It Started at Christmas...

by Jo McNally

  I won’t be there to help you get settled, but two of my employees from the resort will be waiting at the house on Wednesday to assist with the move. I have a meeting in Vegas, but I should be back Wednesday night. Julie and Bobby will expect you to meet them for dinner at seven at Galantè to discuss logistics.

  Blake.

  It was hard to believe the note had been written by the same guy who’d brushed a tear from her cheek, but maybe that version of Blake Randall was the exception, not the rule. He was now her client, so it made sense he wanted to keep things professional. And yet he chose to put her in the suite next to his. She was too tired to sort out her feelings about that.

  Galantè was the formal dining venue at the resort, with a wall of windows overlooking Gallant Lake. It was mid-September, and the lake was ablaze with the reflected colors from the trees surrounding it as the sun set. Amanda glanced down at her tailored navy blue dress and matching pumps, thankful for the wardrobe she’d acquired back when she was earning a steady paycheck. She was here for a business dinner, and she could do this. Her exhaustion rolled off her shoulders as her adrenaline amped up. The renovation at Halcyon would be the perfect project to begin her own design firm.

  Julie Brown, the assistant manager, waved from a table near the windows. Julie and her brother, Bobby, weren’t twins, but they could have been with the similarities in their looks and personalities. Both had thick brown hair, hazel eyes, and warm smiles. Julie’s hair was cut short in a layered bob. Bobby’s hair was longer than his sister’s, sweeping across his forehead and brushing his shoulders. They had the same teasing sense of humor, and they laughed often and easily.

  Amanda leaned back in her seat after dinner, feeling satisfied. Not just about the food, but also about the design project. Bobby was more than qualified to tackle what needed to be done at Halcyon. He’d just finished building a custom home for a client, and he didn’t have another job lined up, so his crew could start immediately.

  Julie cleared her throat and folded her napkin carefully on her empty dessert plate. “Mr. Randall told me you’re staying at Halcyon, even while he’s gone.” Julie shook her head. “You’re braver than me, that’s for sure. Anyway, I’ve made arrangements for housekeeping to go up there daily to take care of the living quarters and you can eat all your meals here at the resort.”

  “I don’t need housekeeping, Julie. I can clean up after myself, and there’s an old washer and dryer there I can use for my laundry. And I actually love to cook, so I’ll feed myself...” Her voice faded when she saw Julie’s smile disappear.

  “Mr. Randall insisted on the housekeeping and meals. I don’t think he’ll be happy if you don’t accept it.”

  Amanda rolled her eyes. She didn’t want Julie to be in trouble with Blake. “Fine. Send housekeeping up twice a week to do the general stuff. But I’m washing my own clothes and I want to be able to cook. Is there a grocery store near here?”

  “There’s one on the other side of the village, but our chef can order whatever you want from his suppliers. Mr. Randall won’t want you paying for groceries.”

  “Well, Mr. Randall isn’t always going to get what he wants.” The last thing Amanda needed was some man trying to take over her life. It was time to take on that role for herself. “I’m more self-sufficient than you might think based on seeing me pass out a couple weeks ago.” Julie probably thought of Amanda as some frail thing. But she was certainly capable of driving to the store. Except for one problem. Keeping a car in New York City was ridiculously expensive, so she’d given hers up years ago. “Is there a vehicle I can use until I figure out my car situation?”

  “The resort has a minivan...”

  “Nonsense.” Blake Randall’s deep voice made Amanda sit straighter. He slid into the seat next to her. “Amanda can drive one of my cars or use the limo.”

  Julie slipped immediately into her professional persona. “Of course, Mr. Randall.”

  Amanda tried to picture herself going to the little grocery store in Gallant Lake in a limousine. Hopefully he had a vehicle she’d feel comfortable driving, because the limo idea wasn’t going to work.

  He shook Bobby’s hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here for dinner. Have you made all the arrangements you need?”

  Bobby’s head nodded in acknowledgment. “Yes, Mr. Randall. I’ll start ordering supplies tomorrow, and we’ll set up next week to start stripping the walls. I grew up in Gallant Lake and I’ve always wanted to get inside that old house, so I’m really excited about this job.”

  They talked about the plans for Halcyon over coffee. Blake hardly looked Amanda’s way as he walked her back to the castle when they were done. His stride was quick and tense, and she had to scramble in her heels to keep up. They’d hardly spoken since agreeing to this arrangement, and she wondered if he was having regrets now that she was here. Or maybe he was always this uptight. She tried not to sound out of breath.

  “Is there anything you want to discuss?”

  “No. Why?” He didn’t even glance at her, and her discomfort grew.

  “You seem...um...tense. If you’d be more comfortable with me staying somewhere else...”

  “Do you want to stay somewhere else? Are you nervous about staying at Halcyon?”

  “No, not at all.” They walked up the back steps to the veranda, and the house glowed in the soft twilight. Nothing scared her about this house. “But I don’t want to intrude on your life here.”

  He looked out to the lake, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I don’t have a life here, Amanda. I’m a very busy man, and you’re about to be a very busy woman with this project, so we won’t be bothering each other much.”

  “I just don’t want to be one of those annoying houseguests who gets underfoot.”

  His brows lowered. “You’re not a houseguest. We’re not roommates. You’re an employee who happens to be using a room in a property I own. You’re on your own here. You said you’d be okay with that.”

  “I am fine with it.”

  “Good.”

  “Fine.”

  He turned toward the house, effectively dismissing her. She’d upheaved her entire life to come here, and the exhaustion and uncertainty caught up with her, coming out of her mouth in annoyance.

  “You know, for someone in the hospitality business, you can be downright inhospitable, Blake.”

  He stopped, then slowly turned back to face her. His dark eyes narrowed, and she braced herself. He was already having regrets, and now he was going to fire her. Where the hell would she go?

  His glower lasted another moment, then he shook his head and...laughed. It was a soft chuckle, more at himself than anything. He squinted and looked at the darkening lake behind her, then met her eyes and smiled. Holy hotness, he had a great smile.

  “I’ve never thought of it that way, but you’re right. I was being pretty inhospitable, wasn’t I? Good for you for calling me out on it. Most people don’t.” He rolled his shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. It was a long flight from Vegas, capped off with another phone argument with my father. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  “You don’t get along with your dad?”

  He shrugged and frowned. “Never have. Did you get settled in your suite today? Do you need anything?”

  She recognized the rapid subject change as deflection. She was good at that, too, and she decided to let him get away with it. He didn’t owe her any explanations about his family life.

  “The room is lovely, and I’m all unpacked. I’m going to head back into the city tomorrow to check out some design centers and look at furniture. If I can snag a few floor samples, I can save us some time on the remodel.” She figured she could ask Julie to drop her off at the train station two towns over.

  He shrugged absently. His mind wasn’t on the remodel. Maybe he was still dwelling on the fight with h
is father. Or his nephew. Whom she hadn’t met yet.

  “Where is your nephew living?” she asked. “With your father?”

  Blake snorted. “Definitely not. Zachary was with my brother’s family for the summer, but he’s at boarding school now.”

  “Boarding school? How old is he?” She didn’t even know boarding school was still a thing, and there were teddy bears in the boy’s bedroom.

  “He just turned ten.”

  “Ten? And you’re sending him off to boarding school? Why can’t he go to school here in Gallant Lake?”

  He laughed again, but there was no warmth to it. “To public school? I don’t think so. Beakman Academy is in Connecticut, so he’s not that far away. With my travel schedule, it’s the best place for him.”

  “You make it sound like you’re boarding a dog, not a little boy.”

  His face hardened. “Do you always speak your mind about things that don’t concern you?”

  She gulped hard, but stood her ground. “Just a minute ago you were praising my ability to call you out.”

  His brow arched, and her heart skipped. “You called me out on my treatment of you. My nephew’s education has nothing to do with you.” He glanced at his watch. “I have a conference call in a few minutes with the West Coast. I’ll take it in my room. Good night, Amanda.”

  And this time, he really did dismiss her, walking into the house without another glance. She blew out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding and looked toward the lake. They were going to have to figure out how to live under the same roof and maintain personal boundaries. She’d obviously crossed his. His nephew, poor kid, was off-limits for conversation. Duly noted.

  After spending Thursday furniture shopping in the city, Amanda met Julie for breakfast Friday morning. Blake seemed to spend most of his time in his office at the resort, getting ready for his trip to his other resorts. Julie introduced Amanda to the resort’s chef. Dario Manzetti was short, round and energetic, and she liked him immediately. The charming Italian man referred to her as his little bambolina and kissed both her cheeks when they met. He had a machine-gun laugh that filled the large kitchen, and she couldn’t help but laugh right along with him. His hands flew through the air in wild gestures with every word he spoke, and she wondered how he was able to cook and talk if his hands were this integral to communicating.

  She worried he might be offended that she preferred to do her own cooking, but Dario was delighted. He agreed to order whatever supplies she needed, and smiled in approval when she wrote out her list of basic staples for the Halcyon kitchen.

  That night, Blake surprised her with Chinese takeout from the village to share for dinner. They sat at the kitchen island and shared a bottle of wine as she outlined her and Bobby’s revised plans for the house from their meeting that afternoon. The conversation was strictly business, but oddly comfortable. There was something about Blake, when he wasn’t distracted and cranky, that calmed her perpetual undercurrent of tension.

  The scaffolding went up the following week, with the marble floors covered with heavy canvas drop cloths. Halcyon was officially a construction zone. Blake left for the city early that morning, so he’d missed most of the noise and chaos. The surprise on his face when he returned that evening told her that, like many clients, he hadn’t grasped how all-consuming this project was going to be. She bit back a grin as he walked carefully around the ladders and supplies. It was a good thing he’d be gone for a while on that business trip because it was only going to get worse.

  She poured two glasses of wine and walked out to meet him in the main hall. He was staring up at the scaffolding with a frown.

  “Every good project starts like this, Blake.” She handed him a glass. “I know it seems overwhelming, but I promise I know what I’m doing.”

  “I’m sure you do.” His words were more confident than his expression.

  “Look, I know you’re leaving Friday...” Saying those words out loud stung more than she expected. They hadn’t spent a lot of time together. They’d shared a few meals, although there was never any cooking involved—he ordered food from the resort’s restaurant or got takeout. For breakfast, he’d just grab a bagel and leave her lingering over her much-needed morning coffee. They’d never discussed anything too personal but still, the conversations flowed easily enough. She cleared her throat and smiled up at him.

  “I’d like to treat you to a home-cooked dinner here tomorrow night. No takeout.” His eyes widened in surprise, so she rushed to explain. “I want to do something to show my appreciation for...well, for everything. The job, certainly, but also for...being so generous. You know...after I lied and fainted and all that...”

  He shook his head. “That’s not necessary, Amanda.”

  “It is for me.”

  He finally shrugged, looking away to take in the construction site again.

  “Will we be dining on a table made from plywood and scaffolding?”

  “No!” She laughed and he glanced back at her, smiling warmly. That smile caused her to stutter a little. Must. Stay. Professional. “The—the solarium is dusty, but it’s clutter-free right now, and there’s a small table out there. I think I can make it work for dinner. Is six okay?”

  “You really don’t have to—”

  “I want to, Blake. It’s just dinner.”

  If it was just dinner, why did it feel like it might be something more? She shook herself mentally as Blake walked away. It was just dinner. It had to be. He was her client and she was a complete professional.

  * * *

  Blake stared at the reports spread across the desk in his office Thursday afternoon. He’d just finished a conference call with the construction crew in Bali. It was a good thing he’d be there soon, because things were moving far too slowly.

  As usual, his thoughts drifted to Amanda. He couldn’t seem to escape her this week. For a petite little package, that woman managed to be everywhere. He saw her in the mornings, all sleepy eyed and husky voiced until she had her second cup of coffee. He’d watched her with Bobby and the workers. She kept her distance physically, but she was smart and in charge, and they knew it. She got along well with Bobby, and they spent a lot of time discussing plans. Blake frowned. A lot of time.

  He couldn’t even escape her at the resort, where she and Julie had lunch together every day. He was glad the two women were friends so Amanda wouldn’t be alone while he was traveling. But to turn around in the middle of the day and see her leaning against the front desk, her blond hair falling over her shoulder, laughing with Julie over some girlie thing...well, it made something twist in his gut.

  He was doing his best to keep things strictly business with her. He tried not to allow their conversations to drift to anything other than the Halcyon project. Or, at most, to safe topics like movies and stuff. Nothing personal. It was the only way for him to keep that fortress around his heart standing solid. He did not want to get involved with her. Well, he did want to, but he wasn’t going to. It was bound to end just as badly as every other relationship he’d ever had, and she was working for him. That was a level of messiness he wanted nothing to do with.

  He frowned at the investment report he was supposed to be reviewing, then tossed it down and stood, and walked to the windows overlooking the lake. His mind went back to Amanda laughing with Bobby this morning. Bobby was single. He seemed like a good guy. His sister was Amanda’s new best friend. Was Bobby interested in Amanda? Would he ask her out while Blake was traveling? Would she say yes? Would he come back home in a month to find that he’d lost her?

  He cursed out loud in the empty office.

  She wasn’t his to lose! He tried to remember that, but it got tougher every day he spent with her at Halcyon. Maybe he should have left for Hawaii on Monday. He picked up the report, then threw it down on the desk a second time. Maybe he should walk up to Halcyon to see what she was
doing.

  He found her in the living room. Talking with Bobby. His jaw tightened. She gestured animatedly at the wall of windows and doors facing the veranda. When Bobby glanced in his direction, she turned midsentence to face him. And nearly gave him a heart attack. She was wearing skintight jeans and a snug blue top that matched her eyes, with her hair pulled up in a long ponytail that swung as she moved. Her clothes were dusty and a sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead. She wore no makeup, and she had a smudge of dirt on one cheek. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything more beautiful.

  He barely registered that there were two other men in the room besides Bobby, up on ladders doing...something. He walked straight to her as if she was pulling him in. She was relaxed. Happy. Was it the job giving her more confidence? The house? Or was she finally becoming comfortable with him?

  “Bobby and I were just discussing the window treatments. There’s a company that makes draperies out of sails—they’re actual used sails from boats. They’re stitched together and sometimes there’s a random big number or letter on them. They’re so cool, and they’d be perfect for this wall, with the water in the background. When the windows are open they’ll move with the breeze. The look will be so—” She stopped and sighed. “You can’t picture it at all, can you?”

  No. He couldn’t. But he loved that she could. “You’re the one with the vision.”

  “You’ll love it. I promise.”

  A long ringlet of blond hair fell across her face. Without thinking, Blake reached out to push it behind her ear. Her teasing smile faded and her eyes grew wide. He forgot what they were talking about. He forgot that anyone else was in the room. He forgot everything except how beautiful she was. She swallowed hard and stepped back. He realized then that his fingertips had been resting on the side of her neck, just behind her ear. He cleared his throat and dropped his hand.

  Her mouth quirked up into a half grin, then it faded. She was nervous. “Dinner’s at six. I need to start getting ready.”