by Skylar Hill
He just needed to get through the next few weeks and the operation and Olivia’s recovery. Then everything would be better.
He heard Maddy’s laughter float through the courtyard, and his stomach clenched. Hell, first, he needed to get through this weekend without doing something stupid like kissing Maddy senseless.
As Maddy and Nat came into to view, he couldn’t help but realize that even the smartest man can be mighty stupid sometimes.
Chapter Twelve
Maddy
Nat busied herself with pouring the rest of the coffee in to-go cups while Maddy said goodbye to Peaches.
“You’re gonna be a good kitty for Kathy, okay?” she asked. Her cat-sitter was an older lady, the aunt of a friend who always left a bag of scarves and potholders and tea cozies she knitted while watching her furry charges.
Maddy kissed the top of Peaches’ head, and he yowled in distaste, jumping out of her arms and back onto the couch, looking affronted.
“Cats,” Nat said, with mock disgust, and Maddy laughed. “Bye, Peaches. I love you.”
Peaches ignored her in favor of licking his own tail.
“Let’s hit the road,” Nat said.
Maddy locked up, making sure the instructions for Kathy were on the counter. “You could’ve called and given be a heads-up we were road-tripping with the boss,” she said, lowering her voice as they made their way across the courtyard, towards the street.
Nat got that look on her face. Maddy knew it well. It was the look she had before she set up their fifth-grade teachers because she was bored without Maddy in her class—and Mr. and Mrs. Farrow had just celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary. It was the look she got before she suggested to one of their college friends meet this great guy… a year later, said college friend was married to the great guy. Now, they had four kids.
“You’re planning something,” Maddy said, trying to look as stern as possible.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Nat said innocently.
“That would work better if you hadn’t already declared you thought Carter and I were perfect for each other,” Maddy pointed out. “You are the worst at being sneaky, Banks.”
Nat cackled. “Or maybe I’m the best. First one to the car gets to choose the first donut. I only got two No-Names,” she said, naming Maddy’s favorite doughnut from Voodoo.
Maddy dashed after her, determined to win.
After all, No-Name donuts were at stake.
Maddy had been worried that the four-hour drive to River Run would be awkward, especially because Nat insisted that she drive, and Maddy and Carter sit in the back seat. Her best friend was an incorrigible matchmaker.
But only fifteen minutes into the trip, before they even hit the highway, all her fears about awkwardness dissipated as the three of them began to rank donut types in one of the many notebooks Maddy brought.
“You’re seriously putting the Loop over the Grape Ape?” Maddy asked Carter, looking at his list.
“I am committed to my Froot Loop–covered donuts,” Carter grinned. “I cannot be seduced away. Not even for lavender sprinkles and grape dust.”
“Both of you need your tongues scraped,” Nat declared from the driver’s seat as they pulled onto the highway and headed out of Portland. “Fake fruit taste of any kind is gross.”
“Says the woman whose favorite donut has bacon all over it,” Carter said, shooting Maddy a conspiratorial look that made her beam back.
“I feel like my ‘Give me bacon, or give me death’ life motto is a very solid one,” Nat said airily.
“You would indeed starve if you had to become a vegetarian,” Maddy said. “Have you seen her demolish a steak?” she asked Carter.
He nodded. “The first time, I was truly humbled. We’re talking a 24-ounce porterhouse.”
“The benefits of coming from hearty cattle-ranching stock,” Nat said.
“Last year, she gave my parents a whole organic cow for Christmas,” Maddy told Carter. “All packaged and cut up, of course.”
“Do I get a cow this year?” Carter asked.
Nat laughed. “Get yourself a big-enough chest freezer, and maybe. Now you two entertain each other while I concentrate on driving.”
“That’s the only reason why she let me come along,” Carter said, taking a bite out of his donut, which did actually have Froot Loops sprinkled on top. “Last time we did a road trip for work, she almost left me at a rest stop because I was annoying her by talking about batteries.”
“I heard you were working on specs for a new rechargeable kind,” Maddy said. “That must be interesting.”
“If I ever find the time to get back to it, probably,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been able to work on anything because of the move. But I figure I’ve got to be in bed for awhile recovering from the transplant, so I can work on it then.”
She liked that he was the kind of person who was such a positive thinker. It was what made him a good boss and a good company owner. It’s why his employees sung his praises and were so happy.
It’s what made him so damn attractive.
“How’s your sister doing?” she asked.
“Good,” he said. “We’re actually just waiting for the okay from the doctors so we can tell her about the transplant.”
“That’s exciting and also kind of scary,” Maddy said. She remembered what it was like, going in to give bone marrow. Jackson had been older at that point, he’d understood the risks—and the potential benefits. It had been a lot on both of their shoulders, but it had bonded her and her little brother closer than ever. She made a mental note to call him when she got back from the retreat. He was so close to graduating, she couldn’t believe it!
“Did you go to that psychologist Renee recommended?” Nat asked from the front seat.
“Yeah, she was a lifesaver,” Carter said. “She suggested a few really good kid-appropriate ways to introduce the idea of a transplant. There can be a huge psychological component to kids and organ transplants, so I want to do everything right.”
“That makes sense,” Maddy said. “The more positive it’s presented, the better everything is.”
“Brains are so weird,” Nat said. “But Olivia’s gonna do great.”
They had cleared the city, hitting the open road, and were making good time. Maddy watched as town faded into forest, the lush dark green redwoods and pine trees even more vibrant against the gray sky.
She loved this time of year. She was probably in the minority, but she loved the rain, the gray skies, and how everything was so fresh and green after a heavy storm. She cracked her window just a tad, breathing in the scent of the coming rain, catching Carter looking at her out of the corner of her eye.
“Have you ever been to River Run?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I hadn’t even realized it’d been reopened.”
“Remember I told you about that guy a few years ago?” Nat asked. “Mr. Mountain Man?”
Maddy let out a delighted sound. “You mean the guy who owns River Run is that guy?”
Nat had come home the second Christmas after she’d moved to New York with a hilarious story about a guy she called Mr. Mountain Man. She had described him as Calvin Klein Model meets Paul Bunyan and had entertained Maddy with the week she’d spent ferrying him around New York as a favor to her boss. Maddy had always wondered if Nat had a thing for the guy because her eyes had lit up whenever she talked about him and their antics throughout that week they spent together, but she’d never mentioned him after that Christmas. Maddy had figured he’d gone back to whatever mountain he came from. And apparently, he had. And it was an Oregon mountain.
River Run had been a vacation destination when Maddy had been a child, but had closed for some reason. It was nestled at the base of Mt. Hood and was supposed to be on a stunningly beautiful piece of property. A few years ago, it had been completely remodeled and reopened, emerging as one of the best places to vacation in the Pacific Northwest
for rustic types who also appreciated the finer things. There were hot springs, a wood-fired dry sauna, lakes, fishing, hiking trails and everything an outdoors lover could want.
“What was his name again?’ Maddy asked Nat, trying to remember.
“Rhett,” Nat said.
“Rhett of River Run. He sounds like a character in a book.”
“No Game of Thrones jokes, please,” Nat said, making Maddy and Carter laugh and fall into a debate over the books vs. the show. By the time they were done, they were pulling onto the road that led to River Run’s main lodge.
Maddy fell silent, taking in the scenery—the towering trees that shaded the road, the meadows that lay beyond, and the white-capped mountains that sheltered them all. She felt something inside her unravel and open, like she was coming home after a long trip, not starting out on one. Like nature was saying, welcome back, which was really fanciful and silly, but she didn’t care. She’d missed the forest.
They turned on the road, and the lodge came into view, an enormous traditional log cabin set within a circle of pines. Cheerful blue smoke was already rising from the river-rock chimneys, and the screened-in porch had a swing and dark green rocking chairs scattered across its length.
Nat pulled into the small parking lot and they all got out of the car. Maddy stretched her arms above her head, her legs aching a little from being bent so long.
“You two go ahead,” Carter told them. “I’ll bring the luggage in.”
“Are you sure?” Nat asked, and he nodded, waving them off.
“Such a gentleman, always,” Nat commented as they climbed up the porch stairs.
“Nat,” Maddy said warningly.
“What?” Nat blinked at her innocently. “I’m just stating a fact.”
“You are ridiculous and I love you, but that man is out of my league,” Maddy said, lowering her voice.
“Um, were you in the same car as me?” Nat asked, cocking one of her thick dark brows. Maddy had always been slightly envious of Nat’s eyebrows. She needed an eyebrow pencil to achieve such a look. “Because I just listened to you two flirt for the last four hours.”
“We were not flirting!” Maddy hissed, trying to look as affronted as possible.
Okay. Maybe she was flirting. A little.
And maybe Carter had flirted back. Maybe. There could be other takes on that, though. And there was no point going there. Not when he had so much going on in his life right now. And especially not when he was her boss.
“You two spent an hour talking about some Game of Thrones theory I’d never heard of,” Nat said.
“It’s an interesting theory!”
Nat smiled triumphantly, propping her hands on her hips. “I’ve finally done it,” she declared. “I have found your perfect dorky counterpart. The man who is as unique and as wonderful as you are. I can’t wait until you two finally get over yourselves and fall in love. I’m already writing my maid of honor toast in my head. I’ll give you a hint: the first line is ‘I told you so.’”
Maddy laughed, rolling her eyes and pushing Nat into the lodge, not even justifying her silliness with a comment.
Inside, the lodge was a beautiful, warm space, with soaring ceilings, exposed beams, and a crackling fire in the lobby that scented the air with a hint of seasoned timber.
“Nat! Maddy!” Zoe waved them over to the den, where a bar was set up and a crowd of their coworkers was already gathered. “There’s hot toddies and hot cocoa,” she said. “Today and tonight is all about unwinding. Your list of activities are in your room; just make sure you fill out what you want to do and leave them outside your rooms tonight. Room keys are at the front desk. Some of you are staying in the lodge, others are bunking in the cabins scattered across the property. And dinner is at seven.”
The two of them descended into the crowd, Maddy taking a hot chocolate from Liberty, letting her add a shot of creme de menthe, because why the hell not? As Zoe said, this was about unwinding.
Maddy lost herself in conversation with her new coworkers, getting to know them better and talking about ideas they had. It was a good half hour before she realized that Carter had never joined them, and by the time she found Nat to ask, it was time to get ready for dinner.
Chapter Thirteen
Carter
Carter had gone to his loft above the barn to dump his luggage and shower, intending to join the team mixer to at least make an appearance, but as he began to unpack, he finally got a call from Charles Palmer, Dillon’s father. He’d left four messages for the man over the past few days and he’d finally deemed to call him back.
Carter was eager to get this conversation over with. Dillon having anything to do with his company from now on was unacceptable.
“This is Carter Daniels,” he said, picking up the call.
“Carter, it’s Charles,” said a gravelly voice. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”
“Not at all,” Carter said, sitting down on the edge of his bed. He hadn’t gotten to where he was without knowing how to handle all kinds of business, but Charles was the kind that most annoyed him. He was the type that believed—and encouraged—nepotism. Carter had built his own empire quite literally with his own two hands. He was self-made. Charles Palmer’s father handed him a company position when he was twenty-five, and he was trying to do the same thing for his own son—except he was trying to do it with Carter’s company.
“I’m glad you were able to call me back,” Carter continued. “I have some concerns.”
“Concerns?” Charles asked sharply.
“Well, I’m sure you’re aware that Dillon is in town. I believe you sent him down to check to see how the transition is going?” Carter asked, the question pointed, since he’d never received a call from Charles giving him the heads-up. Common courtesy went a long way with him. But he had a feeling that Charles had something up his sleeve—plans to try to pressure the board to take the company in another direction, and sending Dillon in as his little spy was part of that. But Carter was done playing games—and he wasn’t going to let the Palmers mess with Nat when she took over as CEO.
“I just wanted to make sure things go smoothly,” Charles blustered, clearly not liking being called out, even subtly.
“Of course,” Carter said. “Though a call to me to check in on the progress of the move is all you really need to do. I’m happy to fill you in on all our progress whenever you want.”
“You’re a busy man,” Charles said dismissively. “Anyway, the reason I was calling…”
“I’m not finished,” Carter said, his voice flattening. “Your son is a problem, Charles.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Dillon’s behavior,” Carter said. “He’s entitled, rude, dismissive of others, and frankly, he’s acted in a way that makes my female employees uncomfortable. I’ve received a very serious complaint about him and I’m dealing with it accordingly.”
“Now wait a minute,” Charles said. “My boy has a strong character. He’s built to be in charge, like a man’s supposed to be. If some woman has a problem with him—“
“I have a problem with him,” Carter interrupted, deadly serious. “As a man who actually respects women and my employees, I have a big problem with his disrespect for boundaries and his sexism. I also have a big problem with it as an employer, and so should you, because your boy is a walking, talking, sexual-harassment lawsuit waiting to happen.”
He could practically see Charles gaping like a fish at the phone. It wasn’t every day that someone insulted Charles Palmer’s son to his face, but Carter didn’t care. Dillon had spent a total of two weeks at the New York office when he’d accompanied Charles to check out his new asset. Now that Carter knew he’d trapped Zoe in the toy closet during that time, he was furious. Add in this trip to Portland—and the way Dillon had cornered Maddy just like he’d done with Zoe—and he was ready to burn some bridges. He was not risking his employees’ well being or comfort, and he was
n’t risking his company.
“He’s out, Charles,” Carter said. “If he steps foot in my offices again, security will be escorting him out.”
“You can’t do this!” Charles shouted into the phone.
“I entered in a business relationship with you,” Carter said. “Not your son. If you want to change the nature of our business relationship because of Dillon’s ban from my company, you are free to contact my lawyers.”
“My son is a good boy!” Charles roared, seemingly going from zero to sixty in seconds.
“He’s an immature, rampant misogynist who seems to think that working at a sex toy company should be a non-stop orgy and place to pick up women,” Carter said. “He doesn’t respect women, he doesn’t respect men, he doesn’t respect you, and if he actually took a good look in the mirror and had any sense, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t respect himself. That boy of yours needs a lot of work before he becomes a man. I hope he puts in the work. But he’s not doing it anywhere near my business.”
“This isn’t the end of this!” Charles yelled so loud into the phone that Carter had to draw it away from his ear.
“As I said, you can call my lawyers about me buying you out. Otherwise, I’ll see you at the next board meeting.”
Before Charles could say another word, Carter hung up and tossed his phone on the bed. He glanced over the clock on the nightstand, realizing he’d missed the first half of the mixer, and everyone was probably tipsy or headed off to unpack and rest before dinner now.
He took a shower and sent an email off to his lawyers, giving them a heads-up that Charles might be coming around to express his ire. Carter wasn’t too worried—if Charles wanted to be bought out of his shares, he’d find a way to make it happen. He could sell some properties and shuffle some things around. The Pearl line’s release had been very good to him. And there wasn’t much Charles could do. Carter was the majority shareholder of Purely Pleasure, and the rest of his board had always been very loyal.
