Page 9 of Bachelor CEO

Naked, he was probably magnificent. He’d needa shower when he got back, and for a split second she had a vision of himstanding under the spray, and her joining him….

She swallowed hard, and followed as he turnedonto an asphalt road she had easily missed, since it was hardly wider than adriveway. She gave a quick wave and passed him, wanting toput distance between them.

From Chase’s demeanor, she had to assume hedidn’t yet know anything about her or the scope of her new job. If he did, heprobably would have ridden off and left her to find her own way.

She felt a bit guilty for not saying anythingto him about her new position, but Leroy had insisted he wanted things handledhis way. Miranda wasn’t fond of subterfuge, but as this was her dream job,she’d agreed.

Now on the correct road, she easily found thesigns, and soon drove up to the McDaniel estate. A parking attendant waved ather, and, when he found out she was staying at one of the guest cottages,showed her where to go. She climbed out and looked around, but Chase hadn’t yetarrived.

“Ah! Miranda! There you are!” Walter boomed ingreeting. She turned to find him standing on the screened porch of the cottage.“See you made it okay.”

“I got lost a few times.”

Walter’s eyes twinkled. He was sixty-nine andretiring from his company presidency in two weeks. His departure was one of thereasons Miranda had accepted the McDaniel Manufacturing job. She might not getanother opportunity to move up this fast ever again, and the company wouldn’tbe the same without Walter. There were also rumors of a forthcoming takeover bya competitor once Walter stepped down.

“Glad to see you made it in spite of me,” hesaid, giving her a quick hug. “My directions aren’t what they used to be. Heck,nothing’s what it used to be. I’ll be missing you come Tuesday.”

“You’ve only got a week or two left yourself.Then it’s off on that round-the-world cruise with your wife.Speaking of which, where is she?”

“Our granddaughter Lucy had her babyWednesday, so we’re dividing and conquering. My wife loves Leroy, but notenough to put off holding her first great-grandchild.”

“Good for her, and congrats,” Miranda said. Asshe grabbed her suitcase from the trunk, she noticed Chase ride up. She watchedhim park the bike at the lodge and go inside without looking in her direction.

Bringing herself back to the moment, shecarried her luggage inside. The cabin was small, with a living room–kitchencombination, shared bath and two bedrooms. Miranda didn’t plan to stay long.She’d return to Chenille in the morning and spend Sunday afternoon and MemorialDay in her new apartment. She’d slept there last night, but the place hadn’tyet felt like home. She had a lot of unpacking and other work to do before thathappened. Not that any place had ever felt like home after her parents died.

“I’m going over to the lodge to visit withLeroy before the party starts. Do you want to come with me?” Walter asked fromthe porch.

Miranda glanced at herself in the bedroommirror. She looked rumpled, and knew she had to face Chase again. He’d beshowered and…

“I’ll meet you at the party,” she called toWalter, who yelled in agreement and shuffled off the porch. She tracked hismovements from her window as he picked his way across the side yard. She’d beenwatching out for him for years. She was going to miss him. He called her hissurrogate granddaughter, since none of his children had been interested in abusiness career.

While she loved working with Walter, the jobat McDaniel Manufacturing was her chance to get out fromunder his shadow and truly be her own person. She’d fought hard to reach thisplace in her life. For a second she blinked back tears, wishing her parentscould see her now. She was so close to making all of her dreams come true.

And she wouldn’t let anything ruin it.

Not even her attraction to Chase McDaniel.

Chapter Three

By six-thirty the party was in full swing.People milled everywhere, enjoying the warm weather, delicious appetizers andgood company. Leroy held a place of honor, and since everyone wanted to speakwith him, he was constantly surrounded.

Chase lifted the cup of beer to his lips, tooka swallow and feigned interest in stories his lake neighbors were telling abouttheir trip to Australia. But his concentration was shot. All he could thinkabout was Miranda Craig.

She stood out of the sun on the opposite sideof the tent. Walter Peters had taken her under his wing and was introducing herto everyone.

Chase lifted his beer and took another sip.The brew had grown warm, as he’d been holding the same cup for at least anhour. “That sounds great,” he said at an appropriate juncture in theconversation, then added, “If you don’t mind, I’m going to go check on how mygrandfather is doing.”

“Of course,” Mrs. Schulz gushed. “We’ll seemore of you this summer, I’m sure.”

“You will,” he confirmed. The same crowd was always at the country club restaurant on weekends, and hesuspected he’d hear each of the Australia stories several times before thesummer was out.

He wove his way through the crowd, stoppingbriefly to make certain his grandfather was okay. Chandy was sitting besidehim. She nodded to Chase that everything was fine, and he moved on.

“Walter, I heard you were here,” Chase said,reaching his target. “I’m sorry I missed you earlier.”

“Chase!” The older man gave him a hug and apat on the back. “Good to see you. Boy, you’re rock solid. Must be all thatexercise.” Walter turned to Miranda. “Chase competes in triathlons.”

“Only one or two a year, and only if I havetime,” he said smoothly, liking how her eyes widened. He stretched his handforward. “Chase McDaniel.”

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