Page 6 of Enamored
“Each person who is here for the total package needs to give their cabin number. Cabins one through seven are the all-inclusive ones, and the other rooms will be single stays. If they want to experience some of the other activities the ranch has to offer, they can pay extra for it. Hiking, fishing, and swimming are all included. Horseback riding, hiking tours, and boat rentals are extra.”
“What about food? You mentioned a bed and breakfast setting. That usually includes breakfast. Are you including the other meals?”
His smile fades. “You think this idea sucks that much, huh?”
Shit.I’m really not trying to make him feel bad; I want to make sure he’s thought of every situation. This isn’t normal in these types of meetings. Normally, whatever the client says they are doing, we push forward and give them their dream design. I know how much this place means to him and his family, though, and I want to make sure he does what’s best for the ranch and the business.
I open my mouth to say something, and he cuts me off, leaning forward so his upper body is stretched across the picnic table. I can smell his intoxicating scent, and I want to fist his shirt and pull him to me for a brutal kiss. I lick my lips. His eyes roam down to the motion, and he stares at me. His eyes darken, and for a moment, I think it might be in lust until he opens his mouth.
“Do me a favor. Don’t tell me how to run my ranch.” He keeps his voice low and level, but the meaning is clear.Don’t fuck with me.
I take a deep, shaky breath. “Message received. I have enough to start working on the designs. I’ll show you some later, and we can discuss.” I close my laptop and pack my items. I need to get away from this man. Just when we start falling into old habits, I’m reminded that he’s not the same man I fell in love with.
Walking back to the cabin, I drop my stuff off and look around. It’s too nice outside to stay cooped up in this cabin. I grab my sketchpad and decide I need some fresh air to get the creative juices flowing. First stop—the pond.
I meander down the familiar path to the pier that overlooks the water. Off in the distance, I notice a few horses drinking, and I smile as I watch them. There must be some guests out for a ride. I sit cross-legged on the pier and open the pad, placing it in my lap. I drew the basic layout on the plane, so now it’s a matter of filling in all the details Tristan said he wants.
I’m hard at work, bent over my project when my phone rings. It’s unexpected, and I’m startled by the noise.Looks like they finally fixed the service problem.Eloise’s name lights up the large touch screen, and I slide the accept button up.
“Hi, Eloise. How are you?”
“Fine. How’s the ranch? Have you met with Tristan Ellis yet?”
I sigh. “Yes. He’s given me ideas on what he wants, and I am working on a design as we speak. It’s pretty straight forward. He wants the expansion to be garden style rooms built into a large cabin. He also wants to redesign the old cabins. New window treatments, layouts, and furniture.” I pause, and my chin quivers as I try to get the next words out. “I don’t think it’s a good idea I’m here. Remember how I said I have history here?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Well, he’s still here.”
Chapter 4
Tristan
The meeting did not go as expected. I run my fingers through my hair, tugging on the ends in frustration. I don’t know how I expected it to go. I guess I thought she was going to be excited about my idea.No, I thought she would act like she did ten years ago when I first told her about owning the ranch.I wanted her hazel eyes to light up in excitement, and for her to tell me it’s the most amazing idea she’s heard.
Fuck.
My real problem is I’m so caught off guard with her being here. I expected some uppity Boston woman with a flair for design, not the one girl who can bring me to my knees with a simple look. She can’t be here. It’s going to ruin everything. She’s going to ruin me. I can still smell her sweet scent. It’s different than it was last time, her natural scent covered by some perfume. But I can still smell her under it. I remember her essence. It doesn’t make any sense.
Holden sits in a chair next to me, waiting for me to say something. I want to wring his neck for asking her to stay, but I also don’t want her to stay anywhere else, so I’m grateful he opened his big mouth. When I keep quiet, he dares to speak first. “How’d it go?”
I glance at him, seeing the shit-eating grin plastered on his face. I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I never thought I’d see her again in a million years. I figured she’d be dating some pompous asshole, planning her wedding by now.” I look out into the driveway, staring at nothing as I contemplate telling him the next part. “I can’t do this, Holden. I can’t have her so close to me and not be able to do a damn thing about it. Why did you ask her to stay?”
“Tristan, I saw how much this girl ruined you. I know you were trying to do what’s best for her, but it killed you in the process. I hoped that, if she stayed here, the two of you would be able to work things out. It’s fucking ironic if you ask me. You hired a company from Boston, and they sent her.”
“There’s nothing to work out between us. I did what I was told to do. I don’t need the distraction right now. Things are tough around here, and I need this project to move forward without any hitches. She’s just the designer, nothing more.” I sigh and glance up as an SUV comes up the driveway.
I wave as Kasey parks the car. She gets out and waves back at me. “Hey, guys. I wanted to get some new pictures of the horses and the land today. The cloud coverage is neat. I think it will make for some good pictures.”
She reaches into the back seat for her camera bag and unstraps the toddler from her carseat. She bounds over to us, her red curly hair bouncing with each step she takes. Her pink tutu sways around her tiny legs. She doesn’t stop until she slams into me, and I pick her up, blowing a raspberry on her cheek. Her giggles make me smile as I put her on her feet again.
“Maddie couldn’t wait to see Uncle Tristan and Uncle Holden. She wants to see the horses, too,” Kasey says, smiling at the two of us. “Right, Maddie?”
The little girl nods her head in excitement. “I wanna ride one, Momma,” she says.
“When you’re bigger, baby,” she says. Maddie reaches for me again, and I pick her up, holding her on my hip.
Lana walks in our direction, holding a notebook to her chest, and she stops mid-step when she spots Kasey and me. Her eyes dart to Kasey and Maddie, then back to me. For a second, I see the pain covering her features. It’s like she has it all figured out, but she couldn’t be more wrong. She schools her features and continues on her path to me.
