Taming the Moguls (20 page)

Chapter 39

Lyle cautiously opened the cabin door and
peeked inside. The den was empty, the kitchen bare, and Kevin’s
door closed. Lyle stepped in, closed the door, and figured his
brother and Shiloh were still asleep. He’d seen her car in the
drive and figured she’d spent the night. About time. Maybe Kevin
wouldn’t be in such a bad mood.

He heard feminine giggles as he passed his
old office and went to his room. He was relieved they’d made up. As
Lyle marched head first into marriage, he was unsettled by the idea
that his brother was having trouble with his. Kevin didn’t know
what to do or how to act without Shiloh. With her car in the drive
and her voice seeping through the walls, Lyle felt everything was
right in his world.

He changed into running attire and laced his
shoes up in the den. Shiloh came out wearing her wrinkled clothes
from the night before, and Kevin sauntered out behind her wearing
jeans and no shirt.

“Good morning,” Shiloh said.

“Morning.” Lyle nodded. Kevin went into the
kitchen to make coffee while Shiloh fussed with the blanket that
had fallen off the back of the couch.

Shiloh studied him with a furrowed brow.
“You’re running in this weather?”

“Yep.”

She looked out the window and squinted
against the sun. “There’s snow on the ground.”

“Not much. The mountains got blasted, but
there’s barely an inch here.”

“Doesn’t the cold air hurt your lungs?”

“Not really. It’s refreshing, like a cup of
strong coffee or a round of morning nookie.”

She blushed. “Okay, I think I see the
appeal.”

“Thought you might.”

Kevin delivered a steaming cup of coffee to
Shiloh, and she kissed him on the lips. “Do you have a to-go cup?”
she asked.

Kevin’s face fell. “You’re leaving?
Already?”

“You’ve got to get to work, and I want to get
home, shower and change, and go talk to Mrs. Lyons at the bank
before she gives the job to someone else.” She glanced over her
shoulder at Lyle. “I’ll be back tonight, if that’s okay.”

“Fine by me.” Lyle had never understood why
Kevin hadn’t asked her to stay before.

“I’ll walk you out.” Kevin grabbed a jacket
from the peg by the door. They disappeared outside. A few minutes
later, Lyle was just about to leave for his run when Kevin pushed
him back inside. “I want to talk to you for a minute.”

“Can’t it wait?” Lyle asked. He was itching
to get started.

“No. It won’t take long.”

Lyle sat on the couch while Kevin paced in
front of the fireplace. “What gives? I thought you’d be in a good
mood since you finally banged your wife.”

Kevin stopped pacing and put his hands on his
hips. “I don’t bang my wife.”

“Sorry. Nail? Pleasure? Make love?”

“Do you nail Erica?”

Lyle’s face fell. “Okay, point taken.”

“I need a favor.”

“I said she could stay,” Lyle said. “You’re
the one who wouldn’t ask.”

“You’re sure? It’s going to get awfully cozy
in here.”

“I can bunk with Erica if Shiloh gets on my
nerves.”

“You’re being very agreeable this morning,”
Kevin said.

“I’m in love with a beautiful, fascinating
woman. I enjoy my work. What’s not to be agreeable about?”

Kevin sat on the couch next to Lyle. “So
you’re finally going to admit you love her.”

“Of course I love her. She’s perfect. There
isn’t a thing about her I don’t love.”

“You got it bad.”

“And I’m not letting her go. We’re getting
married.”

“Whoa, married? How long have you known her?”
Kevin asked.

“Long enough. Don’t say anything to anyone
yet. I haven’t even told Mom.”

“You think she’s going to freak?”

“No. I don’t think so, but I don’t want her
hearing about it from you,” Lyle said.

“When are you going to tell her?”

“I want to get Erica a ring. A nice one. I
should have enough after I turn the book in. It won’t feel real
until then.”

“If you asked and she said yes, it’s real.”
Kevin slapped Lyle on the shoulder. “Congratulations, man. I
thought you’d hold out a little longer, but I guess us Woodward men
see what we want and go after it.”

“She’s what I want. She’s what I’ve always
wanted.”

“Then I’m happy for you. Life’s better,
sweeter, when you can share it with someone you love. Being without
Shi these last few weeks has been tough.”

“I take it you’re back together?” Lyle
asked.

“Until I leave for ag aviation training.”

“Manny’s gone?”

“Yep, and the job’s mine, but I’ve got to get
certified first.”

“Skip can’t do it?” Lyle asked.

“Nope. Gotta be official. There’s a school in
Louisiana. Classes start after the first of the year. I’ll need you
to look out for Shi when I’m gone.”

“No problem. Are you sure this is what you
want? I thought once you left the valley, you wouldn’t be
back.”

“I’m back,” Kevin said. “Back for good. This
feels right. It’s home. We’ll settle here, start a family. I feel
really good about this.”

“The nookie helps clarify things.”

Kevin chuckled. “Damn straight it does.”

Chapter 40

Gretchen woke up and blinked against the sun
shining through the window onto her face. It wasn’t until she moved
that she realized she wasn’t resting against the floor or a blanket
but a leg. Tommy’s leg. For all intents and purposes, she was
sprawled on his lap.

She felt his hand at her hip and jolted. His
hand fell away as she sat up.

“Good morning,” he said. “You look better.
How do you feel?”

She couldn’t imagine how bad she looked with
her eyes swollen from crying and her hair in tangles. “I feel okay.
I’m sorry for falling asleep. I’m not even sure how that
happened.”

“You don’t owe me an apology. You were
exhausted, emotionally and physically. I’m sorry I made you upset.”
She shrugged and rubbed her arms. “Are you cold?”

“No. It’s warm in here now.”

He bent his legs and eased onto his knees.
They popped as he stood, proving that he’d been trapped underneath
her for God only knew how long.

“Where are you going?” Gretchen asked.

“You need to eat. Your stomach was growling
while you slept.”

“You don’t have to wait on me.” She tried to
stand, but dizziness took over and she slumped onto the couch.

“Sit down and don’t move. I don’t mind.”

“I mind. I’m not used to being waited
on.”

“That’s going to change.” Her head snapped up
and she tried to understand his comment as he opened the cupboards
and surveyed the contents. “We’ve got more soup, some chili, green
beans, peaches, and jackpot: oatmeal. How does a bowl of oatmeal
sound?”

“Sounds better than chili.”

“That’s on the dinner menu.”

She glanced at the window and was blinded by
the light. “There’s no chance of getting out of here today?”

“Not unless a snow plow comes down this lane.
I’d be surprised if it even comes up the main road. Snow’s piled as
high as my tires.”

She could only think of Alex and how he’d
wonder why she hadn’t called. Would Robert and Elise be
worried?

“You’re worried about Alex,” Tommy said.

“Yes. He’s fine with Robert and Elise, but
he’ll wonder why I haven’t called.”

“You will, as soon as we’re back.”

“How are we going to explain this? No matter
what we say, it’s going to look bad.”

Tommy carried another pan and wooden spoon
into the den. He sat on the hearth and stoked the fire. “We tell
the truth. We can’t help what it looks like. We came up to look at
Bear Stream.”

“As a storm was approaching? Near
nightfall?”

Tommy sighed. “Not my smartest move, but I
wasn’t thinking straight.”

“You were mad at me.”

“I was. I’m not anymore.”

She hung her head and wished for a cup of
coffee. A steaming hot cup of coffee. “Now you feel sorry for me. I
think I prefer your anger.”

He held the pan over the newly stoked flames
but looked directly into her eyes. “Gretchen, I feel a number of
things for you, and right near the top is admiration. Pity doesn’t
come anywhere close.” He looked away as blood rushed to her cheeks.
“The anger’s still there. It’s just not directed at you
anymore.”

“We’re still adversaries when it comes to
Bear Stream. I believe the development would help the valley, or I
wouldn’t be here.”

“We disagree. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Honestly, I don’t give a damn about the development right now.”

“What do you mean?” She watched him stir the
oatmeal and wondered what was going through that complicated head
of his. He knew every piece of humiliating information about her
life. He may say he admired her, but pity wasn’t too far behind.
“Holcomb’s willing to compromise. He’ll consider a smaller number
of units and less commercial space.”

Tommy raised his brows. “I didn’t think
Holcomb would compromise. He’s bulldozed his way through so far.
What makes you think he’d go smaller?”

“He wants this deal. With the level of
opposition from STS and the environmental groups, he’s willing to
consider making Bear Stream a boutique development.”

“Boutique? Honey, if you want to sell a
smaller development to the valley, you need to come up with a
different term than boutique. Sounds like you’re selling a dress
shop.”

When she chuckled, the headache that
threatened at the back of her skull moved front and center. She
rubbed her temples and glanced at him. He was watching her closely.
“What?”

“You have a headache?” he asked.

“It’ll pass after I eat.”

He stirred the oatmeal. “Just about ready.
Good news, I spotted some brown sugar in the cupboard.”

“My favorite,” she said.

“I know.” He carried the pan to the kitchen,
doctored it with brown sugar, and delivered hers to where she sat
on the couch.

“You’re spoiling me,” she said as she took a
tentative bite.

“You deserve some spoiling.” He took a bite
and nodded. “How much smaller?”

“Bear Stream?” she asked. “I’d say a quarter
the number of residential units, two hotels, and half the
commercial space.”

Tommy choked on his swallow of water. “That’s
quite a jump from the original numbers. Was this a set up?”

“No. He fights big and settles for what can
pass. So, what do you say?”

“I might be able to sell that. If I still
have a dog in the fight.”

“Because of this little outing?”

He shook his head. “There’s a guy with STS.
He doesn’t exactly play fair.”

“In what way?”

“He did some digging on you. He discovered
your marriage to Ryan and the quick divorce. He wants to do more
digging.”

“Why? What is he hoping to find?” she
asked.

“Anything he can use to blackmail you out of
the deal. He wanted to keep looking, but I told him I wouldn’t use
whatever he found. I won’t be surprised if STS asks me to step
down. If they keep digging, they’ll discover our connection.”

“How do you know they haven’t already?”

“I read the file. It’s how I knew about
Alex.”

So he didn’t condone the digging, but he read
the results. “I see.”

Tommy said, “I didn’t want to read it. I told
him not to do any digging, and not because I was afraid he would
discover our past. I don’t operate that way.”

“But you read it.”

“He left the file at the ski shop. I took it
home so no one would find it, and, yes, I read it. I didn’t know
you’d divorced, and I didn’t know you’d had a child. When Patrick
mentioned it, I couldn’t help but read and discover for
myself.”

“I still don’t understand. What would he use
to blackmail me?”

“Your connection to Lowry. He’s a public
figure. You divorced quickly and quietly. He thinks there’s
something there.”

“There is something there, but he won’t find
it. If I had proof against Ryan, I’d have used it myself.” They ate
in silence as Gretchen digested not only the food but the
information Tommy shared. She didn’t like the idea of anyone
digging into her past.

“Do you think Holcomb would be willing to go
even smaller?” Tommy asked. “Say one hotel and two hundred and
fifty residential units?”

“Only one hotel?”

“You want boutique? That would do it.”

She sighed. “I could ask. If you think that
would settle with the residents, he might be willing to go that
low. He’s invested too much time and energy to walk away with
nothing.”

“That wouldn’t be nothing. It would change
the valley for sure, but hopefully in a way we could manage.”

“It would help your businesses. You have to
know you’d benefit.”

“I would, but the cost might be too high.” He
ran a hand over his face. He was tired. They were both running on
fumes. “Someone told me once you can’t stop progress. I’m starting
to think he was right. Maybe managed progress is the best we can
hope for.”

Gretchen sighed. “If we ever get out of here,
I’ll run it by Holcomb. Do you think STS would be on board with a
smaller development?”

“Yes, I do. Let’s hope we have some
credibility left to negotiate with when this is over.” He dropped
his spoon in the empty bowl. “How’s the head?”

“Better. I’d kill for a toothbrush right
now.”

“I found a new pack in the bathroom and set
it next to the sink with the toothpaste.”

“Hallelujah.” She set her bowl on the couch
to stand up, but Tommy hopped up, grabbed her arms, and helped her
to her feet.

His hands moved to her shoulders. “You
okay?”

“I’m fine, Tommy. You can stop worrying
now.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Before she
could brace herself or react, he gathered her into his arms. She
felt his heart beat strong and steady as his hands ran up and down
her back in soothing waves. She couldn’t remember the last time a
man had held her—unless she counted the crying jag she’d had hours
ago on the floor. Every nerve ending in her body sprang to life as
they swayed back and forth in an embrace. When he pulled back, he
leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Go brush your teeth. I’ll do
the dishes.”