Montana Seduction

“That’s my call and for now, Mirage is still mine. I’m sure in the next two weeks you will figure out a way to have my suite available.”

“You can stay in mine,” she offered. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“Don’t be absurd.”

Stella took a seat in her chair and immediately realized her mistake. Now that she was down, she didn’t want to get back up.

“If someone cancels, I’ll be sure to put your name on that room,” she promised. “But for now I need to go unless there’s something else you needed.”

“There is one more thing.”

Stella’s eyes scanned the security cameras at the front desk, the lobby, the public decks, and the front entrance. The security cameras in her office had all angles of the resort, save for the suites and the fantasy rooms.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“I was offered a great deal of money to sell.”

Stella’s heart clenched, her breath caught in her throat and she stilled, afraid to move, desperately praying she’d heard wrong.

“I’ve turned the would-be buyer down,” he added. There was something akin to gloating and arrogance to his tone. “But I’ve been wondering if you’d rather have a nest egg than a business. You could always take the money and invest, travel around the world, or even start up your own place.”

Stella rested her elbows on her desk and rubbed her forehead as she pulled in a shaky breath. So that’s what all of this was. Everything in his life was still about money. He’d never change, likely he never intended to give her this property. But that wouldn’t stop her from pushing forward and making sure her reputation remained impeccable.

She owed that to the single mom who’d started this. A strong woman who had a vision, a passion. Stella might not have much in common with Lara as far as family life went, but she understood drive and determination.

“I don’t want the money,” she explained. “At the end of this six-month experiment, I want the resort. I know I’m not the son you wanted, or the perfect business partner, but I’ve never given up on us.”

She bit her lip the second she realized it was quivering and she was close to losing it.

“I just want a chance,” she stated, once she got control of her emotions. “I’ve tried for so long to please you. What will it take?”

Silence on the other end had her glancing to the screen to make sure they were still connected.

“I never said you didn’t please me,” her father finally said. “And rehashing the past won’t change a thing.”

“Rehashing the past? You mean discussing my mom? Because anytime I try to talk about her, you shut the topic down.”

“Stella, I will not discuss this now,” he reprimanded. “I believe you have things to do. I will see you in two weeks.”

He disconnected the call, leaving her emotions in even more of a jumbled mess than before. She hadn’t meant to bring up her mom, but sometimes it just happened. She’d always wondered about her, wanted to see photos of her, hear stories about what she’d been like. But there had been nothing. No photos, no stories. Ruiz had shut completely down.

How did the man deal with grief or pain if he never faced it?

Laying her phone down, Stella ran her hands over her face and took long, slow breaths to calm herself down. Leaving her office upset was not in keeping with the professional front she wanted anyone to see.

She smoothed her hair back from her face and started to stand, but stilled when she spotted Dane on the screen. He was actually outside on one of the covered patio areas. He wore a pair of jeans and a thick, wool coat. He was talking on his cell and staring out at the swirling snow. Whoever he was talking to had him shaking his head and gesturing with his free hand.

This was none of her business. She had no real ties to him, no reason to expect to be allowed some insight into his life. Yet she continued to stare. When he raked a hand over the back of his neck, Stella sank back into her chair and wondered who or what had him so upset. This wasn’t the laid-back man who had pleasured her multiple times. This certainly wasn’t the guy who had a life motto of “it will all work out.”

She’d seen only the very sexy, very giving side of Dane Michaels. Who was he really? A rancher and ex-military, but that’s all she knew.

On the screen she watched as he ended the call and pocketed his cell. Realizing she’d been staring for quite a while, Stella grabbed her own phone and came to her feet. Lunch had just passed and she hadn’t grabbed a bite. She’d swing through the kitchen, make sure they were all set for dinner and the wine and cheese hour and pick something up for herself really quickly.

Maybe she should go ahead and plan a dinner for her room again. They had nowhere else to go and she wanted to take time for herself. If her father was seriously making a visit in a couple weeks, Stella was taking her reward now for the headache she’d have later.

Her cell chimed again, this time a text from the employee who kept the private hot tub areas maintained between guests.

Apparently the guests were requesting a special bottle of pinot noir and not the regular house white that was kept in that area.