Читать книгу Flirting With The Boss - Tina Beckett - Страница 16

BY THE end of the week Gina and Zack had settled in and were getting into a routine. Her nephew had started school and was making new friends. Of course, Cassie was still taking charge of Zack’s social schedule.

Life was great, Lori thought, as she arrived at the bank that cold, gray November morning. Thank goodness her car had seat warmers to ward off the near-freezing temperatures. She thought about the upcoming holidays and couldn’t help but smile. Her family would all be together.

She also thought of Jace. She wanted to invite him and Cassie to Thanksgiving at the house. Would he come? The memory of the kisses they’d shared caused a shiver down her spine. She was crazy to think about a future with the man, especially when he’d been telling her all along he didn’t want to get involved.

As she entered her office, she decided not to go to the construction site unless absolutely necessary. Besides, she had plenty to do at the bank to keep her busy for a long time. She looked down at the several stacks of files and paperwork covering the desktop. The last thing she wanted to do was spend all her time managing the number of properties, and the rest of the time at the bank. If only she could hire someone to oversee it all. And she didn’t trust the “three amigos” loan officers to handle things on their own. They’d already thought she was in over her head. Maybe she was, but she wasn’t going to let them see it.

She’d been working nearly two hours when there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Lori called.

Erin walked in. She wore a simple black A-line skirt and a pin-striped red-and-white blouse. She was carrying a coffee mug and a white paper sack. “Break time?”

“Thank you, I could use it. Everything is getting a little blurry.”

“You should have more than coffee. Helen sent over some scones from the Silver Spoon. A thank-you for putting a six-month moratorium on foreclosures.”

Lori thought of her own childhood after her mother remarried. They’d had some rough times over the years. “I refuse to let this bank play Scrooge especially with Christmas coming soon. The first thing on the agenda for the first of next year is reworking these loans.”

Erin smiled. “You know, the other bank officers aren’t happy with your decision.”

Lori took a sip of her drink. “Yes. Mr. Neal has already decided to retire.” She thought about the generous retirement package her father had given him. He wouldn’t be giving up his lifestyle.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Erin said. “I located Kaley Sims. She’s working for a management company in Durango. I have the phone number.”

“Good. Would you put in a call to her and see if she’s willing to talk with me?”

“Of course. Anything else?”

Erin was so efficient at her job, Lori wasn’t sure what she would have done without her.

“There is one thing. In looking over my father’s properties, I found a place called—” she searched through the list “—Hidden Hills Lodge. I’m not sure if it’s a rental property, or what. It doesn’t show any reported income.”

“Maybe it was a place Mr. Hutchinson had for his personal use. Do you want me to find out more about it?”

Lori shook her head. “No, you have more than enough to do now.” Maybe she would look into this herself. She had a great GPS in her new car. Surely she could find her way. She stood. “I’m going to be gone the rest of the afternoon. If you need me, call me on my cell phone.”

Maybe it was time she delved a little further into her father’s past and the opportunity was right in front of her.

Later that afternoon, Jace got out of his truck as snow flurries floated in the air, clinging to his coat and hat. He took a breath as he walked to the bank. Okay, he’d been avoiding going anywhere he might see Lori Hutchinson. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off the woman, but since he needed her signature on some changes in the project, he didn’t have a choice.

He walked through the doors and Erin greeted him. “Is Miss Hutchinson in?”

“No, she’s not. She left about noon.”

“She go home?”

“No, I’ve tried to reach her there. I also tried her cell phone, but it goes to voice mail.” Erin frowned. “I’m worried about her, especially with this weather.”

Suddenly Jace was concerned, too. “And she didn’t say where she was going? A property? Out to the site?”

“That’s what I’m worried about. I think she might have gone to the Hidden Hills Lodge.”

“Where is this place?”

Erin sat down at her desk and printed out directions from the computer. Jace looked them over. He wasn’t sure about this area, only that it was pretty rural.

He wrote down his number and handed it to Erin. “Give me a call if Lori gets in touch with you.”

He left as he pulled out his cell phone and gave Claire Keenan a call, asking if she’d watch Cassie a little later, then he hung up and glanced up at the sky. An odd feeling came over him, and not a good one. “Where are you, Lori?”

An hour later, Lori had turned off the highway to a private road, just as her GPS had instructed her to do. She shifted her car into four-wheel drive and began to move slowly along the narrowing path.

It wasn’t long before she realized coming today wasn’t a good idea. Deciding to go back, she shifted her SUV into Reverse and pushed on the gas pedal, and all that happened was the tires began to spin.

“Great. Please, I don’t need this.” She glanced out her windshield as her wipers pushed away the blowing snow, which didn’t look like it was going to stop anytime soon.

She took out her cell phone. No signal. The one thing that was working was her GPS and it showed her destination was a quarter mile up the road. What should she do? Stay in the car, or walk to Hidden Hills Lodge?

She buttoned her coat, wrapped her scarf around her neck and grabbed a flashlight. She turned on her emergency blinkers and climbed out as the blowing snow hit her. She started her trek up the dirt road and her fear rose. What if she got lost and froze to death? Her thoughts turned to Gina and Zack. And Jace. She cared more about the man than she even wanted to admit. And she wanted to see him again. She quickened her pace, keeping to the center of the dirt road.

Ten minutes later, cold and tired, she finally saw the structure through the blowing snow. It was almost like a mirage in the middle of the trees. She hurried up the steps to the porch and tried the door. Locked.

“Key, where are you?” she murmured, hating to break a window. It took a few minutes, but she found a metal box behind the log bench. After unlocking the dead bolt with nearly frozen fingers, she hurried into the dark structure and closed the door. She reached for the switch on the wall and light illuminated the huge main room. With a gasp, she glanced around. The walls were made out of rough logs and the open-beam ceiling showed off the loft area overhead. Below the upstairs were two doorways leading to bedrooms. The floors were high-gloss pine with large area rugs and overstuffed furniture was arranged in front of a massive fireplace. She found a thermostat on the wall and flipped it, immediately hearing the heater come on.

Shivering, Lori walked to the fireplace and added some logs. With the aid of the gas starter, flames shot over the wood. She sat on the hearth, feeling warmth begin to seep through her chilled body.

Once warmed, she got up and looked around. The kitchen was tucked in the back side of the structure, revealing granite counters and dark cabinets.

She checked out the two bedrooms and a bath on the main floor. Then she climbed up to the loft and found another bedroom. One of the walls was all windows with a view of the forest. She walked into the connecting bathroom. This one had a soaker tub and a huge walk-in shower.

“I guess if you have to be stranded in a snowstorm, a mountain retreat isn’t a bad place to be.” At least she’d stay warm until someone found her. When? Next spring?

She came back downstairs trying to think of a plan to get her back to town, when a sudden noise drew her attention. She froze as the door opened and Jace Yeager walked in.

“Jace!” she cried and leaped into his arms.

He held her close and whispered, “I take it you’re happy to see me.”

Jace didn’t want to let Lori go. Thank God, she was safe. When he found her deserted car, he wasn’t sure if she would find cover.

He pulled back. “Are you crazy, woman? Why did you go out in this weather?”

She blinked back the obvious tears in her eyes. “It wasn’t this bad when I started out. Besides, I didn’t think it was that far. I tried to go back when the weather turned, but my car got stuck. How did you know where I went?”

“I stopped by the bank. Erin was worried because she couldn’t get ahold of you.”

“No cell service.”

Jace pulled out his phone and examined it. “I have a few bars.” He walked toward the front door, where the signal seemed to be a little stronger. “I’ll call the Keenans.” He punched in the number and prayed he could get a message out. Tim answered.

“Tim. It’s Jace.” He went on to explain what had happened and that Lori was with him. Most importantly they were safe. He asked Tim to keep Cassie, then to call Lori’s sister and let her know they wouldn’t be back tonight. “Tell Cassie I love her and not to worry.”

He flipped the phone closed and looked around the large room, then he turned back to Lori. “Tim will call Gina and let her know you’re okay.”

Lori’s eyes widened. “We’re not going back now?”

He shook his head. “Can’t risk it. The storm is too bad so we’re safer staying put.” That was only partly true. He glanced around, knowing being alone with Lori wasn’t safe anywhere. “I’d say this isn’t a bad place to be stranded in.” He looked at her. “This is one of your properties?”

She nodded. “I think my father came here … to get away.”

Jace grinned. “So this was Lyle’s secret hideaway?”

Lori frowned. “Please, I don’t want that picture in my mind.”

Jace looked around at the structure. “Well, whatever he used it for, it’s well built. And it seems to have all the modern conveniences.”

He went on a search, and found two bedrooms, then a utility room off the kitchen. There was a large generator and tankless water system. “Bingo,” he called to Lori. “All the conveniences of home. In fact, it’s better than back home.” He nodded to the fire. “Propane gas for the kitchen stove and most importantly there’s heat.”

Lori looked at him. “You really think my father used this place for his own personal use?”

Jace shrugged. “Or he let clients use it. Come on, Lori, did you think your father lived like a monk?”

She shrugged. “Truthfully, I hadn’t thought much about my father’s personal business in a long time. So what if he came here.” She walked to the kitchen. “Maybe we should look for something to eat.” Opening the cabinets, she found some canned goods, soup, beans and tuna.

Jace opened the refrigerator. Empty, but the freezer was filled with different cuts of meat, steaks, chicken. “I’ll say one thing about Lyle. He believed in being prepared.” He pulled out two steaks. “Hungry?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Are you cooking?”

“Hey, I can cook.” He took the meat from the package, put it on a plate and into the microwave to defrost. “I’ve been on my own for a long time.”

Lori had wondered about his childhood since he’d mentioned that he’d been in foster care. “How old were you?”

“At eighteen they release you. So you’re on your own,” he told her as he found a can of green beans in another cabinet. “I got a job working construction and signed up for college classes.”

Jace didn’t have it much better than she did, Lori thought. “That had to be hard for you.”

“Not too bad,” Jace said. “I found out later, I had a small inheritance from my parents. It was in trust until I turned twenty-five.” He turned on the broiler in the oven then washed his hands. “I used it to start my company. Yeager Construction.”

Lori found she liked listening to Jace talk. He was a confident man, in his words and movements. Okay, so she more than liked him.

The microwave dinged and he took out the meat. “How about a little seasoning for your steak?” He held up a small jar.

“Sure.”

He added the rub to the meat. She watched as he worked efficiently to prepare the meal. She couldn’t help but wonder about how those broad hands and tapered fingers would feel against her skin.

She suddenly heard her name and looked at him. “What?”

He gave her an odd look. “How do you like your steak?”

“Any way you fix it is fine,” she said, not really caring at all. Then he smiled and she couldn’t find enough air to draw into her lungs.

He winked. “Medium rare it is,” he said and slid the tray into the broiler.

Pull it together, girl, she told herself then went to the cupboard. She got out two plates and some flatware from the drawer, then set the table by the fire. No need for candles. She glanced around the room. It looked so intimate.

She went and found a can of pineapple and opened it, then heated the green beans just as the steaks came off the broiler.

Jace added another log to the fire, then they sat down to dinner. “Man, this looks good. Too bad we can’t do a salad and some garlic bread.”

“I find it amazing that there’s so much food here.”

“Your father struck me as well prepared. Hold on a minute.” He got up, went into the utility room and came out with a bottle of wine. “In every way.”

He opened the bottle and poured two glasses. He took them to the table, sat in his chair and began to cut his steak. “If he used this place, he wanted all the comforts money could buy,” Jace said, nodding to the wine.

“I’m wondering who he shared all this with.”

Jace took a drink. “You might never know. One thing for sure, Lyle had good taste.”

She took a sip from her glass, too, and had to agree. Then she began to eat, discovering she was hungry. “I guess I’m still the daughter who wonders why he was such a loner, not even finding time for his only child.”

“We can spend hours on that subject.” Jace continued to eat. “Some people aren’t cut out for the job of parenting.”

She hated that her father’s rejection still bothered her after all these years. She wanted to think she’d moved on. Maybe not.

She turned her attention back to the conversation. “Shelly hated anything to do with being a mother,” Jace said. “That’s why I can’t let her have Cassie.”

“Does Cassie want to live with her mother?”

“Cassie wants to be loved by her mother, but my ex is too selfish. She’s been jealous of her daughter since her birth. And I’ll do anything to prevent Cassie from taking a backseat to that. I know how it feels.”

“Cassie’s lucky she has you.”

He smiled. “It’s easy to love that little girl. I know I spoil her, but she’s been so happy since she moved here. I have to make it permanent.”

Lori put on a smile. “You’re a good father, Jace Yeager.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I’ll help you in any way I can.”

He stopped eating. “What do you mean? Help. I can afford to handle this custody battle on my own.”

She shook her head. “I know that. I only meant that I know what it’s like to not have a father in my life. I was offering moral support, nothing else. But don’t be too bullheaded to take any and everything you can to keep your daughter. She needs you in her life, more than you know.” Lori stood and carried her plate to the sink. Her appetite was gone.

He came to her. “I’m sorry, Lori.”

She could feel his heat behind her. Good Lord, the man made his presence known. She wanted desperately to lean back into him. “For years Lyle Hutchinson never even acknowledged that I existed. I can’t tell you how much that hurt.”

She hated feeling needy. When Jace turned her around and touched her cheek, she couldn’t deny she wanted his comfort.

“I can’t imagine doing that to my child. I don’t want to think about Cassie not being in my life. I know from experience that adults do dumb things, and in the end it’s the kids that get hurt the most.”

Lori felt a tear drop and he wiped it away. “It’s not fair.”

Jace leaned forward. “I wish I could change it.” He brushed his mouth across hers. “I wish I could make you feel better.”

She released a shaky breath. “What you’re doing is nice.”

His blue-eyed gaze searched her face. “Damn, Lori. What I’m thinking about doing with you isn’t nice.” Then he pulled her close and captured her mouth. Desire burst within her, if possible more intense than ever before, pooling deep in her center. She could feel his heat even through their clothes as she arched into his body. She whimpered her need as his tongue danced against hers.

“You make me want so many things,” he breathed as his tongue tormented her skin. He found his way to her collarbone. “I want you, Lorelei Hutchinson.” His mouth closed over hers once again, giving her a hint of the pleasure this man offered her.

She arched against him, her fingers threading through his hair, holding him close. Mouths slanted, their tongues mated as his hands moved over her back and down to her bottom, pulling her closer to feel his desire.

Jace was on the edge. On hearing her soft moan, he drew back with his last ounce of sanity. Then he made the mistake of looking into her eyes and all good intentions flew out the window. “Tell me to stop now, Lori.”

She swallowed. “I can’t, Jace. I don’t want you to stop.”

His heart skipped a beat as he swung her up into his arms. With a quick glance around, he headed to one of the rooms under the loft, only caring there was a bed past the door.

The daylight was fading, but there was enough light from the main room. He set her down next to a four-poster bed. He captured her mouth in a long kiss, then reached behind her and threw back the thick comforter.

He returned to her. “I’ve dreamed of being with you like this.” He drew her into his arms. “So be sure you want the same.”

She nodded.

He let out a frustrated breath. “You have to do better than that, Lori.”

“I’m very sure, Jace.”

Those big brown eyes looked up at him. He inhaled her soft scent and was lost, so lost that he couldn’t think about anything except sharing this intimacy with this special woman.

His mouth descended to hers and the rest of the snowstorm and the world disappeared. There was only the two of them caught up in their own storm.