“I know. It’s not the same without her here.”
“Don’t tell me you want me to start dating. There is no one who will ever compare to her,” he said firmly.
“I agree. What the two of you had was special. You couldn’t put a value on that if you even tried,” she said.
He huffed. “Are you trying to compare my marriage to purchasing land?”
“No. I’m saying what you guys had, is what the Potters have. You can buy their land, and build whatever you want, but it never will be like what is there.”
“What are you suggesting Kollette? That I give up on this expansion idea?”
“Not at all. I guess what I’m suggesting is…let me run that new division, with your guidance of course.” She knew this wasn’t exactly what he’d planned when he offered her the job, but this was the only way for them to be able to work so closely and still retain their own identities.
“What about the hotels? Who is going to run those?” he asked.
“There’s only one person qualified to do that. You. Like you said, you built them from the ground up. Let me do that with the mountain lodges. It might not be your vision, but I promise Dad, I’ll make you proud.”
Ralph looked at her for a moment not saying a word, then he turned to Ethan. “What is your input on this?” he asked.
“Are you asking if I believe she’s capable of it?” Ethan asked. Ralph nodded. “Kollette has more drive and passion than anyone I know. Whatever we are thinking the lodges will be, they won’t. She will blow our mind with how she blends her dream with yours. But she is like a flower, best not to cut it, or try to contain it, because if you do, she won’t bloom to her full capacity.”
Ralph shook his head and turned back to Kollette. “That man is crazy about you.”
Kollette looked at Ethan who nodded. “Yes he is Dad. And I love him just as much.”
Ralph said, “You really have left me no choice. The new division will be yours…entirely. Come to me if you need me. I’m always here, and always will be. But if Ethan has this much confidence in you, then so should your own father.”
Kollette leaned over and hugged him. “Thank you Dad. You don’t know how much this means to me. I promise, I’ll do you proud.”
“Kollette, you have nothing to prove to me. I’ve always been proud of you.” She brushed away the single tear from the corner of her eye, and he added, “Guess there is just one thing left you two need to decide on.”
God Dad. Don’t make him ask me to marry him. Not that she didn’t want to, but she wanted Ethan to want it, not to be pressured. She already knew he loved her. The rest was just…paper.
“What is that Ralph?” Ethan asked.
Oh no. He didn’t.
Kollette held her breath waiting for her father’s next words.
“Since Kollette is running the entire division, I don’t see a reason why it should be done from Miami. Not that I don’t want her close by, but I would think it should be near where she decides to build.”
She let out her breath, still stunned. “Dad, you mean…anywhere. Not just the Potters?” It sounded that way, but she wanted to confirm.
“I’ll have the paperwork drawn up. The funds will be in the bank. Although this will be our company, you won’t need my signature or my approval to purchase whatever you need, or wherever it is.”
She looked at Ethan who seemed equally relieved to hear about the Potters. “I guess I need to do some serious research on this. I want the locations to be perfect.”
“Locations?” her father said.
“Yes. My father taught me if you want to be successful at something, then you should commit fully. So that’s what I’m going to do. This division is going to compliment yours. You have the fun in the sun, and I’ll have the wilderness escape.”
Ralph cocked a brow. “I like the sound of that. We should talk to marketing about advertising.”
She laughed. “Don’t you think I need to build them first?”
“I have a feeling you and Ethan are going to have a ground breaking before you know it.”
“Me? I’m not involved in this,” Ethan said. “This is all Kollette.”