Page 5 of Snowed in with the Enemy

"That's not what I'm saying."

I knew I was being unreasonable, but the flood gates had opened and I couldn't stop. "Then what are you saying? Are you or are you not about to erect a giant penis—" I scoffed. "I mean resort, that's going to destroy Holiday Grove?"

"Not sure what a penis has to do with anything, but the only truth you've spoken is that I'm building a resort. Everything else sounds like a delusion."

My jaw clenched so hard that stars danced at the edges of my vision. "Delusion? Hardly! I live in reality, Mr. Big Man Developer Who Wants To Destroy Everything In His Path Just To Make A Buck!" The fury coursing through me scattered my thoughts, leaving me sputtering and incoherent. "I can't believe this," I shouted, snatching a bottle of wine from the fridge before storming upstairs.

Yep, the universe was definitely punishing me.

Chapter 4

Lee

Istood in Nix's kitchen, staring at the spot she'd vacated with such speed I half-expected to see skid marks on the floor. I rubbed my hand, bewildered by what had just happened. Usually when a woman discovered I was Lee Lancaster, billionaire real estate developer, they grew more interested, not less. And they certainly never looked at me like I was some type of super villain. But Nix's golden brown eyes had narrowed to cat-like slits the minute I formally introduced myself. She'd planted her hands on her hips and told me exactly what she thought of me.

Even if she'd gotten a lot wrong.

It was oddly refreshing.

And deeply awkward to be stuck inside a home with a woman who so clearly despised me.

Too bad, because she was a knockout even in those whimsical Santa pajamas that hugged her curves like a second skin. Following her up the stairs to her brother's room had been anything but a hardship, not with the mesmerizing sway of her hips and the soft whisper of cotton between her thighs. Her beauty went beyond her figure—full lips that seemed almost toogenerous for her face, high cheekbones that hinted at exotic ancestry, and those expressive eyes that blazed when she was upset or sparkled with amusement. Thick red waves cascaded around her shoulders, and my fingers itched—even now—to discover if they were as silken as they appeared.

Talk about cosmic irony—the one woman offering shelter from the storm happened to despise me on sight. At least she hadn't kicked me out—yet—so I counted that as a win.

Since I was still technically a guest, I examined the contents of her fridge and smiled when I spotted a beer from the local craft brewery across town. I cracked it open, letting the icy fizz slide down my throat and gradually ease the tension from my muscles. The beer was excellent, and something mouthwatering wafted from the kitchen counter, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since last night's opening in a different time zone.

I was about to investigate the slow cooker when footsteps creaked overhead. I settled back at the large kitchen table as Nix descended the stairs, her movements deliberate until she halted two feet away, fixing me with a glare. I rose to face her the way I confronted all challenges—head on. "Do you want me to leave?"

"In this storm? No. Holiday Grove and never look back? Absolutely."

My lips twitched. This woman was something else. "I appreciate your honesty."

She snorted but maintained her silence as she lifted the slow cooker's lid and groaned. Loudly.

Ignore it, I commanded myself, knowing an inconvenient reaction would land me face-first in a snowbank. The silence grew oppressive, and it irked me that she was using my own tactics against me. "You're being dramatic, Nix. There's no reason my resort and the town can't coexist."

She inhaled sharply and pivoted to face me—my first warning that I'd stepped in it. "Dramatic? I'm being dramatic?" Her laughheld no warmth. "How much money do you really need, Mr. Lancaster? A billionaire means you have more than one billion, which seems like a lot of damn money, so seriously, how much more do you need before you stop destroying small towns?"

I opened my mouth, but Nix wasn't finished.

"The mountain view is our crown jewel. It's why our B&Bs thrive year-round. That view sells this town to visitors and newcomers who want nature, not concrete. Half our businesses reference the mountain or use it in their theme—which means nothing if people can only see it from your resort!"

I hadn't invested much time in Holiday Grove because it hadn't seemed necessary. The land price was right, and the location—just far enough from two major cities—guaranteed profits. Her insight was unexpected. "The resort will bring substantial business to your town."

"Bullshit," she fired back. "Your snooty guests will never step foot in Holiday Grove. You'll have Michelin star restaurants, mountain guides, lakeside activities, spas—everything to keep them corralled on your property, and we both know it. Your goal is to suffocate local businesses for a few more millions. You're heartless and greedy."

"That wouldn't make very good business sense, now would it?" I took another sip and leaned back, arms folded as though her words bounced off me, even as they found their mark.

"That wouldn't make very good business sense now would it," she parroted, voice dripping with mockery. "I run a business too, you know? It doesn't make a bazillion dollars annually, but I turn a profit, and more importantly, this town loves and supports what I do."

"Then I suppose I'll have to hope the rest of the town is more welcoming than you, Nix." From her bulging eyes and the pulse hammering in her throat, I knew I'd misstepped. Again.

"Ha! The mayor is your only cheerleader. In fact, she's the only soul in this entire town who didn't sign the petition to stop your monstrosity!" She flashed a brittle smile that never touched those expressive eyes, spun on her heel, and marched off like a soldier heading to battle.

The house shuddered when she slammed her bedroom door upstairs, leaving me in a silence that ratcheted up my anxiety with each passing second. Instead of dismissing it as usual, I fired off a quick text to my assistant, who hadn't yet relocated to Holiday Grove. "Has there been significant pushback from the locals?"

His response came instantly. "Some, but the mayor assures us the residents will come around once the jobs and money flow in."

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