Always Love You (MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary series Book 5)

by Shirleen Davies

  “You…you still want me to stay?” She could feel her bottom lip quiver and worked to control it, lest someone notice.

  “Eric must agree as you’ll be forced to work together, sometimes long nights, long weekends, whatever it takes to get your jobs done.” He looked at Eric. “I need to know if you can do this.”

  Eric had seen her bottom lip tremble. No one else would ever notice it, but Eric did, having been around her many times when she’d been dealt bad news or feared something. It used to be he could put an arm around her, draw her close, and love the uncertainty away. She’d do all she could to hide it, but deep down, he knew she was scared. This job meant a lot to her. If he balked, said he couldn’t work with her, it would be like kicking a puppy.

  He sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “If she can do the job, handle everything the two of you throw at her, then I have no problem with it.”

  Amber’s eyes widened in surprise. Never would she have expected Eric to agree.

  “Amber, can you do the job given the past?” Heath looked at her.

  “Yes, sir. I can do the job.”

  “Fine. Jace, please notify the others and we’ll get this meeting started.”

  Chapter Three

  Eric returned to his office, mumbling a curse as he slammed the notebook on his desk, and ran a hand through his dark blond hair. Amber Anderson. The meeting had lasted over an hour, each moment feeling as if a knife had been plunged into his chest. He thought the feelings he had for her died years ago. He’d built a new life, had a job he loved, dated whomever he chose, traveled, and had no expectations of falling for someone anytime soon—maybe never again.

  His world had been torn apart, once more, when she walked into the room. Now he had to learn to deal with her presence and the real kicker—the renewed pull he felt toward her. Life could be a real pain sometimes. He grabbed his ringing phone, not looking at the caller ID.

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s Kade. Are you back in your office?”

  Eric let out a breath and closed his eyes. “I’m here. You need something?”

  “I have one more meeting, then I’m done. Cam, Mitch, and I will come by to get you.”

  “For what?” Eric pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

  “We’re going out. No arguments. Steak and whatever else you want. Plan on it.” Kade hung up without waiting for an answer.

  Eric would’ve laughed if his stomach wasn’t in a knot the size of a watermelon. He’d penciled in a meeting with Amber at eight the next morning to bring her up to speed on his current and future projects. They’d talk about what had worked in the past and what he wanted to see for marketing in his department going forward. Just two colleagues on their best, professional behavior.

  “Ah, hell,” he hissed before dropping into his chair and resting his head in his hands.

  ******

  Amber looked up at the sound of a knock on her door. “Yes?”

  Brooke pushed the door open. “May I come in?”

  “Of course.” Amber set aside the papers she’d been reviewing in preparation for her meetings with Eric and Cam tomorrow. She didn’t know what to expect from either of the Sinclair men. One she’d once loved with all her heart and the other she’d always seen as a big brother. “Oh, sorry.” Amber picked up the stacks of folders piled high on both guest chairs. “It seems the marketing manager had file cabinets full of information. Mostly useless.”

  Brooke took a seat and looked around, remembering her first day at MacLaren Enterprises. She felt overwhelmed and somewhat intimidated. Amber faced an even bigger obstacle in Eric.

  “I know you’re swamped, getting ready for a big week, but I wondered if you might be able to have dinner with me. We have so much to catch up on.”

  Amber’s first instinct was to decline. She did have a lot to review in preparation for her meetings and needed to come across strong. Her stomach elected that moment to let loose with a growl even Brooke couldn’t miss.

  “I guess we have our answer. Is Italian all right or would you prefer something else?”

  “Italian sounds good. What time?” Amber rested her hip against the edge of the desk.

  “How about I stop by in an hour. Will that give you enough time?” Brooke asked.

  “I’ll be ready.” Amber watched Brooke leave, closing the door behind her as she greeted someone in the hallway. She’d been surprised at the cordial and relaxed atmosphere within minutes of arriving this morning. It didn’t take more than this one day to realize the friendliness belied a strong work ethic and commitment to results.

  Amber reached for the folder she’d tossed down when Brooke entered and began to read. After three attempts to finish the first page, she dropped it and stood, walking to the window with a view to the mountains. She hoped to find time to hike, do some camping, maybe buy another motorcycle and visit the Grand Canyon—assuming she stayed employed long enough.

  Eric had taken a giant step by not blocking her employment. He could’ve scuttled it with a few well-chosen words. Instead, he’d taken the professional path of showing Heath and Jace how he could be a team player, no matter the personal issues of his decision.

  She couldn’t read anything into his action, such as extending an olive branch to her. He would be more likely to show it to her then break it in half. She knew the pain her decision to leave for New York caused him. What he didn’t know was how his attitude toward her request—his absolute refusal to discuss it—tortured her just as much. He may not love her any longer, or even like her, but he’d tolerate her for the sake of his job.

  He’d attempted to hide the way he watched her during the meeting. Most in the room wouldn’t have noticed his gaze shifting to Amber every couple of minutes and holding. She did. At first she felt uncomfortable and tried to shift away, then decided to roll with it as she did when any colleague became curious about another. She’d let the shock pass, settle into her job, and excel, as she’d always done.

  ******

  “Tell me about Kade.” Amber sipped her after dinner coffee, trying to relax for the meetings tomorrow with Eric and Cam. She had a sense both could be difficult, almost as if she were questioning a hostile witness in a courtroom. Of course, she may be reading too much into the situation.

  “Not until you tell me about you and Eric. We’ve spent the entire evening talking about my time at the university, my job, your past jobs, and nerves about your new one. It’s time you gave me the details of what happened between the two of you.” Brooke settled back in her seat and crossed her legs, ignoring her friend’s discomfort.

  Amber blew out a slow breath. “It’s been so long.”

  “Do you still care for him?”

  “I’m not in love with him anymore, if that’s what you’re asking.” She took another sip of coffee and laid down her cup. “It’s my fault we split. I wanted to try an opportunity in New York. All I asked Eric for was six months to give it a shot. He refused to talk about it, told me I needed to choose between him and leaving. I was naïve. I thought he’d come to his senses and follow me east. Instead, he helped me load my clothes, waved goodbye, and that’s the last I saw of him until this morning. I was young, impulsive, and angry—not a good combination to make a decision such as breaking an engagement. If I could go back in time, have a do-over…” her wistful voice trailed off as she remembered the tears in her eyes when she’d driven away.

  “What would you do?”

  She picked up her cup and rolled it between her hands. “I should’ve stayed longer, until he’d grown used to the idea, then tried to get him to talk. His face turned to stone when I first brought it up. He didn’t even ask why it mattered so much to me or would I consider waiting until the end of the year, or maybe both of us flying east to check it out. Nothing. Just a flat refusal to discuss it. Looking back, I think I just needed him to talk it through with me.”

  “You were both so young. They say ever
ything happens for a reason. Maybe the split will prove to be the best decision you’ve ever made.”

  “If you’re implying we’ll fall in love again, you might as well put the thought out of your head. When I left, the potential for a future with him vanished. I’ve come to accept I no longer matter to him and he’s not the man for me. He’s moved on and so have I.” She made the decision to ask what she’d wanted to all night. “Has he ever married?”

  “From what I know, he’s come nowhere close. Don’t get me wrong, Eric is no celibate monk. He dates, has a great time, then splits before anything can develop. It’s as if he intentionally builds a wall between him and any woman who might threaten his bachelor status. If he ever does marry, I’m guessing it will be a long time after he’s become an uncle several times over. What about you? You ever come close?”

  “Just with Eric.”

  Something about Amber’s response tore at Brooke’s heart. She believed Amber handled the last years in a much different way than Eric. “Do you date, go out at all?”

  “I’ve dated over the years. No one special. I can’t even remember the last time I had…well, you know.” She glanced at an older couple who walked in holding hands then shifted in her chair. “Anyway, it’s been a while. I’ve decided once I get settled in my job, I’m going to make a stronger effort to meet new people and date.” Amber looked at her watch. “Guess I’d better get going. Big day tomorrow. Don’t forget you’re on the calendar for Wednesday.”

  Brooke stood by her car, watching as Amber drove off. Much of what she said made sense, although she couldn’t shake the feeling Amber might be kidding herself, the same as Brooke believed Eric had been doing for years. Fate had thrown them back together, and she feared both had a rough ride ahead of them.

  ******

  “Last one, then I’m out of here.” Eric licked salt from the rim of the glass, tossed back the tequila, then sucked on a lime. He shook his head, trying to clear it from the third shot he’d had in less than an hour. He’d had a gin and tonic before dinner and a couple of glasses of wine with his steak. Probably not the best choices given the way his day had gone.

  “What are you going to do about Amber?” Cam signaled the waitress for a round of coffee.

  Eric knew there was no sense avoiding the discussion. “Hell, I don’t know.”

  “That bad, huh?” Kade asked.

  “You know how you feel about Brooke?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I felt the same about Amber. It never once occurred to me she didn’t feel the same. It took a long time to get over my anger at the way she left.”

  “Do you still love her?” Mitch asked.

  Eric cradled his coffee cup between both hands and looked up. “Not a bit. I cured myself of her a long time ago. But, I’m not blind. She’s turned into a beautiful woman. Just because I don’t want her doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to her charms.”

  “You do know of course, if your feelings change, there could be a few complications,” Cam said.

  “Of course I know, and believe me, I won’t change my mind. Even if she is stunning, I have no interest in her whatsoever. That train left the station years ago.” With my heart on it, Eric thought as he lifted his cup.

  ******

  “Of all the men in the whole world, he has to work at MacLaren Enterprises.” Dana’s incredulous tone said it all.

  “And he’s the stepson of Heath MacLaren,” Amber threw out.

  “Of course he is.” Sarcasm dripped from her friend’s voice, and despite herself, Amber’s mouth tipped up a bit. “Which means you’ll have to work harder, faster, and do a better job so he can’t undermine your efforts.”

  “I don’t believe he’d—”

  “Don’t even go there, Amber. You may not realize it, but you just walked into a war. You’re one commander and Eric is the other. You have to be prepared to outflank him at every opportunity.”

  This time Amber chuckled at her friend’s wording. Dana had grown up in a military family, her father career Army, her mother an Army nurse, and her brothers in Special Forces. When things got tough, old sayings died hard.

  “All right, I’ll concede he has reasons for wanting me out of the company. You should have seen the people at the meeting. There were MacLarens and Sinclairs at almost every seat. A couple other outsiders like me, but we’re a definite minority.” She fell back against her pillow and took a breath. “Except, it appears all views are welcome and no one takes sides. Each person expressed their thoughts to Heath and Jace without a hint of repercussion. Maybe I’m seeing a boogie man where there isn’t one.”

  “I’d err on the side of caution. Believe in a boogie man until you’re certain no such creature exists. But you know me, I can be a little more cynical than you.”

  Amber could hear Dana munch into a chocolate bar with nuts, her every night snack. She’d never understood how her friend could sleep after eating almost three ounces of chocolate a few minutes before turning out the light.

  “Sounds like you’re ready to call it a night, and so am I. Where will you be this weekend?” Amber asked.

  “Going snowboarding in Breckenridge with a few people from the office. Leave Friday night and return Sunday late afternoon. Call me, anytime, with updates. And if you need me, I’ll be on the first plane out.”

  Amber already knew her friend would be there for her no matter what. “I’ll talk to you soon. Have a good week.” She set her phone aside and turned off the light, settling into new Egyptian cotton sheets, a present to herself for landing the MacLaren job.

  She stared at the ceiling, listening to the sound of the clock tripping over each minute, and a drippy water faucet in the bathroom. She’d have to remember to call maintenance the next morning before work. The eight o’clock meeting with Eric would give her a couple of hours to review what she’d been given on the land acquisition and development department, which he headed.

  The marketing material was pathetic, even as the success of his work guaranteed he’d be with the company a long time. Amber knew her skill in developing material and programs would enhance his already stellar performance. She needed to be able to communicate it tomorrow without appearing pushy.

  As her eyes drifted shut, an image of Eric laughing and tossing her a volleyball on the beach raced across her mind. She clasped the blanket close to her chest as it tightened at the memory. Given time, the pain would pass, as it always did.

  Chapter Four

  “Come in,” Eric called at the rap on his office door. He’d kept the blinds closed and lights off since coming in at seven. He’d toyed with downing a shot of whisky, then thought better of it. The last thing he needed was for Amber to smell liquor on his breath.

  “Good morning.” Amber walked in, stopping at the lack of light. Her hand moved to the switch. “Would you mind—?”

  “Yes, actually, I would. Unless it’s too dark for you to see.” He squinted at her, trying to calm his rolling stomach and focus at the same time.

  Amber bit her lower lip in an attempt to suppress a grin, recognizing a hangover when she saw one. “No, this is fine.” She took a seat across from him and opened a notebook. “How would you like to start?”

  His narrowed gaze focused on her as he waved a hand. “Wherever you’d like.”

  “All right. I thought we could review the last two major campaigns, discuss what worked and what didn’t, then move to your current projects.”

  “Fine,” he ground out as a wave of nausea hit him. He didn’t know what to make of it. He’d drank a lot more in the past than he had last night and never experienced a hangover this powerful. It seemed the fates were against him this week.

  An hour passed with Eric adding his input, agreeing with some of her comments and trashing others before Amber sat back in her chair. She watched as a light sheen of sweat built across his brows and he rubbed it away with his fingers. It must have been some night, she thought, and wondered if he’d spent it with a woman or a
t home alone, regretting he hadn’t given her the boot when he had the chance.

  “I believe I have enough to put some ideas together for you.”

  “For which properties?”

  “The Utah property and the potential site in Austin is where I’d start. You said Heath and Jace tentatively approved the deal, so we might as well include it. Unless you have a different idea.” She kept her tone even, professional, and courteous.

  “Those two are fine.”

  “I’m meeting with everyone else this week and Rafe on Monday. How about we set up a time to review ideas a week from Thursday?”

  He opened his calendar. “No can do. I’m in Austin again. The first of the following week is good.”

  “Monday morning, ten o’clock?”

  He typed it in and sat back, glancing at his watch. “If that’s all...”

  Amber picked up her notebook and headed for the door, then turned back toward him. “And thanks.”

  “For what?” His face remained neutral.

  “Not objecting to me joining the company.”

  He leaned forward, fixing her with a steady gaze. “Makes no difference to me one way or the other. If you have the skills, then it will work out. If not, you’ll be gone. Simple.” He turned his attention to his computer screen, dismissing her.

  “Right.” She closed the door, absorbing his words. At least he hadn’t changed in one aspect—you could count on Eric to be direct.

  He reached into his bottom drawer and pulled out a bottle of pain killers, popped two in his mouth, and washed them down with a gulp of water. His head had pounded through the entire meeting, at one point getting so bad he’d almost grabbed the bottle of aspirin while Amber watched. He sure as hell didn’t need her to think he’d gone through their entire meeting with a hangover—although true. The last shooter had sealed his fate. Now he had to get through the rest of the day, head home, and crash.