deal. Talented. Creative. And drop-dead sexy.
She was working for him now. Her voice and face changed when she talked about design work. She lost her nervousness. And she’d be living in his house. He closed his eyes and grimaced. What the hell had he just done? He may have just created his very own hell here at Halcyon.
The sooner he was off to Hawaii, the better.
When Amanda walked into the restaurant at the Gallant Lake Resort two weeks later, she could barely stay on her feet. Every muscle ached from packing up the apartment she’d shared with two other women. Doubts about her decision to take this job—to move here—kept her awake every night. Most of her belongings were now packed into a storage unit in the city. It was depressing to see how little space her entire life took up. And now she had to meet her general contractor tonight over dinner.
She’d settled into Halcyon that morning, unpacking her clothes and the handful of personal things she’d brought with her. The sunny yellow suite on the third floor would be her home for the next few months. An odd flutter of déjà vu had tickled up her spine when she stepped out onto the long stone balcony outside her room. But she hadn’t felt afraid. If anything, the familiarity of it all made her feel more relaxed. And the room did have a spectacular view.
At first, she’d wondered why Blake Randall put her in the room right next to his. But after walking through the house, she realized there weren’t many options, since so few of the rooms were furnished. The entire second floor was vacant. And the other tower room on the third floor clearly belonged to the young nephew he’d mentioned, since the bed was covered with teddy bears. A key to the house had been delivered to her apartment a few days ago, along with a cryptic handwritten note.
I won’t be there to help you get settled, but two of my employees from the resort will be waiting at the house on Wednesday to assist with the move. I have a meeting in Vegas, but I should be back Wednesday night. Julie and Bobby will expect you to meet them for dinner at seven at Galantè to discuss logistics.
Blake.
It was hard to believe the note had been written by the same guy who’d brushed a tear from her cheek, but maybe that version of Blake Randall was the exception, not the rule. He was now her client, so it made sense he wanted to keep things professional. And yet he chose to put her in the suite next to his. She was too tired to sort out her feelings about that.
Galantè was the formal dining venue at the resort, with a wall of windows overlooking Gallant Lake. It was mid-September, and the lake was ablaze with the reflected colors from the trees surrounding it as the sun set. Amanda glanced down at her tailored navy blue dress and matching pumps, thankful for the wardrobe she’d acquired back when she was earning a steady paycheck. She was here for a business dinner, and she could do this. Her exhaustion rolled off her shoulders as her adrenaline amped up. The renovation at Halcyon would be the perfect project to begin her own design firm.
Julie Brown, the assistant manager, waved from a table near the windows. Julie and her brother, Bobby, weren’t twins, but they could have been with the similarities in their looks and personalities. Both had thick brown hair, hazel eyes, and warm smiles. Julie’s hair was cut short in a layered bob. Bobby’s hair was longer than his sister’s, sweeping across his forehead and brushing his shoulders. They had the same teasing sense of humor, and they laughed often and easily.
Amanda leaned back in her seat after dinner, feeling satisfied. Not just about the food, but also about the design project. Bobby was more than qualified to tackle what needed to be done at Halcyon. He’d just finished building a custom home for a client, and he didn’t have another job lined up, so his crew could start immediately.
Julie cleared her throat and folded her napkin carefully on her empty dessert plate. “Mr. Randall told me you’re staying at Halcyon, even while he’s gone.” Julie shook her head. “You’re braver than me, that’s for sure. Anyway, I’ve made arrangements for housekeeping to go up there daily to take care of the living quarters and you can eat all your meals here at the resort.”
“I don’t need housekeeping, Julie. I can clean up after myself, and there’s an old washer and dryer there I can use for my laundry. And I actually love to cook, so I’ll feed myself…”