Falling for You: Clean Contemporary Romance (A Pine Ridge Romance Book 3)

by Holly Stevenson

  Nolan nodded. The Westin in Denver had been located by the airport, so they’d hosted several conferences, but almost no weddings. And they certainly hadn’t boasted many guest-based activities. He’d failed to recognize the obvious: that so many different events would require a lot of supervision. Thank goodness Olivia had the foresight he lacked.

  “You’ve got a point,” he said, stopping to look at her. “I’ll meet with the directors and see if we can’t allot a budget for each of the positions you mentioned.” She pressed her full lips together, and Nolan’s mind went blank, instantly mesmerized by her mouth.

  “If you need to offer me a smaller salary to make it work, it would be worth the help,” she said.

  His brows pulled together. “You would take a salary cut to make this happen?” In all of his years as a hotel manager, he’d never had anyone make an offer like that.

  She shrugged. “It’s only money. Besides, I want to see this place succeed.”

  He was more intrigued than ever. Olivia was unlike any girl he’d ever known. “I’m sure we’ll be able to find room in the budget, especially considering the revenue these events will bring in. Hiring adept coordinators to handle them will be a good investment. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.”

  She smiled and lifted a shoulder. “I warned you I’m always brainstorming. I can’t seem to help myself.”

  I can’t help myself either. His heart thudded at the glimmer of excitement in her eyes. There was no use fighting it; he was completely lost for this girl.

  Chapter 7

  Olivia’s breath caught as they stepped into the grand ballroom. It truly was ‘grand,’ with high ceilings crisscrossed with rustic wooden beams and an expansive polished floor that was large enough to accommodate even the largest of wedding parties. But the showstopper was the wall of windows with camera-worthy views of the mountain peaks as a backdrop.

  “Oh my goodness,” she breathed, putting a hand to her chest and stepping closer to take it all in. “Look at those fall colors. It gives me the chills.”

  Nolan came to stand beside her. “It’s really something, isn’t it? I grew up exploring these mountains. Some of our guests will go hiking and skiing and enjoy them, but even those who aren’t able to participate in those activities will be able to admire their beauty. The views are one of the things I love best about this place.”

  She turned, touched by the fact that he was already thinking about future guests and wanting them to enjoy their stay. “You’ll be a great manager,” she said.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Just a feeling.” She smiled faintly. “I’m pretty good at reading people.”

  “So am I.” He searched her eyes, and suddenly she found it difficult to breathe.

  Even in this massive space, the air seemed to thicken around them as he held her gaze for a few heartbeats. Her heart thrummed in her chest as something passed between them; some magnetic pull that filled her with desperate longing. She took a small step forward and he blinked, stepping back.

  “Uh, feel free to take pictures for Savannah.” He looked away and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “There’s decent lighting for it, so take as many as you need to give her a good feel for the space.”

  “Okay.” Olivia’s cheeks heated. She turned away from him so he wouldn’t see, pretending to be intent in her task of taking pictures to hide her embarrassment. Had she lost her mind? Coming on to her boss was completely unprofessional and a sure way to get fired. Humiliation washed over her along with guilt. She had a boyfriend. And Nolan was obviously interested in Savannah, otherwise he wouldn’t keep bringing her up.

  It’s time to be a professional, Olivia, she scolded. No more getting weak in the knees over your handsome boss. She took several pictures of the room while Nolan waited politely in the corner, checking something on his phone. Once her blush had sufficiently cooled and she had more than enough pictures, she put her phone back in her pocket. “Where to next?” she asked.

  “We’ll continue with the rest of the rooms on this floor.” Nolan motioned for her to go first. “After you.”

  She nodded and walked back to the hallway, painfully aware that Nolan put more distance between them than before. She bit the inside of her cheek, determined to find a way to fix this and prove to him that he didn’t have to worry about her coming on to him anymore. From here on out, her thoughts about Nolan McGrath would be strictly professional.

  After touring the resort and its amenities, Olivia was more impressed than ever with Drew’s vision of the place. Of course, he’d had help from architects and experts in the hotel industry, but she was certain that the Pine Ridge Resort would be a credit to the community. Nolan had remained professional and polite for the remainder of the tour, and she’d followed his lead, focusing solely on taking pictures and brainstorming what activities the guests might enjoy.

  “Well, now that you’ve seen the place, are you ready for our meeting?” he asked as they made their way back toward the lobby.

  “Yes, that’d be great. I’ll just need that folder I left in your office. Is that where you’re thinking of meeting?” Without warning, her stomach growled loudly. She clutched her middle, hoping the construction noise had hidden the sound.

  Nolan checked his watch. “Actually, all this walking around has worked up my appetite. Since it’s almost lunchtime, why don’t we take a working lunch at Henry’s Café?”

  Olivia smiled. He had heard her stomach grumble. “I’m always in the mood for Henry’s.”

  “Spoken like a true local.” He winked. “Let’s take a detour to my office for your folder and my car keys, and then I’ll drive us there.”

  “Okay.” The thought of driving to Henry’s with Nolan in his car got her heart pumping fast, but she ignored it. This was just a business lunch. Nothing more.

  They fell into easy conversation, talking about plans for the opening as they made the trip to his office and then to the parking lot for his car. Bright aspen leaves fluttered in the early-afternoon breeze and Olivia took in a deep breath of the woodsy scent. There was nothing like fall in Pine Ridge.

  Nolan clicked the key fob and the lights of a sporty-looking black sedan flashed once. She liked that it was a normal car—not insanely expensive, like the cars her ex-boyfriend Spencer had constantly hinted he wished he owned. She’d thought it was strange the way he kept bringing the subject up, until she discovered that he knew her true identity and turned out to be a gold digger, just like the rest.

  Nolan’s was a nice car, without being overly flashy. Olivia had had enough of flashy in her childhood to last a lifetime, and she’d learned that glitz and glamour rarely brought the happiness the owner expected them to. In fact, the more she pretended to be “Olivia Carson,” the more her old life of returning to “Olivia Livingston” lost its luster.

  Nolan held the passenger-side door open for her, watching her curiously, and she realized how quiet she’d been, allowing herself to get lost in thought. She smiled to acknowledge his gesture and climbed into the passenger seat. “Thanks.”

  “You seem to have something on your mind,” he said, his hazel eyes probing hers as he rested his elbow on the door.

  She set the folder on her lap. “Oh . . . I was just enjoying the October sunshine.” What would Nolan think if he could read her thoughts? Would her background and wealth matter to him? Would he continue treating her as he had been or begin viewing her in terms of dollar signs? Few people understood the particular heartache that came with being used for money and never fully certain a person cared about you instead of your net worth. It was a burden she’d never escaped—until coming to Pine Ridge. Her friends loved her, she was certain of that. And maybe someday she would find someone to trust her heart with.

  Nolan smiled. “You can’t beat autumn in the Rockies. It’s my favorite season here.”

  “It’s becoming mine too. These colors are unreal.”

  “I know. I wish we could open right away
so the guests could enjoy them.” He looked around at the trees. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and some of the leaves will hang around for the opening.”

  “We’ll keep our fingers crossed.” She held up her hands, playfully crossing her fingers. “But even if they don’t, there will always be the evergreens and the fresh smell of pine.”

  “True.” He straightened, making sure she was safely inside before closing her door.

  Olivia watched him circle to the driver’s side, his tailored suit fitting nicely over his broad shoulders. Nolan was easy to talk to, and yet at other times a mystery. She liked the paradox of excitement mixed with being at ease that she felt around him. He seemed to bring out a whole gamut of emotions inside of her—not the least of which was attraction.

  He climbed in next to her and the musky scent of his cologne only heightened the pull she felt. How was she supposed to think straight when they were in this confined space? Driving to the restaurant together made it feel way more like a date than a business meeting. She blushed, afraid if she stayed silent another second, he would read her thoughts, so she forged ahead with the first topic she could think of.

  “Connor and Jade’s house was really impressive,” she said, wincing at the unnatural way the words came out. If Nolan noticed, he made no sign.

  “Yeah, Connor did a great job with it,” he agreed as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. “Honestly, I’m surprised he found the time to build it with how busy the company has been. It seems like he’s constantly hiring new crews to keep up with the demand. It’s hard for me to see Pine Ridge growing as fast as it is, but I guess on the flip side of that it’s good for Connor’s business.” He shrugged. “Plus, it doesn’t hurt the resort either.”

  She smiled. “It’s always nice to have job security.” Before the inheritance clause, she’d never worried about money. It had taken her a while to find a job after moving to Pine Ridge, and then when Carol moved into the care facility, she was on the search again. Finding and keeping a job was harder than she’d realized, which circled her thoughts back to her folder. She wanted to impress Nolan with her ideas, and better still, create fun memories for the guests . . . besides, talking business would keep her mind off of noticing his strong profile as he drove.

  She cleared her throat. “I was wondering what you think about inviting guest presenters to the resort?”

  He quirked an eyebrow and glanced at her before looking back at the road. “Who did you have in mind?”

  She took a breath. “Before I go into that, I want to talk about the reasons guests choose to come to a resort like Pine Ridge in the first place. Since you’re an expert in the hospitality industry, what would you say those top reasons are?”

  “Are you quizzing me?” he teased, giving her a side-eye with just enough hint of flirtation to make her pulse spike.

  She swallowed, forcing herself to ignore the flurry of butterflies in her stomach. “Don’t worry, there won’t be a final grade, but I’m genuinely curious to hear your thoughts on this.”

  He looked back at the road. “Most people want a place to escape to, whether that’s to relax or have an adventure. They want to spend quality time with their loved ones—the same reasons you would take a vacation, I’m guessing.”

  “Exactly.” She smiled, knowing the answers would be obvious and feed perfectly into her proposal. “So, with that in mind, I was thinking that it would be nice to have a theme of escaping the holiday stress. I want the Pine Ridge Resort to be a place where people can come and enjoy the best season of the year without all of the usual hustle and bustle. What do you think?”

  His eyebrows lifted, one corner of his mouth turning up. “I think I made a good decision hiring you.”

  Her face warmed and her insides fluttered again. She gave a small laugh to ground herself. “Thanks. I think you did too.” He chuckled and the low sound made her stomach flip. Argh. This was hopeless! Her attraction to him was growing by the second. It was as if an invisible thread kept drawing her to him. She blinked and continued, “Anyway, back to the whole relaxation theme—what do you think about inviting Hope Sullivan as a guest teacher for a week in December?”

  His brows knit together. “Who?”

  “Hope Sullivan,” Olivia repeated. “She has a yoga channel and is wildly popular with that crowd. The exercise room you showed me today would easily accommodate her yoga classes. I think she’s a big enough name to draw guests, but if we want to invite her, we should do it soon. I’m guessing her calendar fills quickly.” She bit her lip, waiting for his response.

  He was silent for a beat and then nodded. “I trust your judgement on this,” He glanced at her, his eyes searching hers before looking back at the road. “Go ahead and extend the invitation. I’ll get the necessary approval. I know there’s plenty of room in the budget for entertainment, so we’ll put it into that category.”

  “Thank you!” Without thinking, Olivia touched his arm. A shockwave traveled through her fingers and straight to her heart. She quickly pulled back, slightly shaken by the brief contact. “I’m certain Hope will be a good draw. If you don’t mind, I’ll go ahead and send the email now. I had it drafted, just in case, so all I have to do is hit ‘send.’” She retrieved her phone from her purse and had the email sent in a matter of seconds.

  He laughed. “You were that confident I would say yes?”

  She lifted a shoulder. “My grandma always says I was gifted with the powers of persuasion, so take that for what it’s worth.”

  “She sounds like a wise woman.” His eyes brimmed with amusement.

  “She is.” Her grandma Margaret was her greatest role model.

  He pulled into an open parking space at Henry’s and cut the engine. “Well now that I know about your powers, I’ll have to be careful around you.” His face grew serious as his eyes met hers. “I have a feeling you could get me to agree to just about anything.”

  Her heart skipped several beats as his gaze connected with hers. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think as the air grew thick around them. Moisture flooded her mouth as her gaze dropped to his lips. What was she doing? She looked away to break the spell, forcing a light laugh. “Don’t go telling me that, or you’ll run out of the budget in record time.” She clasped her hands which suddenly refused to be still. “I have more ideas than I know what to do with.”

  His face relaxed into a smile. “Which is exactly why we’re having this business lunch.” He opened his door and climbed out of the car.

  Olivia quickly opened her door too, not wanting him to get the door for her this time. The way he’d emphasized the word “business” wasn’t lost on her. She was making a complete fool of herself. Had she seriously just done the lip gaze—to her boss—on the way to a business lunch? It was mortifying beyond belief! She was not that girl. Nolan’s teasing had made her forget herself for a second, but she was done with that now. She was a professional, and she would act that way.

  Olivia straightened her shoulders and moved to join him where he stood waiting for her on the sidewalk. Wearing his tailored suit and an amused smile on his ruggedly handsome face, he looked like he should be featured on the cover of GQ Magazine. Olivia tried not to stare. It would be so much easier to think of Nolan in a strictly professional way if he didn’t look like that.

  Chapter 8

  “Are these together or separate?” the cashier at Henry’s asked.

  “Together,” Nolan responded before Olivia could argue.

  She turned to him with a look of hesitation in her beautiful brown eyes. “You don’t need to do that. I can pay for my own.”

  He shook his head, handing his credit card to the cashier. “This is a business lunch, remember?”

  The cashier looked between them and swiped the card.

  “Okay. Thanks.” Uncertainty wrinkled Olivia’s brow a second longer before she smoothed it out. “Where do you want to sit? Since you grew up here, I’m guessing you have a favorite spot.”

/>   He smiled and slipped the credit card back into his wallet before tucking it into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. “You guessed right. I love to sit outside on the back patio, but if you’d rather sit indoors, I’m good with wherever.”

  “Outside sounds great.”

  “Lead the way.” He grabbed their tray of food and gestured for her to go first, doing his best not to stare at her attractive figure as she wove past tables toward the back of the café—or glare at the more than one guy in the place who turned and watched her go. Gah. He shouldn’t even be paying attention to stuff like that, but it was dang near impossible not to. With her long, wavy brown hair, perfectly fitted blouse and skirt and gorgeous features, she was a knockout without even trying. A fresh wave of jealousy rose up in his chest at the thought that she was already taken. If only Trent would decide to take a job out of town—far out of town—then maybe he’d have a shot.

  She turned and looked at him over her shoulder and his neck flushed, afraid she could read his thoughts.

  “Is this table all right?” she asked, pointing to a table on the patio situated with a good view of the mountains.

  “Looks great.” He placed the tray on the table and lifted the empty drink cups. “What can I get you to drink?”

  “Oh,” she looked surprised that he would offer. “I’ll take a Sprite if they have it. Thanks.”

  “No problem.” Nolan smiled and made his way back into the café. He clearly had the upper hand on Trent when it came to being a gentleman. Did the guy grow up in a barn? Seriously, the fact that Olivia always looked surprised by his common curtesy was not a good reflection on her boyfriend. But here he was again, making comparisons where he had no right to. He rolled his eyes and forced the thoughts from his mind as he walked up to the drink machine where a young boy was struggling to reach the button he needed.