Page 10 of Bachelor CEO

“Miranda Craig,” she said, the flicker in hereyes reflecting uncertainty.

“It’s nice to meet you. I take it you workedfor Walter,” he said, as if they’d never met. He figured pretending they werestrangers would allow her to salvage some pride. A woman as fierce as Mirandalikely wouldn’t want people to know she needed to be rescued. Twice.

“She did. Best employee I ever had. If Iwasn’t retiring I wouldn’t let McDaniel steal her,” Walter insisted proudly.

“Of course not,” Chase agreed, with a smilethat probably didn’t quite hide the turmoil he felt. He liked Walter. He likedMiranda, as well, but in a totally different way. He brushed aside the uneasyfeeling that something wasn’t quite right. “Have you had a tour of Lone Pine?”he asked her.

“She arrived a little bit late and wanted tofreshen up,” Walter confided, and Chase saw Miranda squirm.“So she missed the tour Chandy gave everyone earlier.”

“She has to see the lodge,” Chase said.

“Really, it’s okay,” Miranda protested.

“Oh no, it’s a gem,” Walter declared. “Finestplace around. Christine and I love to come up here. We spend a week everyAugust.”

“I’d be happy to take her on a tour now,”Chase offered.

“That’s a great idea. Thanks, Chase. It wouldbe a shame to come all this way and not see it,” Walter told Miranda.

“Really, I—” she began.

“Hey, Walter!” The trio glanced over to seeLeroy waving. “Come here a minute.”

“Perfect timing,” he said. “I’ll catch up withyou later. Go tour. Have fun. You’ll love the place.” Walter headed over toLeroy’s circle.

“If I find out you arranged this, I’m likelyto do you bodily harm,” Miranda said quietly, so that only Chase could hear.

He chuckled. “I’d warn you against that. Imight enjoy it too much. Come, let me show you around.” He reached out and tookher elbow. “Follow me.”

“Seems like I’m doing that a lot,” shemurmured as they eased through the crowd and out from under the tent.

“Ah, but I get you where you need to be, don’tI?” Chase’s grin turned wicked. “Let me show you the lodge while it’s empty. AsWalter said, if you’ve come this far, you must see the place.”

She hesitated, then nodded in agreement.

Chase led her across the yard, up the stepsand inside.

“THIS IS BEAUTIFUL,” Miranda breathed asthey stepped into the great room. “I love it.”

She’d seen pictures of fancy homes in upscalemagazines. But they’d always looked cold and sterile. This was far lesspretentious. It had a rustic, aged feel, like a timeless classic from a bygoneera where life had been simpler.

The place was designed to be lived in. Thehardwood floors showed wear from years of use. This was a family home, not anostentatious attempt at showing off how much money the McDaniel family had. Theroom was friendly and inviting.

“So what do you think?” he asked.

She walked to the nine-foot-high,floor-to-ceiling windows at the front, and gazed out across the water. She’dgrown up in an apartment building where large families were crammed into smallunits, and the next building was only a sidewalk width away. This room, with aceiling that soared from nine to twenty-five feet high, was massive.

“It’s lovely,” she said.

He seemed pleased by her compliment. “Not toooutdated?” he pressed.

She shook her head. “How can you even askthat? I think it’s perfect.” She gestured at the mission chairs placedstrategically for the best lake view. “I could sit there for hours.”

“I often do. When I was younger I remember myparents loving these chairs. I’d wake up, run downstairs and find them sittinghere.”

“It must be nice to have memories like that.”

They stood near each other and watched a smallsailboat cross the water. The lake wasn’t deep enough tohandle cabin cruisers and it wasn’t long enough to attract huge Scarab-typeboats. Because of that Lone Pine Lake catered to the pontoon boat and smallerrunabout crowd, making it perfect for families. Below, a few of the older kidsplayed on the paddleboats and a few kayaked. A canoe waited, overturned on thebank. The place screamedhome.

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