It Started At Christmas…

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 his 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.