“Yes. I’ve put them in the safe up at the Manor,” he said, deliberately misunderstanding him.
“And?”
Blake chuckled and put him out of his misery. “And I think you’ve done an admirable job of running with this project.”
Gavin began to smile with relief. “You do?”
“The intensive feasibility studies, as well as the building site and sustainability analysis reports you’ve put together, are impressive. But then, so were the ones you did for my Vegas hotels.”
Gavin’s grin widened. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”
Blake indicated the coffeepot on the bench. “Grab yourself a coffee.”
Gavin straightened away from the door and went to get a mug. “You know,” he said, pouring himself a drink. “I’ve really welcomed this challenge.”
“I can see that.”
Gavin shrugged shoulders made impressive by many hours working with his crew on various construction sites. “It’s nice to be home and together again as a family after so long, but I’m glad I don’t have to pamper people on a daily basis. It really isn’t my style.”
Blake nodded. “You’re a first-rate construction engineer, Gav, but I agree. There’s nothing like doing something you love.”
Gavin smiled, looking pleased. “You said it, brother.”
“Seriously. I’m proud of you.”
“You getting soft in your old age, Blake?” he teased.
“Probably.” Blake was proud of all his brothers and sisters. Well, his half sister, Erica, was another matter.
All at once, Gavin’s smile left him. “You realize Dad would never have said such a thing.”
Blake grimaced. “I like to think I’m not quite as cold as the old man.”
There was a moment’s silence as they both remembered their father. Blake refused to feel anything for the passing of a man who had shunned his children’s emotional well-being and so badly let them down. Donald Jarrod’s legacy had been more than the Jarrod Ridge Resort. It had been a legacy that his children keep their emotions on ice, avoiding personal commitment. And while both Guy and Melissa had found true happiness with Avery and Shane, Blake couldn’t see it happening for himself. Not at all. Nor for Gavin or Trevor either. That was just the way it was.
“That reminds me,” Gavin said. “You’re working out of Dad’s old office now you’re CEO, so wouldn’t it be more convenient to be living at the Manor, as well? Why are you staying here at Pine Lodge instead?”
Blake shrugged. “Actually it’s more convenient to be staying here. That way I can keep my hotel operations separate from the resort stuff.” His hand tightened around the coffee mug. “Besides, even though Erica’s moved into Christian’s place, they both spend most of their time at the Manor during the day. I don’t want to encroach on their territory. You know what newly engaged couples are like.”
Gavin shot him a mocking smile. “Since when have you ever taken a backseat to anyone, big brother? Or are you still scared of our new half sister?”
Blake knew Gavin was riling him, getting him back for stringing it out a few minutes ago. “I was never scared of Erica, as you well know.”
“You’re going to have to get over your dislike of her one day, buddy.”
Blake felt an odd jolt. “I don’t dislike her. I just don’t totally trust her.”
Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “She really doesn’t have to prove anything more to us, Blake.” He paused. “But I guess it’s all for the best that you stay here anyway. Your new assistant might not get on with the rest of the family as well as Samantha does.” A speculative look entered his eyes. “Yeah, whoever is coming in as your new PA, it’ll be much easier for them to keep the two businesses separate if you both stay here.”
Blake’s jaw clenched. He refused to even think about Samantha leaving, or someone coming in to replace her. And why was he surprised that word had gotten around the family? Samantha had said she didn’t want anyone to know, but obviously she’d told one person at least. It had to have been Erica. No doubt the two had shared some girl talk yesterday while they’d been shopping together.
“Samantha is not leaving,” he said tightly.
“That’s not what I’m hearing.”
“Shut up, Gav.” He slammed down his half-empty coffee mug. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do.” He strode past his brother and out of the kitchen.
As he entered the living room, he heard a noise outside. He glanced through the picture window. Samantha wasn’t in bed asleep like he’d thought. She was standing on the bottom step of the lodge, dressed in warm clothes and a woolen hat, talking to a man who no doubt was one of the guests at the hotel. She must have gone up to the Manor to eat breakfast, probably with her doctor friend, and this guy must have followed her back like a lost puppy. No, make that a raccoon.
He heard her give a lilting laugh and his mouth flattened. The guy was in his forties and looked sleazy to Blake. And hell, Samantha looked like she was flirting with him. Didn’t she have any sense when it came to men? The sooner he showed her what it was like to make love to him, the better.
“Look at that,” Gavin murmured in his ear. “I think someone else may be working today…on Samantha.”
Blake glared at him, then strode over and pulled open the front door in a rush. If she was going to flirt it would be with him.
“How about us going for a scenic drive?” the man was saying. “Maybe even do lunch in town? I know it’s pretty quiet at this time of year, but we should be able to find somewhere to eat. What do you think?”
“I—”
“I think I need to speak to my assistant,” Blake cut across her as he stepped out on the porch. They spun to look up at him. “Samantha, I need you to make some calls to Vegas for me.”
She sent him an annoyed look, making it clear she didn’t like the interruption. “Blake, it’s Sunday and most of the offices are closed. It’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
He had the urge to remind her that last night he could easily have taken her to his bed. She wouldn’t have minded that interruption, he was sure. “Then I need you to help me with something else.”
Her lips tightened. “So I’m not going to get any time off now until I leave?”
“No.” He turned to go inside and waited but realized she wasn’t behind him. “Coming, Samantha?”
Her chin tilted stubbornly. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
Blake saw Gavin’s look of amusement as his brother pushed through the doorway then descended the stairs two at a time, calling out a greeting to the pair as he left.
Blake went back inside. He didn’t hear her following. Counting to ten, he waited but he could see her still standing there chatting. At that moment something occurred to him. Wasn’t it strange that she’d been jumpy with him last night, yet she seemed perfectly at ease with Mr. Sleazy down there? And what about last night with the doc? She hadn’t seemed nervous around the guy.
So what did that tell him? That she was flirting with men she considered safe? Which meant she must feel nothing for them, he mused. Nothing at all. The thought filled him with relief.
As for what she was feeling for him…there was definitely something between them. Yeah, she knew they’d be explosive together in bed.
And that begged the question. Just how far was she prepared to go to fight her desire for him? More importantly right now, did she have any idea what she was inviting by leading those other two men on?
Making a decision, Blake pulled on his jacket and boots, grabbed his car keys and strode back out into the chilly air. “I need to go check on something,” he said, going down the stairs, “and I want you to come with me, Samantha.” He bared his teeth at the other man in the semblance of a smile. “Sorry, buddy, but I need my assistant.”
“Blake—” she began.
“This is important.” He cupped her elbow and began leading her toward the side of the lodge to the garage where he kept his black Cadillac SUV.
She glanced over her shoulder and called out to the other man. “I’ll talk to you when I get back, Ralph.”
Blake gave a snort as he clicked the remote to open the garage door.
“What was that for?” Samantha hissed, hurrying to keep up.
“I hope you’re not thinking of dating Ralph. The guy’s old enough to be your father. Hell, he’s even got a name to match.”
She hid her satisfaction. “Perhaps I’m attracted to older men?”
He sent her a knowing look. “Then you’d better not dress like you did last night. He doesn’t look like his old ticker could handle a woman, let alone a sexy one like yourself.”
Her own “ticker” jumped around inside her chest and she tried not to blush. She loved hearing that Blake thought her sexy, though she wasn’t sure why he was looking so confident all of a sudden. Still, this time she wasn’t going to run away from him if he made a move on her. No repeat of last night, she told herself firmly.
They entered the garage, but it was only after she slid onto the passenger seat of the SUV and was putting on her seat belt did she remember something. “Didn’t you say this vehicle had an oil leak?”
Blake smirked at her. “Here’s the thing. I took another look earlier and it wasn’t leaking after all. The problem must have been with someone else’s car.”
“Now there’s a surprise.”
“It was to me, too,” he drawled, starting the engine.
No wonder he looked pleased with himself, she decided. He’d orchestrated the “poor me” routine last night over the oil leak, and now he’d put a stop to her going out with Ralph. Not that Ralph was her type, though he seemed very nice, but he was a man and one she could flirt with for Blake’s benefit.
Once the vehicle had warmed up, she took off her gloves as he reversed out of the garage.
“Where are we going?” she asked, when he started along the narrow road lined with thick trees, and it became clear they were heading for the main entrance to the resort.
“You’ll see.”
For a second she dared hope this might be about spending some time alone together away from everyone else. “Is this really about work?”
“What else?”
Disappointment wound its way through her. They were clearly still employer and employee. Had last night merely been an aberration on his part because of the late night and close proximity? Was this once again about Blake trying to stop her from leaving her job, rather than him actually wanting her?
Back to square one.
Soon Blake was driving past the two stone pillars with the brass Jarrod Ridge Resort sign, and turning the SUV onto the main road but in the other direction of town. At this time on a Sunday morning there wasn’t much traffic and further along he took another turn onto a side road. She wondered where they were going as they drove through stunning natural scenery filled with golden fall colors that would soon disappear under winter-white, but it was no use asking him again. Blake only did what he wanted to do and he would tell her only what he wanted her to know.