Page 14 of Luke

"I suspect it has something to do with you, but I can't ask him."

Her anger dimmed at the reminder. "I am sorry about your dad. He was one of a kind. He wasn't always the best man, but he was always true to himself."

"He was definitely that," he agreed.

"He told me that you two hadn't seen each other much the last few years."

"You talked to him about me?"

"Only briefly. He said he missed you more than you'd probably believe."

"Yeah, right." He didn't believe that for one second.

"And that in some ways, you were the most like him of all of his sons," she added.

"That's not true at all. If anyone is like him, it's James, or maybe Gabe. They like wearing suits and ties and making lots of money."

"Most people do—at least, the making money part." She paused. "Look, I know that I probably can't make a case that will change your mind, but at least spend a few days here. You might like it. We're now offering several adventure packages. We have guides to take guests into the mountains on rock climbing and hiking expeditions. We have a dozen horseback riding trails through some of the prettiest countryside in the world. There's river rafting and a new zip line course a few miles down the road. You like all that stuff. You could have fun here."

"You sound like a brochure. And I can't believe you would put in a zip line course. You don't like heights."

"There are a lot of things I don’t like that I have to deal with," she said sharply. "And it doesn't matter what I like; it's about what will sell, what will bring people to the resort and keep them coming back. I have a lot of ideas that I still want to implement. I just need a little time."

She licked her lips in an anxious manner that once again sent a wave of emotion and reckless desire through him. He had to fight the urge to lean across the table and kiss her concerns away like he'd done so many times before.

"You shouldn't make a decision this big too fast," she added. "You're grieving. You're shocked. Look through the financials. Talk to the accountants. Get some advice. And most of all, spend some time here."

"I suppose I could take a few days," he conceded, although he suspected that even one more day with Lizzie was probably one too many.

"Good," she said, relief filling her blue eyes. "The first thing you should do is see the property. I can take you out this afternoon if you're up for it."

"All right. Let's go now," he said, tossing his napkin onto the table.

For a moment, panic filled her eyes. "Right now?"

"Why not?"

"No reason. You're right. Now is good. I'll meet you out front in twenty minutes. I need to make sure Tina can cover the front desk while we're gone." She pushed the file folder toward him. "Take this with you. You'll want to read it later."

He doubted he'd ever want to read it, but he took the file with him as he left the dining room.

* * *

Liz didn't know why she felt nervous, but as she walked out front to meet Luke twenty minutes later, her palms were sweating and her pulse was racing too fast. She should not be having such a strong reaction to a man who had hurt her deeply, a man she'd already cried far too many tears over, a man who should have stayed in her past.

She had enough on her plate without adding Luke into the mix, but she didn't have a choice. If she wanted to keep her job and her home, she had to convince Luke to hang on to the resort. Once he made a decision to keep the property, he could let his lawyers or accountants deal with her. They wouldn't have to spend time together or talk to each other. He could continue to wander the world, and she could live her life. It could work.

She just had to convince him of that fact.

Luke came down the road from his cabin with the attractive, confident swagger that always got to her. How many times in college had she waited for him just like this? How many times had he grabbed her, kissed the breath out of her, and given her that sexy smile as he said, Hey, babe, I missed you, when he'd seen her only hours before?

She drew in a breath, telling herself to get out of the past. But it was difficult to look away when everything about him was so compelling, when her body wanted to remember his touch, his taste, his kiss, even as her brain told her to put the walls up, protect herself.

This was Luke. She'd hurt him. He'd hurt her. None of that could happen again.

Luke looked like he'd just stepped out of the shower. He'd changed into a clean pair of jeans and a navy T-shirt, and his beard was neatly trimmed. He had more energy now. She hoped that was a positive sign. Maybe if he wasn't so dogged with grief and sadness and probably anger, she could appeal to his common sense, business side.

She almost smiled at the thought of Luke having a business side. The last thing he'd ever wanted to do was business. He'd rejected every opportunity his father had thrown at him and swore he'd never wear a suit and tie or go to a nine-to-five job. So far, he'd kept that promise, at least from what she knew about him, which was probably more than she should know. But Luke was a Brannigan, and Brannigan adventures were often reported in the press, especially when the Brannigan was as sexy and single as Luke was. She knew his movies featuring extreme sports had done very well; she just hadn't watched any of them. It was one thing to catch a glimpse of a random photo of Luke and another to watch him on film, talking, laughing, hiking, risking his life…

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