Page 5 of The Mountain Man's Curvy Boss

I meet his gaze, my heart skipping a beat at the intensity I find there. "What would you do? If you were in my shoes?"

He's quiet for a moment, considering. "I'd make a plan. Figure out what needs fixing, prioritize, and tackle it one step at a time. It's not gonna be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is."

I nod, feeling a surge of determination. "You're right. I can't make any decisions until I know what I'm working with. Would you be willing to help me? With the renovation plans?"

A slow smile spreads across Archer's face, transforming his stern features into something warm and inviting. "Thought you'd never ask."

As we head inside to start making plans, I can't ignore the flutter of excitement in my stomach. The more time I spend with Archer, the more I find myself drawn to him—to his strength, his knowledge, and his passion for this place.

I pull out the letter from Grandma Eleanor, my fingers tracing over her familiar handwriting. "You know, in her letter, Grandma mentioned that I should ask for your help. She said you knew this place better than anyone."

Archer's eyes soften, a hint of nostalgia flickering in their depths. "Your grandmother was a special lady. She always saw the best in people, even a rough old mountain man like me."

I smile, imagining Grandma's gentle spirit. "She had a way of bringing out the best in everyone. I wish I could talk to her now, ask her what she thinks I should do."

"I reckon she'd tell you to follow your heart," Archer says, his voice low and earnest. "Eleanor knew the value of this place, the memories it holds. But she'd also want you to be happy."

I tuck the letter back into my pocket, feeling a newfound connection to the resort, to my grandmother's legacy. "I'm starting to see why she loved it here so much. There's a magic to it, isn't there?"

Archer nods, his gaze sweeping over the rustic lodge and the majestic mountains beyond. “It’s a special corner of the world,that’s for sure. And with the right vision and the right people, it could be something truly remarkable."

As I look at him, I feel a surge of gratitude mixed with something deeper, something I'm not quite ready to name. "Thank you, Archer. For everything. I couldn't do this without you."

He reaches out, his calloused hand brushing against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. "You don't have to do it alone, Madison. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

4

ARCHER

Iglance up as Madison enters the restaurant. In a fresh blouse and slacks, she looks much more put together. I can't help but chuckle as she nervously walks past the few guests staying at Heartwood to the table I reserved for us.

"Well, look at you all dried off. Think you'll ever invest in some proper mountain clothes?" I tease with a smirk.

Madison rolls her eyes, but a smile plays on her lips. "Very funny. Maybe you can take me shopping later and help me choose something more appropriate. I need flannel and denim, right?" She slides into the chair across from me.

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued by that idea. "Careful what you offer, darlin'. I might just take you up on that."

A pretty blush colors her cheeks as Rena approaches to take our drink order. Once she leaves, I lean forward, resting my arms on the table.

"So, I wanted to give you a bit of history on this place before you decide what to do with it. It's over a century old, you know. Your grandma Eleanor used to tell me all kinds of stories about the early days."

Madison tilts her head, curious. "Really? I had no idea. What did she tell you?"

As I recount some of the tales of the first guests and the resort's heyday, I watch Madison's face, seeing the way her brown eyes sparkle with interest. She's even lovelier when she smiles. I could get used to putting that expression on her face.

"Wow, Grandma never mentioned any of that to me," Madison says when I finish. Her smile fades. "I suppose there's a lot I never got a chance to hear from her. I should have visited more often, made the time..."

I reach over to cover her hand. "Hey, don't beat yourself up. Your grandma could've made the trip to see you, too. Sounds like you were both married to your work."

That surprises a laugh out of her. "You're right. We were quite the pair of workaholics." She meets my gaze, her hand warm under mine. "I'm glad she had you, though. She spoke so highly of you in her last letter to me. Called you the grandson she never had."

Emotion clogs my throat for a second. "She was an incredible lady. I'll miss her." I squeeze Madison's fingers. "But a part of her lives on here, in this resort. And in you."

Madison blinks rapidly. "Thank you, Archer. I needed to hear that."

Madison coughs and pulls her hand back, breaking our quiet moment of connection as she focuses intently on the renovation plans spread out on the table between us. "I've been thinking more about the updates I want to make to the resort. If my cabin is anything to go by, the resort desperately needs new plumbing and electrics, and I'd like to add modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and WiFi throughout the property. We could also do with some other modern conveniences, like coffee machines and…”

I resist the urge to yank the papers away from her, my body tensing. "Hold on now. Those cabins have had the same fixtures for decades. They're part of the resort's rustic charm. You start ripping them out and replacing everything, and you'll lose the soul of this place."

---