Buch lesen: «Tall, Dark And Daring»

1

THE LAST TIME Tessa O’Neal had set foot in Lake Placid, New York, she’d been on a quest to lose her inhibitions. Now, as she strode through the Adirondack hotel eight years later, she was determined to win back every last one of them.

Shifting the bag of Florida oranges from her father’s groves on her hip, Tessa signed her name at the front desk. She always brought a bag of fresh citrus for her clients, and she figured it would help if she pretended this was just another marketing job.

A job that pitted her against the biggest temptation of her life.

Unfortunately, the four-star Hearthside Inn had been the site of many erotic interludes with Mitch. He’d worked in the pro shop the year they’d met, just about the time his career on the slopes had really taken off. His supreme confidence, his never-say-die attitude, had made Tessa feel more alive than ever before.

“Welcome, Ms. O’Neal.” The smiling desk attendant greeted her. The woman’s cable knit sweater and turtleneck looked at home in the Adirondack lobby with its oversize stone fireplace and sturdy pine furniture. “Mr. Ryder asked me to page him when you arrived.”

“He’s here?” Tessa battled a wave of panic. She’d known he was running his snowboard business from the hotel, but she hadn’t thought he might be working on a Sunday. She definitely wasn’t ready to see him yet.

“He’s here most of the time during the winter months. Want me to ring him for you?” She reached for the phone.

Tessa almost leaped across the counter. “No!” She succeeded in laying her hand over top of the woman’s fingers to prevent her from picking up the receiver. Tessa smiled apologetically and let go. “I mean, that’s okay. Just tell me where his office is located so I’ll know.”

“His rooms are just down this corridor to the left.” The clerk pointed.

Tessa thanked her and purposely walked in the other direction. Right now, as long as she knew Mitch was occupied in his office, she’d just check out the mountain view from the patio for nostalgia’s sake.

And to see if the back deck still encased the huge hot tub where she and Mitch used to watch the snowfall and gaze at the stars. Not that she was thinking of Mitch, she assured herself, just the beauty of those starry nights and how it had felt to have snow fall on her nose while hot bubbles tickled the rest of her.

Or had that been Mitch’s fingers?

She adjusted her sack of heavy oranges one more time as she clicked her way across the hardwood floors. Rounding the corner of the downstairs bar, Tessa heard laughter from the afternoon patrons. She thought she knew where she was going until sunshine from a wall of windows blinded her.

For a moment, Tessa paused to squint in the bright light, disoriented. Where she’d expected to find a door to the deck, she discovered a new addition to the Hearthside. A massive sunroom enclosed the outdoor oasis she had remembered, encasing the former patio area in glass.

The huge, sunken hot tub rested indoors, its continuous gurgle creating a rumbling backdrop of white noise. Its steamy depths fogged up a strip of window-panes, but above the opaque area of the glass, Tessa caught her first glimpse of skiers tearing down Mount Van Hoevenberg and the towering pines that dotted the slopes.

Her interest in the scenery outside lasted all of a second, however.

Just about the time it took for a familiar laugh to draw her attention to the hot tub and three bikini-clad snow bunnies vying for the attention of one very content-looking male who sprawled in the water like a pampered Poseidon.

And no wonder the mermaid trio romped around the tub for his amusement. Even some ten feet away, Tessa took a step back from the sheer impact of the man, and she’d been semi-prepared to face him again.

Mitch Ryder—her off-limits boss for the next six days.

His eyes were closed as if in heady abandon, but the rest of his face looked as if it could have been carved from an Adirondack mountainside. High cheekbones and a square jaw made him appear fiercely male, but he smiled too often for him to look truly dangerous. Dark hair lay in one slick wave over his head.

Only his face and shoulders were visible above the water, leaving her hungry for a better view.

She recalled once when she’d sat in this same hot tub with him. He’d been naked beneath the water. The idea sizzled over her, turning her as warm and liquid as the bubbling bath. She doubted he’d be cavorting around the Hearthside naked in the middle of the afternoon, but she found herself straining for a peek into the blue depths anyhow.

Oh, no.

What was she doing?

Eight years later, she acted as moonstruck as ever around Mitch. Maybe she could sneak away now and he’d never notice. She would tell herself it had been a good thing to get her first viewing out of the way so she wouldn’t be so cow-eyed tomorrow when they officially met.

It was a great idea.

In fact, she loved the idea.

Too bad her damn high heels were glued to the floor.

Before she could unstick her feet to make her exit, he moved. In a flash of sluicing water and flexing muscle, Mitch hoisted himself up onto the ledge of the pool and took a seat.

Tessa covered the involuntary squeal that rose to her lips. Whether she’d turned into a giddy coed because she could now see more of him or because he’d opened his eyes and might see her, she couldn’t say.

But she refused to let her hormones hold her hostage.

She made a fast turn on her heel before she could change her mind, forgetting all about the oranges. The netting sack swung wide and pulled loose from her arm.

She watched in slow-motion horror as her citrus bounced and hopped in a cheerful orange beeline for the hot tub.

Tessa stood motionless as the first piece of fruit splashed into the pool right beside a redheaded mermaid. Mitch’s gaze swung toward the orange and then to the impromptu citrus parade.

And then to her.

She gulped. Maybe she gasped. She searched for words and air and a small scrap of dignity to confront him with, because she definitely wasn’t going to stand here acting like one of his groupies.

Striding forward, she managed a confident step that would have made Ines proud. Too bad Mitch chose that moment to rise to his feet.

She couldn’t have looked him in the eye if her career depended on it. Her gaze wandered a slow path upward from his long feet to his lightly furred calves. His muscular thighs to his…swimsuit. The rippled plane of his stomach to tightened male nipples.

A memory of tasting his flesh in that very spot prompted her to lick her lips.

“Mitch.” She breathed the word, unable to find her voice now that she stared into familiar gray eyes that had long dominated her fantasies.

“Hello, Tessa.” His voice raked over her senses like fingernails on a lover’s back. “Welcome back.”

The steam from the hot tub seemed to kick up a few sultry degrees. It took all of Tessa’s restraint not to loosen the belt of her trench coat.

“I didn’t expect you here until tomorrow,” she remarked, wishing she hadn’t allowed herself such a long survey of him. She’d already catalogued way too many enticements. “I thought you moved to Tahoe,” she blurted, needing to fill the sexually charged air around them with something besides her heavy breathing.

He grinned as he bent to retrieve her fruit. “Been checking up on me?”

Heat climbed her cheeks. He still possessed that slow, sexy smile. The one that had made her heart do back flips and her mouth go dry.

“Hardly.” She knelt beside him and carefully avoided any random hand brushing as they picked up her oranges and put them in the sack. “I read about your accident in the papers, and they mentioned you were moving back to the States to recover.” She wouldn’t mention she’d scanned several articles to glean that much information, or that she’d been panicked when she heard he’d taken a bad fall down some Alpine mountain. “Are you okay?”

Now that they’d finished gathering her oranges, she and Mitch both stood.

Tessa tried not to stare at the broad expanse of his glistening chest.

“I’m better now that you’re here.” He reached for a towel and slung it around his waist. “Shall we head over to my office to talk?”

She had no choice but to agree. If they were going to plow through a week’s worth of business, she couldn’t afford to avoid him. But the temptation of she and Mitch in a private place sounded very dangerous for her dare…and her peace of mind. “I’m ready when you are.”

Closing her eyes to shut out visions of Mitch’s tanned skin, she sent up a prayer for some major inhibitions.

MITCH THANKED GOD he’d found a towel when he had, or Tessa would have seen rapid evidence of just how much he still wanted her.

He hadn’t expected her until tomorrow or he never would have let her catch him lazing in the hot tub with the latest batch of bubbleheaded college girls to descend on the hotel. He’d snuck in when the pool was empty to give his knee some much needed therapy time. Could he help it if the coed crowd cornered him?

Some timing for Tessa’s arrival.

He took her elbow and propelled her forward through the bar before she had a chance to protest. He had to do something to break that provocative, lingering stare of hers—the one that turned him on as much as if she’d touched him.

Even now, electricity zinged from her body to his hand, no matter how slight his touch.

She pivoted on her heel, swinging the sack of oranges into his shin. “Sorry!” She flashed him an apologetic smile.

He relieved her of the bag before she hurt someone.

“Those are for you, anyway,” she informed him as she handed over the fruit. “Sort of a hello from the Sunshine State.”

The Sunshine State had already been more than generous to him today. “Thank you.” He took a step forward, eager to retire to the privacy of his office.

Not that he minded traipsing around the Hearth-side in swim trunks—it certainly wouldn’t be the first time—but he wanted to go somewhere quiet to talk to her, stare at her, convince her to have dinner with him…

She didn’t follow his lead. Her feet remain rooted to the hardwood floor. “Would you rather just wait to talk until tomorrow?”

He shook his head. “Now is a great time.”

Those bright green eyes of hers took a quick voyage south. “Wouldn’t you like to, um, dress?”

He bit back a grin and the urge to give her the extended tour. “Only if you find me a distraction.”

She straightened, then charged down the hall ahead of him in a staccato of clicking heels. “Not in the least.”

He didn’t know how she knew where she was going, but Mitch walked behind her, enjoying the view.

He’d bet Mogul Ryders she still had a killer body under that monstrous trench coat. Trim little ankles peeked out from the long hem. The belt around her middle nipped a tiny waist. Her face was more interesting than pretty, with full lips and a slight crook in her freckled nose. But somehow it all worked. She was the hottest thing Mitch had laid eyes on since she’d skipped out of his life nearly a decade ago.

He also happened to know she was a single woman, courtesy of her boss at Westwood. He’d been absurdly glad to learn that piece of information.

Not that he had any intention of claiming her forever. He wasn’t any closer to being the stable kind of guy she wanted now than he had been eight years ago.

Still, he couldn’t help but hope he could claim this next week.

She paused outside his door and stared at the brass nameplate. “They let you put the name on the door?”

He opened the door to usher her inside. “What do you mean they? I bought this place two years ago.”

She gaped at him while he edged past her. “You own the Hearthside?”

“Long way up from pro-shop manager, huh?” He had to laugh. He still couldn’t believe he’d wrangled this prime piece of real estate from its former owner. But he had, and this business belonged to him as much as Mogul Ryders.

“I’ll say. Congratulations.” A new light glimmered in her green eyes. Respect. “I never would have taken you for the type of person who would spend enough time in one place to run a hotel.”

That single comment brought back a wealth of memories on why they hadn’t stayed together. He flipped on his computer screen and avoided her gaze. “A management group takes charge when I travel.”

“Oh.” She apparently thought his globe-trotting ways were as irresponsible as ever.

He flicked on the gas fireplace to heat the rooms. The temperature had definitely dropped a couple of degrees since they’d walked in his office. He thought of other, more pleasurable ways to generate some warmth, but they had to talk business first. With more than a little regret, he reminded himself he needed her brains more than her body.

For now.

“Have a seat.” He pulled a dry towel off the back of his desk chair and flung it on the seat so his suit didn’t soak the upholstery. “I appreciate you coming up here, Tessa. When I started searching for marketing help, I wasn’t expecting to find you. You’ve sure made your mark.”

Tessa had told him eight years ago that she wouldn’t travel with him because she wanted to do just that. Make her mark. He wondered if she was happy now that she’d achieved her goal.

She folded her coat carefully around her and took a seat across from him. “I travel a lot for my job. The trip wasn’t a problem.”

“I mean because of our history.” He wasn’t willing to act as if nothing had happened between them. She’d affected him too much for that.

Her eyes widened just a little, but she maintained her cool. “I assumed it wouldn’t be an issue.”

“Great. How about we get together for dinner later and we’ll go over Mogul Ryders’ business plan?”

She opened her mouth, but no words issued forth. On the second try, she managed, “Tonight?”

“The sooner the better, don’t you think?”

“I haven’t finished the marketing plan yet, though. Maybe if we wait—”

“Are we going to be able to work together on this, Tessa?” He eyed her with a level gaze, all thoughts of their past put aside for the moment. Sure he owed Ines Cordova big time for convincing Tessa to come to Lake Placid again—he hadn’t been able to get Tessa out of his head ever since his accident. But no matter what he hoped might transpire between him and Tessa on a personal level this week, he wouldn’t risk a misstep with the marketing.

“Of course we are. Didn’t you specifically request my help in getting your new product line off the ground?” She returned his gaze, and for a minute, Mitch spied the steely determination that had no doubt helped catapult her to the top of her field.

“I’ve heard you’re the best.” He leaned closer. “But if you’re going to find it difficult to work with me, maybe we shouldn’t go through with this.”

“It’s been eight years, Mitch.” She folded her arms across breasts he remembered all too well. “I think I’m over you.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “Good. Then you won’t mind having dinner with me tonight. How is seven o’clock?”

She puffed out a small sigh and smoothed her hand over a stray lock of blond hair. His hand itched to mess it up again.

“Seven is fine,” she said finally. “I just want to give you fair warning. I barely had time to repack my suitcase this weekend, let alone do thorough research. I really had intended on working alone tonight.”

Perhaps he frowned at that, because she waved her hands in an impatient gesture.

“I don’t mean to suggest this puts me behind on your account. You have my personal assurance that we’ll come up with just the right marketing strategy for Mogul Ryders.”

Mitch stood. “Okay. You want to take the nickel tour before I walk you upstairs?”

He pulled one of the hotel’s robes off the back of the bathroom door and tossed it around his shoulders. Since his half-dressed state hadn’t made her swoon in appreciation yet, he figured he might as well try another tack.

“I’ve kept my own findings and market research in here.” He opened the door to a second sitting area and wondered if she’d notice the room’s central furnishing. “Just help yourself to anything you might need.”

He gestured to the stacks of brochures and folders on the file cabinets, but Tessa barely gave them a glance. Her eyes were glued to their old make-out couch in the corner.

Her breath caught.

Her cheeks grew pink.

She gulped visibly.

Maybe their weeks together had been as memorable for her as they had been for him.

Although the green love seat used to reside in the library, site of many of their out-of-control kisses, he’d moved the small couch in his office when he bought the ski lodge. Perhaps he wasn’t really playing fair to tease her with it, but he couldn’t resist the temptation to see her reaction.

She looked so much more buttoned-up than she used to. So off-limits.

When he’d first met her, Tessa had searched for adventure around every corner. She was the only girl he’d ever dated who gladly let him teach her how to snowboard. And she’d taken to it like a pro. He doubted she’d ever be so daring now. In her trench coat and navy pumps, she looked more fit for the boardroom than the slopes.

She faced him, cool as you please in spite of the steamy memories the love seat from the library had to call to mind. “Why don’t you box up the files and send them to my room? In fact, I should probably settle in now so I can review my notes before tonight, Mitch. I really can compile a comprehensive plan for your company once I sit down and—”

“I know you can. That’s why I hired you.”

She arched a brow as if she didn’t believe him.

“If you think I hired you because of what happened between us, you’re wrong.” Mostly. “I requested you because you’re reputed to have one of the sharpest marketing minds on the Eastern seaboard.”

That much was true. He’d been amazed to read her bio.

He stood in front of her, making sure to leave enough space between them to reinforce his claim that he only brought her here for business. He couldn’t afford to scare her away. “I need an expert to help me make Mogul Ryders a blowout success.”

Ever since Mitch had lost his ability to compete on the slopes, he’d hung his voracious need to succeed on his business. Tessa would be his ticket to realizing his goals.

She looked him in the eye. “I can do it.”

He shook his head. He didn’t want to hear the pat assurances she’d reel off to any of her clients. “But you said you hadn’t fully researched my company. What if—”

“Frankly, Mitch, if you made snake oil, I could sell it for you with a kick-butt return on your investment.”

He couldn’t help a low whistle of admiration. The cool confidence in her gaze made him a believer. “Really?”

She grinned. “Really.”

Mitch nodded, pleased his company rested in good hands and strangely proud to think Tessa O’Neal had turned into a business dynamo. “Then I guess I’ll show you to your room and let you go to work.”

He ushered her out of his office and toward the elevator. He didn’t need to ask which room she was in. He’d chosen it himself. Number 326, the executive suite.

She shuffled a few of the papers under her arm. “I’ll have at least a portion of this mapped out by dinner. Shall we meet in the hotel restaurant?”

Mitch followed the progress of her stocking-clad ankles as she stepped on to the elevator. “How about we head over to MacRae’s?” he suggested, dropping the name of their favorite restaurant as he punched number three.

Frowning, she cinched the belt around her coat a little tighter. “I don’t know, Mitch. I—”

“They still fry up a mean lake trout.” His mind conjured a wayward image of Tessa in her tan trench coat with nothing on underneath it but high heels. He really shouldn’t torture himself like this.

“You should have gone into my field, Mitch,” she muttered as the elevator doors swished open. “Which way?”

He pointed down the hall. “I’ll take that as a yes?”

She didn’t say anything as she paused in front of her door and slid the key into the lock. When the green light appeared, she pushed her way inside then turned to face him. She stood there a moment, poised in the entry, propping the door open with her hip. “Yes.”

The word hit him with the force of a mogul at high speed—jolting his whole body and launching him through the air. God, but she packed a provocative punch.