Page 47 of The Last Resort
The only person who might possibly lend him a sympathetic ear was his other brother. Jordan had successfully managed to keep his relationship dramas with the world’s biggest popstar under lock and key for many months.
Yeah, but he’s happy now and doesn’t need to hear my problems.
“Do you want me to fly someone out to Colorado to help? No one said you had to do this on your own. I can talk to Mia, send her when she is well again.”
He’d considered that option for all of three seconds before deciding against it. Mia had a lot of strengths but since she didn’t have a design background, her contributions at the site would be limited at best. And she hated the snow.
There was also the pressing issue of him wanting to have time alone with Rachel. To get the inevitable knockdown, ding-dong row over and done with, so they could then figure out how to work with one another and put together a workable proposal for the new resort.
“Thanks, Bryce, but I think this might be something that needs to be handled one on one. It’s an architect thing.”
That wasn’t a complete lie. Architects were a breed apart, and only someone who understood the intricacies of form and function would be able to hold their own in a conversation about design. In the meeting, Rachel had shown she was more than capable of keeping him on his toes.
“Alright. But if you change your mind and want me to send a support team, I’ll put one together. Just let me know if you need anything. And Matt?”
“Yeah.”
Here comes the brotherly advice bit.
“Don’t take last night to heart, it happens to everyone. I lost count of the number of design versions we ended up submitting to the city planners for the Royal Resorts Madrid. It’s very rare for the first proposal to get approval. Just keep going, you’ve got this.”
Matthew sighed. “Thanks. I’d better go and get some groceries before the day skiers come back and the store gets crowded. I’ll talk to you later in the week and let you know how things are progressing. Bye.” He hung up the call.
Bryce was right about plans not getting approved on their first round. He’d been willing to make some concessions, but the Brocks had made their position abundantly clear. Until he caved and found a way to incorporate the original lodge into any future plans, they and their design consultant were going to fight him tooth and nail.
I have to make her see reason. I’m not the villain here.
He was still trying to get his head around last night. The shock of discovering that Rachel was working for the owners of the lodge had been bad enough. But then she’d torn his model to pieces along with his pride. Done everything to turn the town against him. What was left of his design model now fitted in a much smaller box.
His gaze shifted from the dashboard to the passenger seat of his SUV, where his olive–green Hermès scarf sat. He’d draped it around her neck yesterday morning, accepting her kisses as gratitude for his kind heart.
He’d give anything to have that last moment with her again. To recapture the hope that had been alive inside him as he’d watched Rachel walk out the door. He was in love with the enemy, and he had no clue as to what to do next.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
A chill slid down Rachel’s spine as her brother-in-law pulled the Ford Bronco up out front of the Green Tree Resort late that afternoon. She’d visited the site a number of times, but this time it was different. Tonight she would be sleeping here. In the snowy wilds of Colorado. With ghosts, her ex-lover, and bears.Oh my!
Odd snatches of Wizard of Oz references kept rolling around in her head. She was no longer in Kansas. Or Atlanta. Or even Aspen for that matter.
This is a really stupid idea. Well done, Rach. You’ve backed yourself into a tight corner with this gig.
“I’ll go check the heating and hot water, while you girls go get settled,” said Dan, climbing out of the car. He headed up to the front door and disappeared inside.
“Thanks for doing this, Rach. I know it’s not going to be fun.”
The fear in her sister’s voice snapped Rachel out of her self-pity. If she bailed on this job, it would make things hard for Kellie, especially with her in-laws.
I’m not going to let her down.
“Of course it will be fun. I’ve never camped out before so it will be a whole new experience for me. Maybe I’ll go join the Girl Scouts. Wanna buy some cookies?”
Grabbing the sleeping bag and a large box full of groceries, Rachel climbed out. Kellie followed suit, opening the back of the SUV. As she reached for one of Rachel’s oversized suitcases, she paused. “I mean it when I say thanks. You mightn’t realize it, but this goes a long way to helping me repair my relationship with my in-laws.”
“Oh.” She tried her best to sound like she hadn’t thought of that—and hadn’t seen the look of desperation on Kellie’s face both last night and all today.
I wonder if she will ever forgive herself.
Tucking the box of groceries under her arm, Rachel pulled up the handle of her heaviest case and dragged it over to the bottom step at the entrance to the lodge.
