And that’s fine with me.”
“I can’t help wondering what she’s doing in Blackwater Lake.” Jill sipped her coffee. “It’s painfully obvious that she doesn’t fit in here.”
Ben noticed that people were looking curiously at her, but no one ventured over. She looked a little lost and the stubborn lift of her chin said she was trying not to be.
“I’m going to talk to her,” he said.
“Bad idea.” Cabot shook his head in warning.
“Why?”
“She’s way out of your league.”
“That would be a problem if I were looking for something serious.” He already knew that was a waste of time, because the lady had her sights set on bigger and more high-profile than here. “But there’s no harm in being friendly.”
“Yes, there is.” His friend looked like he’d rather take a sharp stick in the eye.
“I’d go with you and introduce myself,” Jill said, “but I have to get home. Although I’m sure Adam has everything under control.”
“And I have to pick up Ty and get him home. It’s a school night. And I’m your ride,” Cabot reminded her.
“That, too.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see you guys later.”
Cabot’s expression was filled with fraternal sympathy. “You’re a braver man than I am.”
Ben laughed and said his goodbyes, then picked up his coffee and dropped his empty dessert plate in the trash before heading in Cam’s direction.
There was relief in her eyes when he stopped in front of her. “Hi, Ben.”
“Cam.” He sipped cold coffee. “How are you?”
“Fine.”
He hadn’t seen her since yesterday morning when she’d broken up the housekeeping hostilities. “Is there a ceasefire at the lodge?”
“For Crystal and Patty there is.” That implied not so much with the rest of the staff. “I paired them with other people. They weren’t happy, but I pulled rank.”
“I think it was General Colin Powell who said that to be an effective leader, sometimes you have to tick people off.”
“I’d just settle for a little respect,” she said ruefully.
Ben wondered at the twinge of protectiveness he felt. This big-city girl was more than capable of looking after herself. Rich, beautiful and experienced, according to the press. But there was a look in her eyes, an expression that said she was a little out of her depth.
“So, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“I already told you—making the lodge profitable.”
“No, I meant why did you come to the Chamber of Commerce meeting?”
“Oh.” She shrugged and what that small movement did to her breasts in that tight-fitting jacket should be illegal. “I thought it couldn’t hurt to be here to see other business owners in action. Maybe it would spark marketing ideas in the mountain milieu. Promotion strategies for increasing spring and summer bookings. And get a jump on fall and holiday reservations.”
“Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks,” he agreed.
“Pretty much.” She tossed her half-empty cup in the trash beside the table. “I like Mayor Goodson. She’s smart to open up some of the town’s property for sale and development.”
“Maybe. It’s going to be a juggling act, though. Growing, but not so fast that we lose the qualities that make life here special.”
“Bigger means more people can enjoy special.”
“Not always,” he disagreed.
“For the sake of argument…Didn’t the mayor say that as far as health care escalation goes, right now a grant for the money to add on to Mercy Medical Clinic is the best she can do? An actual hospital needs enough of a population to support it. Bigger would be better for everyone.”
“That’s true. As much as I’d like to see it built, going too big too fast makes for a weak foundation that won’t support the existing residents. Everything collapses.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but before any words came out the lights went off and on. He looked around and noticed there were only a few people left in the room.
“I think they’re throwing us out,” he said.
“Looks that way.” She took a cell phone from the small purse hanging by a handle from her wrist. “I need to call a cab.”
“You don’t have a car?”
“Not one with four working tires. I had a flat. The good news is I noticed before leaving the lodge parking lot.”
That meant she took a cab here. “I’m surprised you went to the trouble of showing up.”
“I didn’t want to miss the meeting.”
Anything and everything possible to get the job done and move on, he thought. He’d moved on, made his mark, and when he did it felt as if something was missing. They said you could find anything in Las Vegas, but that wasn’t true for him. Contentment couldn’t be bought at a highend store on the Strip. But clearly Cam had things to do, places to go. Except right now she didn’t have the wheels to get there.
She started to press numbers on her phone. To call a cab.
“I’ll drive you back to the lodge,” he said.
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“There was no asking involved. I offered. Seems silly to pay for a ride when we’re both going to the same place.”
She smiled for the first time and it was like sunshine. “I’d appreciate that very much. Thanks.”
“Okay.” He pointed to the rear exit. “I’m in the back lot.”
They walked side by side through the room and outside. His Mercedes SUV was one of the last cars there. He pressed the button on his keys to unlock the doors and the lights flashed.
“Nice car,” she said.
“Thanks. I like it.” He opened the passenger door for her.
She hesitated, obviously wondering how to get in without flashing the goods. He was going to hell but couldn’t stop the anticipation coiling inside while he waited for her to maneuver up and in with that short skirt.
“Thank goodness for running boards,” she said.
Lifting one foot, she stepped on it and took the hand hold just inside, then settled her butt on the seat. She swung her legs in and reached for the seat belt.
Ben hadn’t seen much more than everyone at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. Maybe a couple extra inches of bare thigh, but that was it. Disappointment snaked through him along with a growing desire to see what she looked like out of that chic suit clinging to every curve. That wasn’t likely and it was the kind of regret a guy would carry for a long time.
“Nicely done, Miss Halliday.”
“Thank you, Dr. McKnight.”
He shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, then got in and started the car. A few minutes later he parked at the lodge and they walked into the lobby with its big stone fireplace, cushy leather couch and chairs and the reception desk off to one side. When he started for the elevator, he assumed she’d be coming, too. Their rooms were side by side.
“This is where I say good-night.”
“You’re not going up?” he asked.
“Later.