Four Weeks

by Melissa Ford

  Without letting himself consider her sudden change of mood, he bent down and kissed her.

  She returned his kiss, hesitantly at first, but after a bit of gentle encouragement, she arched into him and he was rewarded with a soft sigh.

  Heat replaced the cold tension of the past days and for the first time in days, no months, his world was right and he was whole. It was as though Louise held the missing puzzle piece he'd been searching for. He wanted more—a tighter connection. He murmured to her and she wiggled closer, pushing his pulse up another notch and nearly making him lose control.

  Yet somehow his sense reappeared. Louise Hart was anything but a simple woman, and she'd regret her actions later. He didn't want any part of another person's regrets.

  He had enough of his own.

  Reluctantly Trent pulled away. “I'll get a taxi to take you home."

  He almost flinched at the hurt accusation in her eyes, but instead he turned and left without looking back. It was long past time to stop playing games.

  After arranging with the bellman for Louise to get back to Sally's, he started for his hotel. He moved as quickly as he could, sucking in long gulps of the evening air. But the air was warm and only served as a reminder of that kiss. To lengthen his walk, Trent switched his path toward one of the quiet, deserted side roads. He needed time to get Louise out of his system and think things through. Unfortunately, his brain hadn't been much help the past few hours. Instead of charming information out of her, he'd ended up doubting his self control and what little information he did have.

  * * * *

  LOUISE SWALLOWED HARD. She wanted to believe her reaction to Trent had been part of her plan—some exceptional acting on her part—but she had to accept the truth. Her reaction was genuine. Nothing about the evening had gone as she expected. And everything was much more complicated now that she'd kissed Trent. Her boss. She flushed. If Trent didn't sell the stables, she'd be lucky to keep her job.

  Trying to cool her heated skin, she pressed her palms to her forehead but it didn't help. Every inch of her was warm. And so alive. Wonderfully alive. But horribly unsettled.

  Maybe if he hadn't broken it off so suddenly she would've gotten her fill of his strong embrace. She leaned on the balcony and watched twin boys race down the steep hill below. Their laughing mother, well rounded with another baby on the way, ambled after them. Their happy shouts punctuated Louise's agonizing confusion.

  A sigh of frustration exploded from her. She'd failed completely. She hadn't charmed Trent into listening to her arguments about keeping the stable. Instead, she'd let him know how attracted she was to him—an attraction he could use against her.

  She'd reacted to him like a love-struck teenager.

  He made her feel like a love-struck teenager.

  Louise squeezed her eyes shut. If only she could take it all back and start over. But wasn't that the story of her life? She'd managed to make her bad situation even worse. She didn't even know which she regretted more, messing up her plan to charm Trent or discovering how wonderful having him pull her close and kiss her so thoroughly she couldn't even remember where she was or what she was supposed to be doing.

  No man had ever made her feel that way. If kissing someone she was only attracted to left her out of breath and longing for more, what would a lover's kiss be like?

  Louise turned to the thick pillar Trent had leaned against.

  His arms had held her so tightly that when she leaned into him, her feet had barely touched the planks of the porch. The tender caress of his lips brought new sensations to life. Sensations she delighted in and feared at the same time. Although the experience left her breathless, the effect had been one-sided. Trent had left without so much as a good-bye.

  He'd made his lack of interest crystal clear. Maybe, at first, he'd been curious, but it had been short-lived. If he'd wanted more from her he would have stayed.

  The realization of how easily he'd pushed her aside forced her to accept the bleakness of her situation. Things were bad, and she wasn't about to give up, but she steadfastly refused to throw in the towel and go home. Regrouping and establishing a new way to go about things was all she needed to get back on track.

  She accepted the fact that she was attracted to the sexy and unreachable Trent Parker and he wanted nothing to do with her personally.

  That left only one way to reach him—professionally.

  Since he was a businessman, that approach ought to work perfectly with him. Maybe she should've tried it from the start.

  Louise headed toward the taxi stand. She had one night to come up with another plan. Apparently she didn't have enough appeal for Trent the man. Maybe she could find a way to attract the attention of Mr. Parker, the new business owner. Considering his lack of interest in the stable, that prospect seemed dim, but not impossible.

  The bellman waved down one of the fine carriages that belonged to the hotel. The pair of horses stepped to the curb. The driver tipped his hat to her as the bellman opened the small carriage door. She opened her purse to draw out some bills.

  "Mr. Parker took care of all the expenses. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Miss."

  She tried to offer the men a smile but failed miserably. With a sigh, she dropped herself onto the red tufted seat. The beauty of the evening was wasted on her. Alone and filled with doubts, she gave the driver the name of her rooming house and sat back to try and think.

  * * * *

  TRENT DRANK THE last of his black morning coffee and tossed the white Styrofoam cup into the wastebasket. The sound of the empty cup hitting the bottom of the metal can echoed into the early stillness of the stable.

  He'd needed that hefty amount of caffeine after the sleepless night he'd spent tossing and turning in his lonely hotel bed. Even in his sleep the delicate scent of pear blossoms seemed to cling to him, reminding him of the willing way Louise had softened in his arms.

  Maybe she wouldn't have regretted giving him more than a few kisses.

  Maybe he was an idiot for thinking about her.

  Somewhere in the barn he heard Pete's low muttering—he was probably talking to the horses as he fed them. That guy sure kept busy caring for the animals and doing whatever needed to be done. Too bad he wasn't a carpenter, Trent mused. The sound of the large front doors being slid open rolled through the barn. The day was getting started, and he'd soon be seeing the source of his frustration and foul mood.

  Louise.

  Trent kicked the office door shut. Let her knock.

  For the first time, wondered if maybe she hadn't had her own agenda last night. He'd turned his share of female heads, but after the way he'd treated Louise, he seriously doubted she'd suddenly found him irresistible. The way she'd touched him ... that kiss...

  A wry smile curved his lips and he almost smacked his forehead. What a sucker he was. Of course she had a plan. To her it was all about the job. Undoubtedly, she always put business first, even if that meant pretending that pleasure was for pleasures sake.

  But could someone fake a response, a kiss, like that?

  A light knock at the door promised to get him some quick answers. “Come in, Louise."

  As she pushed open the door, he turned away to pretend interest in the cloudy morning outside.

  The faint crunch of her steps on the floor preceded her greeting. “Good morning, Mr. Parker."

  Trent stiffened. She'd retreated to that cool formal tone. Was this the same woman who kissed him last night? He turned and let his gaze roam lazily over her blue jeans and simple pink T-shirt. Yes, she was the very same one. The one who could use whatever business skills were necessary to get a job done. “Don't you think, after last night, we're on a first name basis?"

  The bland expression ruining her face didn't change. “You're still my boss."

  "So I am.” He shrugged, not at all sure where she was going. “For the moment."

  She stuffed her hands in her pockets and stepped forward. “I have a proposal for you."
/>   Her attempt to look relaxed didn't fool him. She wanted something. He lifted his eyebrows playfully. “Another one?"

  A pleasing red flush crept across her cheeks, but she squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Do you want to hear my offer or not?"

  "Is it the same one as last night?” He hoped she hadn't heard the huskiness in his voice, because then she'd know she'd gotten to him. And how.

  She backed up and glanced fleetingly at the doorway. He shouldn't care about upsetting her, but he did. “Fine, Louise. Tell me your business proposal."

  "I'd like you to give me four weeks to turn this place around. Since I haven't looked at the books yet, I can't be sure how bad things are, but we can both tell this place is not doing much business. If you'll give me the time,” she continued with confidence, “I'm sure I can convince you to keep the stable."

  He wanted to tell her that nothing could convince him to keep the stinking, lousy place. But he didn't. He couldn't.

  He'd never been one to give voice to knee jerk reactions—at least business ones—and he wasn't about to start. Even though something about the woman standing a few feet away made his mind spin with confusion, he still had a few shreds of self-control. Besides, the advantage of her offer went two ways.

  It would give him enough time to get the answers he wanted about his father and why he'd bought Hawk's. Then he'd sell the old pile of rotting boards and be done with it, his father, and Miss All-business.

  He'd get everything he wanted. She'd get her four weeks.

  In her ponytail and freshly scrubbed face, Louise looked more like a high school girl than an experienced businesswoman. But he couldn't let her looks fool him. “At the end of the four weeks, when I decide to sell, you'll leave me alone?"

  "If."

  "When,” he corrected with a firmness she couldn't miss.

  She shrugged to say she wasn't willing to accept the inevitable.

  That wasn't his problem.

  "Okay, Miss Hart, you have your four weeks."

  She smiled. Not the same heart-melting smile he'd seen last night, but a professional one. Stiff and formal. Appropriate.

  * * * *

  ANXIOUS TO GET away from Trent, Louise hurried down the aisle. That had been too easy. She'd been ready with several good arguments about why her plan was the most businesslike way to handle things and she'd carefully thought of answers to all his possible objections, but he'd simply given in. Sure, she'd gotten what she wanted, but the victory didn't feel complete.

  If he decided to sell after the four weeks were up, there would be no discussion. He'd made that clear with more than words. The determined expression in his eyes, and the tightness around his mouth, assured her he wouldn't hesitate to get rid of the stable if she didn't succeed at improving the business.

  Louise had to push the doubts out of her head. She should be relieved. She should be excited. She'd wanted a good challenge and she'd gotten it. Most importantly, she had a job and the threat of having to go back home was gone. For four weeks, anyway. That was better than returning in defeat before she'd even started.

  For now, she had to remain determined and had to keep her mind on business. She reached into her back pocket for the small notebook she'd stuck there. In her usual style, she'd start with some lists. Lists of things that needed fixing, lists of chores, lists of horses and their health, and anything else she could think of. Then, after Trent left, she'd look over the files on the computer and make sure the office was organized.

  After that, maybe she'd go online and try to come up with some promotional ideas. For now, she had a place of employment and enough work to keep her busy for every minute of the four weeks.

  * * * *

  LONG AFTER THE lunch hour, Trent lingered at the café patio table where he'd eaten. The day had grown gray and dark clouds hung low, blocking out most of the sunlight. Michigan weather was known for is unpredictability, but this gloom didn't look like it was ever going away.

  Trent shifted in his chair and pulled his jacket around his shoulders. He was avoiding Louise and her wonderful businesslike examination of the stupid stable. He was also avoiding a telephone call he had to make.

  When he'd left his computer systems consulting firm the morning of his father's funeral, he'd told his business manager he'd be back in a week. That week was up, and it didn't look like he'd be returning anytime soon.

  Thanks to email and telephones, his company would run smoothly without him on sight for a while. Concern about his absence wasn't what bothered him. What kept him sitting out in the cold was the sympathy he'd hear from his staff when he told them he'd be gone for four weeks. Everyone assumed he'd been deeply affected by his father's passing and he'd never bothered to correct their misplaced concerns.

  The bright side, if there was one, was that after the month was up, everyone at the office would've forgotten about poor Trent's deceased father and gotten on with the business of business. He wouldn't have to put up with any more bouquets of flowers or sympathy cards.

  The waitress came by and asked if he wanted more coffee. He glanced up, prepared to accept her offer, but the scowl marring her otherwise pretty face had him swallowing his words. He'd obviously been sitting there too long. “No, thanks. I'll just take my bill, please."

  After he paid his bill, he hurried down Huron Street toward Hawk's. Because his cell couldn't seem to pick up any satellites while he was on the island, he was going to be tied to landlines for a while. He could use the phone there to make his call. It was closer than the hotel and he really needed to get the task over with.

  The office was probably the last place Louise would go. She was sure to be inspecting the sorry-looking stalls, or the broken down tools, or some other worthless part of the business. Maybe after he'd called his office he'd go try out one of the many intriguing tiny pubs along the side streets. Sitting on a stool clutching a cold beer and watching baseball might be the best and most productive way to spend the rest of his afternoon.

  * * * *

  THE TRIP TO Hawk's went quickly and Trent soon found himself at the fence surrounding the front yard. He spotted Louise talking with Pete; his reaction was instant. Against his will his hands warmed with the need to touch her and his mouth hungered for a taste of hers.

  She stood with her back to him, holding up something that looked like a map. The rise of her arms created an arch in her back and Trent could easily imagine how she would feel pulled against him that way. The swing of her hips, when she turned from Pete to the map then back to Pete, forced a lump into Trent's throat.

  The memory of how the delicate curve of her hips felt surfaced despite his efforts to hold it down. He remembered a lot more than that, but rehashing it all wasn't going to accomplish anything. All he wanted was to get to the phone and make that call. After he took care of that, he'd find one of those pubs and order that ice cold drink. Maybe a frosty beer would cool him off.

  Trent avoided Louise, who was intent on her conversation, deciding to hop the fence and head in through the side door. He almost made it without being noticed, but chanced a look at Louise right before he slipped into the barn and as a result, he tripped in a hole.

  "If you're going to go sneaking around, you should watch where you're going,” she said with a chuckle.

  "Who said I was sneaking around?” he replied in his own defense.

  She glanced pointedly toward the fence he'd hopped.

  Frustration made him frown. “Don't you have something important to do?"

  "As a matter of fact I do.” She stepped closer and smiled despite his grim expression. “And I'd like you to do it with me."

  That caught his attention.

  Without considering what he might be getting himself into, he headed toward her and Pete. He nodded a greeting at Pete and looked at the map Louise held. Solid and dotted lines of all the biking, hiking, and riding trails zigzagged across the island. “I didn't realizes the trails were so extensive,” he commented, ge
nuinely surprised.

  A bright flash of excitement lit up her eyes. “Isn't it great?"

  At a loss for words, he shrugged. His gut tightened. Something was about to happen he wasn't going to like.

  "Pete's going to get a horse for me, so I can explore the island. I'm sure he'll be happy to get one for you too."

  Pete didn't wait for a response. “I'll get ‘em ready. Be right back."

  The old man's back jerked side to side as he shuffled off. Then the meaning of her words sunk in. Louise wanted him to go riding with her.

  "Will you be okay with those shoes, or do you have boots to wear?"

  Trent looked down at his feet, as if seeing his shoes for the first time. What difference did it make? He looked at her feet. She had on the same tan lace up work boots she'd been wearing that morning.

  She lifted one foot up, considering her footwear. “I used to have some show boots, but most of the time I wore these."

  Show boots. Of course she knew how to ride, and well. Trent did not like just realizing that fact as a pair of saddled horses was led to them. Pete handed him the reins of a huge white animal. He was supposed to sit on that thing?

  Mischief glinted in Louise's eyes. “Guess those shoes will have to do."

  She accepted the reins of a dark horse, scratched its neck, grabbed a chunk of mane, and like some cowgirl in a movie, swung into the saddle. The fluid motion made his head spin. If she expected him to do that, she was going to be disappointed. Or very entertained.

  The white horse swished its tail impatiently. Everything was happening too fast. Why did they have to explore the island anyway?

  She lifted one eyebrow and stared down at him. “You know how to ride, don't you?” He couldn't mistake the challenge in her voice.

  Honesty was the only policy for this. “No, I don't."

  She reached down to adjust her stirrup, or maybe to hide a smile. “Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."

  That didn't sound promising. “You'll go easy on me?"