He took that as a no, and he would not stop working hard to impress her.
Chapter 6
The following weekend, Kendall rose from Decker’s McLaren sports car with her hand on his. Her flowing white cocktail gown slipped back from her knee where it parted high up on her left thigh and fell closed once she stood straight. Decker’s eyes went to the deep V in the front of the sleeveless bodice. Soft pleats flared gently from the banded waist. He looked just as elegant in his dark suit and white tie.
“I still think you did this on purpose,” she said with a coy smile.
“Plan a charity ball?” He chuckled. “Even I would need more time to plan that. No, this was my parents.”
“Then Russ did this on purpose.”
“Maybe. In any event, it will be a glamorous evening.”
She could do without glamour, but it would be a great night, especially since the charity was for The Nature Conservancy. At ten thousand a plate, this fund-raiser would produce a significant amount. And she had been excited all day to show up on Decker’s arm. Kind of a girlhood fantasy come to life, close to what she had imagined in high school. Only better.
As the valet took Decker’s car, she took in the splendor of The Chateau, from the expansive garden, impeccably manicured but dormant now, to the large fountain with a tall statue of a woman with her arm arched above her head. Kendall’s high heels clicked on the stone driveway that passed along the front of the massive architectural work of art of The Chateau. Towering columns flanked each side and several archways led to an elaborate front entrance.
A doorman opened one of the doors for them and Kendall stepped into the foyer. High overhead, arching beams reached from front to back and double circular staircases met at the second level. Plants in built-in boxes flourished in the lobby and another fountain gently splashed between the staircases.
She put her arm in Decker’s as they walked to the conference center. The elite charity cocktail party would be held in The Chateau’s grand ballroom.
The room sported glittering crystal chandeliers and white-linen-covered tables with a sizable crowd of formally clad men and women. Kendall could smell the giant pots of fresh flowers placed throughout the expansive room. An orchestra played at the far end and a few couples danced.
She recognized a few famous actors and actresses, laughing and having a good time. The press wasn’t allowed inside these hallowed grounds. She also spotted a senator and his wife. Her parents couldn’t make it tonight but she saw Russ and Mara heading their way.
“Brace yourself,” Decker joked.
Petite and thin, Mara had to take twice as many strides as Russ with his tall frame. Her short blond hair had been styled into well-placed curls with pins that flattered her face and she wore diamond earrings. Her dark blue eyes sparkled with professionally applied makeup. Straying from her usual classic business attire, she wore a glittery silver gown.
Broad-shouldered and in a silky tuxedo Russ neared them beside Mara, his dark brown, graying hair combed smooth and his brown eyes shrewd as usual.
“Ah, Kendall.” Russ took her in for a brief, impersonal hug. “You look radiant.”
“That’s a lovely gown,” Mara said, sparkling in her silver sequins.
“Yours is too,” Kendall said to be polite.
“Have you two been spending a lot of time together?” Russ asked.
“As much as possible,” Decker replied. “Kendall showed me her pack of wild gray wolves the other day.”
The way he looked at her warmed her and convinced her the pride she saw was genuine.
“Oh my, that sounds dangerous. Was it safe?” Mara looked Kendall over as though she’d lost her mind.
“We stayed a good distance away and were careful not to disturb them. The last thing I want is to frighten them away from a healthy habitat,” Kendall said.
“I would have been the frightened one.” Mara turned to her son. “You aren’t the outdoors type, are you, Decker? Your taste is more accustomed to what surrounds us now.”
“I run a ski resort, mother.”
“It’s not just any ski resort.”
No, it catered to the rich and famous. Mara clearly had trouble picturing her son in the wild.
“You would have been impressed,” Kendall added. “I was.”
Russ chuckled. “It’s good to see the two of you getting along so well.” He leaned in toward Decker. “Don’t let anyone steal her from you, son.”
“Kendall will stay where she wants.” He turned warm eyes to her. “And that’s right next to me.”
Kendall wondered if he said that to make his father happy or if he was really that cocky. Was she a business deal to him as much as she was to his father? She didn’t like being treated like that. Even if she went through with the wedding out of convenience, she refused to be a hot commodity.
“Decker!”
Kendall turned to see Skye Colton headed their way with a big, radiant smile. Younger sister of Decker’s, the five-fourish, redheaded marketing manager had an energy about her. She rushed over and flew into her brother’s arms. Decker had twin sisters: Skye and Phoebe. Kendall searched around for his adopted sister Sloane and didn’t see her. Sloane and her brother, Fox, had been adopted by their Aunt Mara Colton and Russ.
“Hey, kiddo. It’s been a while.”
Skye leaned back. “Only because you work too much.”
“I’m not working now.”
“I see that.” She stepped away and glanced at Kendall. “Sloane told me she talked to you about Dad wanting you to get married. And you agreed. I had to see to believe.”
“When are the invitations going out?” Skye asked.
Kendall didn’t say anything. She hadn’t thought of invitations. They had no time. Then it occurred to her she hadn’t thought to deny there’d be a wedding. Which meant what—that she wasn’t as unsure as she’d originally thought? Yet how could she be sure in such a short period of time?
Before she started going crazy again with all the what-ifs, Kendall reminded herself why arranged marriage appealed to her. It was because she wouldn’t get hurt if it didn’t work out. She could minimize the sanctity of marriage and opt for the ease of divorce if things went south. And if things ended up working out—even if she and Decker didn’t fall in love and just remained good companions—isn’t that what she desired most?
Yes.
She realized Decker was waiting for her to say something. He was leaving it up to her. What a gentleman. Once again he surprised her with how considerate he was.
“I suppose we better get on it,” she said.
Decker’s reaction heated her in places best kept private. His eyes smoldered as he looked at her, a completely satisfied man—or a triumphant one.
“If you need help, Phoebe and I can handle that,” Skye said. “All you have to do is give us a list of who you want to attend, Kendall. I pretty much know who to invite on Decker’s side.”
“Oh, that would be great if you did that,” Kendall said, sincerely appreciating the offer. “With such a short amount of time, it’s hard to stay on top of all that needs to be done.”
“Dad already arranged the reception,” Decker said. “It will be at the Colton Manor. Kendall and I haven’t decided where the ceremony will take place.” He looked at her again. “Actually, I don’t know how you feel about a church wedding.”
“Some churches are architecturally beautiful,” she said. “I like the ones with the most interesting history. And style.”
“There’s a church in town that was built in the late eighteen hundreds,” Skye said.
“I know the one you’re talking about,” Kendall said, loving the idea of a wedding there. “Let’s do it!”
She felt genuinely excited. The church Skye mentioned was on the outskirts of town, small and preserved. The cemetery on th
e grounds was fenced in and full of flowering perennials. It had a small parklike front yard and a small gravel parking area. Very Kendall-like. She had no religious denomination but did believe in a higher power.
“Wait,” she said to Decker. “How do you feel about a church wedding?”
“The same as you.”
Was he lying? How did he really feel?
“I wouldn’t get married in a church if I had an issue with it,” he said as though answering her thoughts.
She could only stare at him, disbelieving they were having this conversation. He, obviously, enjoyed it immensely.
“What else do you need done?” Skye asked. “I can assign people to get everything handled.”
“Um.” Kendall decided to go with it. “Cake.”
Skye drew back a bit. “Isn’t that something you want to do?”
“I’m not big on sweets.” She glanced at Decker. Was he? She saw no reaction from him. He didn’t seem to react to much. He had a witty mind, but did not demonstrate much body language—other than when he reacted to her physically. Which she wouldn’t complain about, least of all at this early stage.
“Pretty cakes aren’t really my thing unless a guest at The Lodge wants one,” he said wryly.
“Cake,” Skye said. “Check. Next?” She began texting into her phone, no doubt assigning tasks to workers or associates.
“Guest book,” Kendall said, “and flowers.”
“Lots of flowers,” Decker interjected.
“Of course.”
“Will you have bridesmaids?” Skye asked.
“One.” Kendall would have her closest friend from high school and of course invite all her other friends. Again remembering Decker, she looked at him.
“Wyatt will be the best man,” he told his sister.
“Okay.” Skye stopped texting and smiled at Kendall then Decker. “That’s enough for now.” She grasped Kendall’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I can’t wait to get to know you.”
Kendall smiled back. “Thanks. Me too.”
Skye turned to her brother. “I’ll call you. I’m going to go mingle.”
“Okay, Skye. Thanks.”
Skye rose up and planted a kiss to his cheek and said in a low tone that the music failed to drown out, “Don’t let her get away.”
* * *
The whole scene with Skye kept playing over in Decker’s mind. Was Kendall really on board with the wedding now? The prospect kindled excitement.
He danced with her and fielded curious questions. Kendall had taken a big step tonight. He didn’t want to scare her off with too much talk of their wedding.
“Come on,” he finally said. “I want to show you something.” Really he just wanted to be alone with her.
He took her hand and was glad when she didn’t resist. Through the back of The Chateau, he led her past the oval garden and paved driveway to a path that in summer bloomed a profusion of color. He could have taken her to the indoor pool and accessed the springs from there, but he wanted to get her away from people.
He entered the gate leading to the outdoor portion of the pool.
“Natural spring water feeds this pool,” he told her. The water is cooled before it flows into the hot tub and cooled more before it flows into the outdoor-indoor pool.”
“Where does the water come from?”
“Scientists aren’t exactly sure, but the water is believed to come from trapped groundwater heated by volcanic activity deep in the earth.”
She looked at him in surprise. “The spring must be enormous.”
He nodded. “Twenty-seven-hundred gallons of water flow to the surface every minute, some of it as hot as a hundred-twenty-five degrees. In the eighteen hundreds, the Ute Indians used this site as a healing and sacred place, calling it Yampah, meaning big medicine. Doc Holliday came here.”
She nodded this time. “And died here.”
He chuckled. She obviously had her doubts over the healing potential of the hot springs.
“The spring water dissolved limestone deposits in fault structures in the rock, leaving behind minerals that formed layers of travertine. It’s the minerals that are believed to be therapeutic.”
He reached the rock formation where the underground springs began. “I used to play here when I was a kid.” He indicated the bathhouse. “Before that was renovated.”
“Can you actually get down into the springs?”
“No, but you can explore three miles of vapor caves at three hundred vertical feet deep.” Some of the passageways are not for the claustrophobic, but there are some very impressive stalactites and stalagmites.”
“You’ve been there?”
He grinned. “Oh yeah, when I was about nineteen.”
“Funny, I didn’t peg you for an outdoorsman.”
“Hello, ski resort.”
She laughed lightly and sat on a bench that had a patchy view of city lights.
He sat beside her.
“I like to read, too. I read about an hour every night. Or morning if I get home too late. I like science or non-fiction overall.”
“I read, too, but fiction. I get enough science at my day job.”
He stood. “Come on. I want to show you something.”
He took her hand and was glad she didn’t pull away. He found another path, this one not traveled much, as his family had kept it a secret and didn’t allow guests this far from the property.
He heard the water before they reached the small, natural spring. Solar lighting promised a lit late-night bath for those who wished one. He led Kendall through the trees and heard her intake of breath.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” She left him to go to the edge of the steaming pool, crouching and sticking her finger into the water.
“It’s naturally ninety-two degrees.” Hot tub temperature. The water bubbled, minimally but it bubbled.
“I want to get in,” she said.
He glanced back, not hearing the party, of course. Everyone was inside The Chateau. There were guests at the pool but that was a good distance from here. Unless someone from his family ventured this way, no one would be the wiser.
“Okay.” He loosened his tie.
Kendall laughed and stood, kicking off her high heels and reaching up to undo the clasp holding the bodice of her dress around her neck. The weather had warmed today and wasn’t too chilly now, although they would have to hurry to get into the spring water. This time of year in Colorado the weather could fluctuate quite a bit.
He removed his tie and jacket and draped them over a rectangular flat-topped rock his dad had installed. She stepped out of her dress, and stood before him in only her underwear. He had to stop moving, so arrested by her beauty, and then quickly undressed the rest of the way.
She removed her underwear and stepped down into the pool. His dad had hired someone to carve benches into the rock, and natural layers that had already been there served as steps. There had also been a metal grate installed where the crevasse opened below. He walked naked around to the other side, where a rock-enclosed storage space kept towels for this very purpose.
He removed two and placed them on a bench nearby, then stepped in across from her.
“I can see why you attract such an elite crowd,” she said, sinking into the water just above her breasts and leaning back.
“Sometimes my parents do let famous people back here. But just occasionally. We all agreed early on that it’s best kept a private thing.”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes. “I can smell the minerals.”
It wasn’t a sulfuric smell so much as it was like a salt bath.
When he came here, which wasn’t often and usually by himself, he liked to imagine that somewhere deep, deep beneath was a plume of magma, churning and pressurized.
“When the groundwater comes
into contact with the hot magma, it creates a phreatic explosion,” he told Kendall. “I think that’s what generates the circulation, bringing this slice of heaven to the surface.”
“You seem to know a lot about how the springs formed,” Kendall said.
“Maybe that’s what I’d have done if I hadn’t done what my dad wanted, gotten a geology degree along with a business degree and gone to work for some kind of environmental firm.”
“It’s not too late to go back to college. I know a lot of people our age who’ve done it.”
“And leave all this?” He spread his hands out briefly.
She just smiled. “I think I’d have a hard time leaving this, as well.”
He moved across the spring to sit beside her, stretching his arm out along the stone behind her. “I think I’d have a hard time leaving you.”
Her eyes rolled toward him wryly. “You’d say anything to get me to marry you. Secure the deal?”
Was she testing him? He was trying very hard to secure this deal, but he wouldn’t say just anything to win her for that reason. In fact, the more he analyzed what he’d said, the more he thought he meant exactly that. He truly believed they’d make a good pair. They didn’t have to fall in love to be successful.
“Not anything,” he said.
Her eyes warmed, her lids slowly closing and then opening as though in reaction to his sincerity.
He brushed a tendril of hair she’d left down from the artful updo she’d arranged and leaned closer to kiss her.
“You amaze me.”
She angled her head as though wondering why he had said that.
“You come from such enormous wealth and yet you’re so humble and caring,” he murmured.
“My parents did something right,” she joked.
“I’d say.” He looked down her body and back up again, teasing.
“You always were a rake.”
“I don’t have time to be a rake anymore.”
Maybe that was why he had agreed to his father arranging this marriage. He could tell she liked that he admitted to not womanizing anymore. Even though the reason was he worked a lot, there had to be a certain amount of integrity that went into the decision or perhaps the natural growth of a young and virile man into what he had become, still virile, but more mature now.
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