“I’m hoping to lure him in within the next month,” Ethan replied. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“I’ll do the same from my end.” Dane cleared his throat. “We’re going to make this happen. For Mom.”
The void in Ethan’s heart throbbed. “For Mom,” he repeated.
And for us.
Five
Stella stifled the urge to breath a sigh of relief at how smoothly the morning had gone with the part-time chef. Thankfully she’d agreed to step up full-time and save Stella’s ass.
Considering it was only lunchtime on day one of the replacement, Stella wasn’t about to pull out the confetti and celebrate just yet. But she did feel some of the weight ease from her shoulders.
Granted she should be relaxed after that wine and those kisses last night from a virtual stranger, but that sexual tension...
She’d had friends in college who had had one-night stands and Stella had never understood how someone could tumble into bed with a person they’d just met.
Well, now she knew exactly why they didn’t let their inhibitions get in the way. Just the memory of that intimate moment had her body heated in ways she didn’t think possible.
Unfortunately, as much as she wanted to replay the events and tack on her own fantasies, there was too much work to be done.
Since the lunch rush seemed to be under control, Stella headed toward the front desk. Checkout time had passed an hour ago and they were due to get a new wave of couples. Every room was booked, which was always a good thing on a weekni
ght.
Since Stella had taken over, she’d been trying her hardest to make sure her marketing team kept pumping out information and waving the amenities around all over social media. The previous manager hadn’t been interested in growing the business, but rather staying behind his desk and remaining stagnant. All he cared about was that he got paid.
Well, that had put a damper on her father’s plans to watch cash just flood in, so Stella had jumped at the chance to not only manage this remarkable resort, but also show her father she was a worthy businesswoman.
She didn’t need his approval. She didn’t need his money. But she wanted his respect and she had a sickening feeling in her gut that she’d never get it. This was her last chance. She was done putting herself out there, basically waving around in his face all the ways that she was worthy to be in his world, his damn life. If he didn’t acknowledge her or treat her the way she deserved, then she’d be done.
Even if that would leave her officially alone. Over time she had come to the realization that perhaps she’d be better off alone than begging for attention or love from her own father.
Stella passed through the wide-open, four-story lobby. She never tired of the beauty of this place. Not only had Mirage been built with wood from the forest where the building stood, the place had been built around some of the old trees. Literally, there was a large, live ponderosa pine growing straight up through the middle of the lobby. It was quite a focal point for newcomers looking for a place to take selfies.
Besides the live trees randomly found inside the resort, there were windows absolutely everywhere. A breathtaking view was never farther than a glance in one direction or the other. Mountain views were the main reason Stella loved not staying behind her desk. She’d taken the smallest office, though she had a feeling her father had a hand in doling that area out to her.
Even though she was rushing from one crisis to another, at least she was surrounded by breathtaking splendor, so she wasn’t about to complain.
After Stella registered several people, she headed toward her office just to double-check on the couples currently on fantasy dates. No matter what the couple wanted, the discreet employees at Mirage worked overtime to make it happen.
In the short time she’d been there, she’d had some strange requests and some...risqué ones, as well. It was not her place to judge or try to understand people’s fetishes, but she had to admit sometimes she was intrigued.
And that intrigue only intensified when the thought of Dane Michaels flooded her mind. She couldn’t help but wonder what he’d think if she invited him to the Lumberjack Room or the Campfires and Corsets Room. No doubt she’d be in over her head, but part of her wanted to. She ached to get his hands on her.
But there would be no need for fantasy dates between her and the sexy rancher in the penthouse. That man was already like every single sexy dream she’d ever had come to life. If she wanted to try something daring, risky, adventurous, she had a feeling just sleeping with that man would embody all three.
Stella smoothed her hair behind her ears and let out a sigh as she rounded her desk. She didn’t bother taking a seat, there was never any time for such things. She cross-referenced her lists of guests and their requests, feeling reassured in her certainty that her staff could handle every need that was requested and any additional ones coming in.
Well, food and fantasies were covered for the next twenty-four hours. Maybe she would get through this day without a complete meltdown or catastrophe. One could hope.
Stella rounded her desk to head back out, but Dane filled her doorway and she froze in place. Her hand rested on the mahogany desk and her toes curled in her boots.
“Didn’t think you’d be someone stuck in an office.”
He hooked his thumbs through his belt loops and steadied those dark eyes right on hers...right after he gave her a visual sampling. Perhaps the sampling he’d had last night hadn’t been enough.
Her eyes were drawn to that belt buckle again. She’d ask him about the emblem sometime, though she already knew he’d tell her that it was his ranch. She found that she genuinely wanted to know more about it...about him.