It Started At Christmas…

“Pendleton lost everything in the stock market crash in the twenties. He took his own life, jumping out the window of his twentieth-floor Manhattan office.” Amanda gasped. “Some people insist his brother pushed him. I guess there was bad blood there. The children were sure Otis never would have left Madeleine alone, because they were so much in love.”

Amanda sighed wistfully, looking around the empty hall. He had a sneaking suspicion she wasn’t seeing an empty room. She was picturing it as the Pendletons’ home. He wasn’t surprised she was a romantic. He was only surprised that he suddenly felt a bit of a romantic himself just telling her.

“Madeleine was grief stricken and took to her bed upstairs. She died before they could evict her and auction off the house. Supposedly she haunts the place.”

“It’s haunted? Have you seen her?”

He rolled his eyes. “Have I seen Madeleine Pendleton walking around Halcyon? Uh, no.”

Amanda looked over her shoulder and up the winding staircase. He knew she was hoping to see some ghostly apparition, but there was nothing to suggest the place was actually haunted. Well…nothing other than some creaky stairs at night and the odd scent of roses in the solarium.

“What happened after Madeleine died?”

“Halcyon’s been a little of everything—a boardinghouse, a motel…rumor has it, it was a brothel for a few years. It was deserted for a long time. A young couple with more money than good sense bought it back in the nineties and poured their penny stock fortune into it, trying to make it into a bed-and-breakfast.” He glanced up. She was hanging on every word. “They’re the ones that added the kitchen and the elevator. But there wasn’t enough income to cover all the work they did. They closed it up ten years ago, and I bought it last year.” It was surprising how comfortable it was to sit here and talk with her. He looked up at the wood ceilings, feeling more affection for the house than he’d felt since he’d bought it. “Most buildings fall into disrepair very quickly when empty, especially old ones, but this one held up surprisingly well.”

“You’ve told me the stories, but what’s the legend?”

He groaned. “Legend has it that Madeleine won’t be happy until the place is a private home again, and that’s why no business has survived here. I guess that means you’re right. It wouldn’t be a good idea to put offices in here.”

She smiled, but it faded quickly at his next question.

“Are you taking the job?”

“I don’t know, Blake. It’s a bit overwhelming.”

“You don’t think you’re capable of a project like this?”

She sat up sharply. “Of course I’m capable. I specialize in period homes. I can handle this.” She gestured around her.

Blake gave her a triumphant grin.

“You are taking the job. And you can do it by Christmas?” It was suddenly imperative that he give Zach a happy Christmas this year to erase the memory of the last one.

“It’s a lot of work to get done in a few months.”

“You’ve convinced me this place can be a home, and I happen to need one. By Christmas.”

Her forehead furrowed. “You don’t have a home?”

“I use the owner suites at whatever resort I’m at.”

“How many resorts do you own?”

He shrugged. “Five. You still haven’t answered my question. Can you have it done by the holidays?”

“Some of the furniture will need to be ordered and may not be here in time…” Amanda looked around, and he could tell she was calculating in her head. It was a hot look on her. Damn it. He stood and moved away. Where the hell did that thought come from?

Her face scrunched, then relaxed, as if coming to a conclusion she approved of. “With enough skilled people, I could probably get most of the work done in time. I’ll need a place to live…”

“If you want to commute from the city, I can send a car for you.”

“Umm… I’m actually…between apartments right now. It would be easier to find a rental here in town.”

He kicked himself. He forgot Mel had told him Amanda was losing her apartment.

“Stay here at the house.”

He probably should have thought that idea through before saying it out loud.

“What?” She stood, her gaze darting around the empty hall. “Here? No.”

“Look, it’s a big place. There’s a nice suite upstairs with a balcony. I’m leaving for Hawaii and Bali in mid-September—I won’t even be here part of the time. I’d give you a room down at the resort, but September’s probably booked solid for leaf season.” He could tell she was considering it. “You can order your meals from the resort, of course. We’ll configure lodging and meals as part of the package. I’ll have Julie make all the arrangements. Her brother’s a contractor, and he’s done good work at the resort and around town. Bobby can handle what you’re planning to do, and he can find workers locally. And don’t worry about being alone here. The security system is excellent…” He was practically begging, and he had no clue why. He just knew he wanted her to say yes. She stared at him for a long moment, then nodded, all business.

“I’ll need a week or two to pack my things and get settled. I’ll need to meet with the contractor as soon as possible so we can set up a schedule.”

“I’ll call Bobby in the morning to set up a meeting.”

He wasn’t prepared for her next question.

“You don’t even like this place, so why spend the money? Why the rush to be ready for Christmas?”

He started to answer, but emotion tangled up his words and kept them from coming out. He looked up at the high ceilings and blew out a deep breath.

“I have a nephew. He’s my responsibility now that my sister is dead.” He ignored her small sound of sympathy. “Being a nomad worked for me before, but that needs to change. I’d never considered this place an option before you showed up. It’s close enough to the city to be workable for me. And Zach…well, a boy should like living in a castle, right?”

She started to laugh, then apparently realized he was serious. Yeah, he was damned serious. He had no clue what a ten-year-old boy liked.

“Blake, every child in the world would love to live in a castle.” She patted his arm affectionately. “I’ll make sure he loves this one when I’m done with it.”

They exchanged business cards and cell phone numbers, then Blake called the resort and had someone pick her up so she wouldn’t have to walk. He watched her go down the front steps. Her long blond curls swayed in counter rhythm to her hips. Damn, she was the real deal. Talented. Creative. And drop-dead sexy.

She was working for him now. Her voice and face changed when she talked about design work. She lost her nervousness. And she’d be living in his house. He closed his eyes and grimaced. What the hell had he just done? He may have just created his very own hell here at Halcyon.

The sooner he was off to Hawaii, the better.

Chapter Four (#ue07cc01e-077a-5315-956d-800791bb16e1)

When Amanda walked into the restaurant at the Gallant Lake Resort two weeks later, she could barely stay on her feet. Every muscle ached from packing up the apartment she’d shared with two other women. Doubts about her decision to take this job—to move here—kept her awake every night. Most of her belongings were now packed into a storage unit in the city. It was depressing to see how little space her entire life took up. And now she had to meet her general contractor tonight over dinner.

She’d settled into Halcyon that morning, unpacking her clothes and the handful of personal things she’d brought with her. The sunny yellow suite on the third floor would be her home for the next few months. An odd flutter of déjà vu had tickled up her spine when she stepped out onto the long stone balcony outside her room. But she hadn’t felt afraid. If anything, the familiarity of it all made her feel more relaxed. And the room did have a spectacular view.

At first, she’d wondered why Blake Randall put her in the room right next to his. But after walking through the house, she realized there weren’t many options, since so few of the rooms were furnished. The entire second floor was vacant. And the other tower room on the third floor clearly belonged to the young nephew he’d mentioned, since the bed was covered with teddy bears. A key to the house had been delivered to her apartment a few days ago, along with a cryptic handwritten note.

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.