Page 41 of Meet Me at the Grand

“What if I want to bring you over to my side instead?” Now, hey, there was an idea. What had Aunt Elise said?It’s too bad that young man didn’t get to see the island at the height of its popularity. Some things just need to be experienced.

That was it. Just like Liam wanted to show her his perspective, she wanted to show him hers. And it went so far beyond the hotel—which wasn’t a true assessment of Jonathon Island, being half burned like it was.

She had to show himmore.

And if she could convince an outsider like Liam Stone to love and cherish this place, then maybe her dreams really were possible.

It was her last real chance to find out.

“I’ll go, on one condition.”

“And what’s that?”

“I’ll go with you if you come back to the island with me afterward and let me show youmyperspective, my island in a way you haven’t seen it before. After our little drive through town and the tour of the hotel, you got right to work on your plans, but there is still so much to show you. So I’ll give you a chance to convince me, but only if you letmehave a chance to convinceyou.”

“Do you think you can keep an open mind about what I show you?”

Dani hesitated. Could she? But it was only fair if she expected the same of him. “If you will.”

“Good then. It’s a deal. May the best convincer win.”

ChapterEight

Dani had never felt so completely small-town in her whole life.

Minneapolis traffic raced by at her back while she craned her neck upward, taking in the sleek building towering over her, its multiple rows and columns of tall windows creating a prism reflecting the noonday sun. Bright blue and white in color, the hotel seemed to take up the entire skyline, bold and sure of its place in the world. An enclosed pedestrian footbridge shot out from the hotel’s second level, traveling over the intersection and connecting to the building across the way.

“Well?” Once again, Liam wore a three-piece suit under his coat, this one gray and slim fitting. He looked every bit the city dweller and completely comfortable with navigating around, unlike Dani who hadn’t even known where to go to grab a taxi when they’d landed at the airport. “What do you think?”

Whatdidshe think? Of course it didn’t compare with the feelings she had for the Grand, but how much of those were wrapped up in her memories, her love of the place where it resided? If she studied the Lucian Hotel on its own, no comparisons to be made, she had to admit it was beautiful in its own right. And there was something attractive about the idea of staying at a modern hotel dripping with such prestige.

But she couldn’t let Liam know she was impressed. Not yet, at least. Besides, she hadn’t even seen the interior yet. Maybe it was dumpy—a case of something being flashy on the outside but rotten on the inside.

Fine, it wasn’t likely. But a girl could hope. Especially a girl who hated to be wrong.

She lifted her eyebrows. “That remains to be seen.”

“Ah, a tough nut to crack.” He pretended to pop his knuckles and move his neck from side to side. “Challenge accepted.”

She wanted to laugh as he strode forward and held open the door for her and said, “After you, milady,” but she refused to let Liam’s charm get to her. This was a business meeting, nothing more.

“Thank you.” She wheeled her suitcase through the doorway then pulled it alongside her and stopped just inside the lobby, which was massive.

The reception desks were along one wall behind a granite waterfall counter. Two attendants stood there, and a concierge in a suit stood at the side. Elevators extended all the way up in gold from the main area, and three stories up drifted two massive chandeliers, their tear-drop crystals glittering with light against the gold accents of the room.

The floor was travertine, but massive Turkish carpets covered the lobby area upon which sat deep blue velvet sofas in groupings around glass tables with gold legs. On each table sat a gold vase filled with a spray of fresh flowers: roses, hydrangeas, fuchsia, freesia, and white lilies. Smooth jazz played from the speakers in the room, softly lending an ambiance of ease along with the fresh fragrance of the flowers.

At the sound of trickling water, Dani searched and found a giant waterfall running down the wall at least two stories high, gentle and dropping softly into a pool of water covered with lily pads.

She’d stepped into paradise.

Wow. “How much does your company have to do with the decorating once the hotel is built?”

They walked toward the desk and stopped behind an elderly couple being helped by the only receptionist.

“I help advise on the decor once the building is complete, but just like the building itself, I don’t get the final say.” He cleared his throat. “Normally, that is.”

Right. Because the deal with the Grand was different. The stakes were high for both of them. That’s why she was here, after all. To keep an open mind.

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