Tall, Dark And Daring

She pivoted on her heel, swinging the sack of oranges into his shin. “Sorry!” She flashed him an apologetic smile.

He relieved her of the bag before she hurt someone.

“Those are for you, anyway,” she informed him as she handed over the fruit. “Sort of a hello from the Sunshine State.”

The Sunshine State had already been more than generous to him today. “Thank you.” He took a step forward, eager to retire to the privacy of his office.

Not that he minded traipsing around the Hearth-side in swim trunks—it certainly wouldn’t be the first time—but he wanted to go somewhere quiet to talk to her, stare at her, convince her to have dinner with him…

She didn’t follow his lead. Her feet remain rooted to the hardwood floor. “Would you rather just wait to talk until tomorrow?”

He shook his head. “Now is a great time.”

Those bright green eyes of hers took a quick voyage south. “Wouldn’t you like to, um, dress?”

He bit back a grin and the urge to give her the extended tour. “Only if you find me a distraction.”

She straightened, then charged down the hall ahead of him in a staccato of clicking heels. “Not in the least.”

He didn’t know how she knew where she was going, but Mitch walked behind her, enjoying the view.

He’d bet Mogul Ryders she still had a killer body under that monstrous trench coat. Trim little ankles peeked out from the long hem. The belt around her middle nipped a tiny waist. Her face was more interesting than pretty, with full lips and a slight crook in her freckled nose. But somehow it all worked. She was the hottest thing Mitch had laid eyes on since she’d skipped out of his life nearly a decade ago.

He also happened to know she was a single woman, courtesy of her boss at Westwood. He’d been absurdly glad to learn that piece of information.

Not that he had any intention of claiming her forever. He wasn’t any closer to being the stable kind of guy she wanted now than he had been eight years ago.

Still, he couldn’t help but hope he could claim this next week.

She paused outside his door and stared at the brass nameplate. “They let you put the name on the door?”

He opened the door to usher her inside. “What do you mean they? I bought this place two years ago.”

She gaped at him while he edged past her. “You own the Hearthside?”

“Long way up from pro-shop manager, huh?” He had to laugh. He still couldn’t believe he’d wrangled this prime piece of real estate from its former owner. But he had, and this business belonged to him as much as Mogul Ryders.

“I’ll say. Congratulations.” A new light glimmered in her green eyes. Respect. “I never would have taken you for the type of person who would spend enough time in one place to run a hotel.”

That single comment brought back a wealth of memories on why they hadn’t stayed together. He flipped on his computer screen and avoided her gaze. “A management group takes charge when I travel.”

“Oh.” She apparently thought his globe-trotting ways were as irresponsible as ever.

He flicked on the gas fireplace to heat the rooms. The temperature had definitely dropped a couple of degrees since they’d walked in his office. He thought of other, more pleasurable ways to generate some warmth, but they had to talk business first. With more than a little regret, he reminded himself he needed her brains more than her body.

For now.

“Have a seat.” He pulled a dry towel off the back of his desk chair and flung it on the seat so his suit didn’t soak the upholstery. “I appreciate you coming up here, Tessa. When I started searching for marketing help, I wasn’t expecting to find you. You’ve sure made your mark.”

Tessa had told him eight years ago that she wouldn’t travel with him because she wanted to do just that. Make her mark. He wondered if she was happy now that she’d achieved her goal.

She folded her coat carefully around her and took a seat across from him. “I travel a lot for my job. The trip wasn’t a problem.”

“I mean because of our history.” He wasn’t willing to act as if nothing had happened between them. She’d affected him too much for that.

Her eyes widened just a little, but she maintained her cool. “I assumed it wouldn’t be an issue.”

“Great. How about we get together for dinner later and we’ll go over Mogul Ryders’ business plan?”

She opened her mouth, but no words issued forth. On the second try, she managed, “Tonight?”

“The sooner the better, don’t you think?”

“I haven’t finished the marketing plan yet, though. Maybe if we wait—”

“Are we going to be able to work together on this, Tessa?” He eyed her with a level gaze, all thoughts of their past put aside for the moment. Sure he owed Ines Cordova big time for convincing Tessa to come to Lake Placid again—he hadn’t been able to get Tessa out of his head ever since his accident. But no matter what he hoped might transpire between him and Tessa on a personal level this week, he wouldn’t risk a misstep with the marketing.

“Of course we are. Didn’t you specifically request my help in getting your new product line off the ground?” She returned his gaze, and for a minute, Mitch spied the steely determination that had no doubt helped catapult her to the top of her field.

“I’ve heard you’re the best.” He leaned closer. “But if you’re going to find it difficult to work with me, maybe we shouldn’t go through with this.”

“It’s been eight years, Mitch.” She folded her arms across breasts he remembered all too well. “I think I’m over you.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “Good. Then you won’t mind having dinner with me tonight. How is seven o’clock?”

She puffed out a small sigh and smoothed her hand over a stray lock of blond hair. His hand itched to mess it up again.

“Seven is fine,” she said finally. “I just want to give you fair warning. I barely had time to repack my suitcase this weekend, let alone do thorough research. I really had intended on working alone tonight.”

Perhaps he frowned at that, because she waved her hands in an impatient gesture.

“I don’t mean to suggest this puts me behind on your account. You have my personal assurance that we’ll come up with just the right marketing strategy for Mogul Ryders.”

Mitch stood. “Okay. You want to take the nickel tour before I walk you upstairs?”

He pulled one of the hotel’s robes off the back of the bathroom door and tossed it around his shoulders. Since his half-dressed state hadn’t made her swoon in appreciation yet, he figured he might as well try another tack.

“I’ve kept my own findings and market research in here.” He opened the door to a second sitting area and wondered if she’d notice the room’s central furnishing. “Just help yourself to anything you might need.”

He gestured to the stacks of brochures and folders on the file cabinets, but Tessa barely gave them a glance. Her eyes were glued to their old make-out couch in the corner.

Her breath caught.

Her cheeks grew pink.

She gulped visibly.

Maybe their weeks together had been as memorable for her as they had been for him.