My Charming Billionaire (The Grimwood Legacy Series Book 2)

by Jackie Castle

  “No.” Jeremy frowned as he read over the reports Mike had dug up. There did seem to be some major repairs that needed to be taken care of, and soon. The lift was terribly outdated and needed to be replaced. She was still running on landlines and had spotty Wifi, which he’d noticed while there. Then there were plumbing issues with some of the older cabins.

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “As I’ve already said, she doesn’t wish to sell. That resort has been in her family for at least three generations, if not more.”

  Mike leaned forward and shuffled through the papers he’d printed. “Here, the buyer is a relative, from my understanding. Her last name used to be Carson. Now she goes by Evelina Ash. Not sure what their relationship is, but perhaps we can work out some kind of a deal that will suit both of them. You know, since they are family.”

  Jeremy vaguely recalled a couple of aunts related to Melody. Mrs. Ash had to be an aunt on her father’s side. He rubbed at his forehead, wishing he could remember more. One particular aunt had visited while his family was there on their annual ski trip. He couldn’t have been more than twelve at the time. She was a kindly, round-faced woman who was warm and loved hugging everyone she came across. He recalled that she smelled like maple syrup.

  Yes, that’s right. She was a baker or liked to bake. He wasn’t sure which side of the family this auntie belonged to, but as the memories began to slowly trickle back into his consciousness, he remembered that he liked her. A lot. Especially the delicious cookies she was always giving the kids that hung out with Melody.

  Was this the same woman? He looked more closely at her file. “She already owns several resorts.”

  “Right,” Mike agreed, flipping the paper over and giving it a tap with his finger. “She inherited them from her late husband. As I said, Ash is her married name. So, she already understands the business. This might actually end up being a blessing for Miss Carson. You said that you wanted to help your friend. I say we call her and set up an appointment for them to meet. You know what your friend wants, let’s work on drawing up a possible plan. A starting point, at least. Then they can work out the details.”

  This did sound like the perfect answer. And so easy. The resort would stay in the family. Mrs. Ash was loaded and could help Melody. Then Mel wouldn’t be taking advantage of friends, as she was so worried about doing. This was family. Family was supposed to help each other.

  So why were there warning lights flashing in his mind? There’d been so much going on. Mel had told him so many things that he’d found it difficult to keep track of everything, despite how many notes he’d tried to jot down.

  Perhaps he needed to meet with her again. Gather more detailed information. She’d promised to stay in touch with him. He’d sent a text late last night to let her know that he’d made it home. She’d responded this morning by wishing him a productively wonderful day. He’d laughed at the little emoticons and hearts she’d added to her message.

  Jeremy cleared his throat, needing to stay focused. “Very well, I think you’re right. Why don’t you contact Mrs. Ash and see—”

  “She will be here whenever we can get Ms. Carson here. I’ve already spoken to her.” Mike sat back with a proud grin. He smoothed his tie over his round belly. “It’s the only way, Jeremy. I figured once you saw all the information that you’d agree. Mrs. Ash said she could pay double our regular commission if we’ll work out this deal for her. She’s been trying to make Miss. Carson see reason but has failed in the past. Evelina desires to help. That’s what she told me when I spoke to her.”

  Mike had overstepped, but Jeremy didn’t scold him. Sometimes his partner got a little ahead of himself, especially when he smelled profit. Jeremy couldn’t complain since his friend’s tenacity kept them in the black. As it stood, if Jeremy continued to increase in this manner, he’d meet Father’s conditions well before the five years were up.

  “Very well. I have other projects going on. I’ll look this over later, then call Melody. See if I can talk her into coming to the city. Soon as I have her agreement, I’ll have you call Mrs. Ash.”

  Heaving himself out of the chair, Mike buttoned his jacket with a pleased nod. “I promised Mrs. Ash that I’d stay in touch. She said that she knew of you and your family, of course, who doesn’t know of the Grimwoods? Your family is legendary.”

  “Right.” Jeremy fought the urge to roll his eyes. They were known for their money and whatever false stories the tabloids were able to drum up. “Mike, let’s keep this deal between you and I. You know how Mr. Hanson is about working with close friends. I don’t want people to get the wrong impression. Understand?”

  Mike nodded with a wave of his hand. “Sure, I’ll keep it hush, hush. Of course, eventually old man Hanson will find out. He’ll want to have his say, you know that.”

  Jeremy shook his head and tucked the files into his briefcase. Melody’s resort was something he’d have to work on during his spare time for now. There were too many other pressing matters that awaited his attention.

  One thing was for sure. From what little he read, Melody was in some serious trouble. He knew that the only way he’d get Mel off her mountain was kicking and screaming. Somehow, he needed to convince her that it was imperative that she come to the city.

  * * * *

  “No way.” Melody closed the file cabinet with a bump of her hip. “I can’t leave. Who will run—”

  “Please,” Dotty Doyle interrupted. “We can handle everything while you’re gone. You need to go, Melody. Mr. Grimwood is willing to help. Take him up on his offer. He even said he’d pay for your trip there and back. Bet he’ll get you first class seats and everything.”

  Melody and Susie were helping Dotty go through the medical supply cabinet. They needed to order a few things. Most injuries on the resort were simple sprains and exposure to the cold when skiers stayed out too long. Anything serious was sent to the hospital.

  Suzie was dusting the shelves, which was a job Melody tried to keep her allergic friend away from. “Give me that. You make the list.” She snatched the duster from the woman’s hand and exchanged it for the order form. “You write down what we need, and order for us. I’ll talk care of the cleaning.”

  Susie dabbed a napkin to her nose. “Thanks, boo. Allergies are bad today and I forgot to take a pill.” She took the form and moved far away from where Melody started dusting.

  Sitting at the desk where Dottie usually worked, Susie said, “I have to agree, you need to go. Whatever it takes to save the resort.” She sniffed and dabbed a tissue to her nose. “We need all the help we can get.”

  Melody’s shoulders sagged. Part of her wanted desperately to see Jeremy again. Her desire was dumb, considering Jeremy Grimwood would never look at her that way.

  Mom used to tell her that she needed to make time for vacations, and for seeing other places. “Don’t allow yourself to become one of those mountain hermits, dear. Like your father. I’ll have to chisel him from the stony ground, he’s so attached to the resort. This isn’t the whole world, don’t let it become your prison tower.”

  Had she become like those princesses trapped in their lonely towers?

  Jeremy promised to provide accommodations and everything she needed. He lived on the top floor of a hotel. One that she believed was owned by the eldest Grimwood, Colton. He was the owner of several around the world, from what Jeremy had once said.

  She’d be given one of the best suites. Talk about being treated like royalty.

  He’d asked for a week but would take a weekend, if that’s the best she could do. Why did he need her in the city for a full week?

  He was gathering a list of possible investors. Some she would need to meet. He wanted her to develop her spa idea into a plan that he could show people, but she had no idea how to do that. “Bring what you have, hon. I’ll help you put something together.”

  She liked how he called her hon, his tone full of caring and concern. Intimacy. She shook her head and began dusting wit
h more fervor. Dust clouded the air around her head until she was the one sneezing.

  “Gesundheit,” Susie and Dottie said in unison. Then Dottie offered, “Why don’t you leave this for me and Suzie to take care of? Go call Mr. Grimwood and tell him you’ll come in the morning. You can pack and we’ll call a quick meeting tonight and let the others know it’ll be all hands on deck until you return.”

  Melody reluctantly set the feathered duster down. “You’re right. Staying here and fretting isn’t going to help the resort.”

  “No, it’s not,” Dottie agreed, pushing her toward the door. “So, go. Pack. We’ll all meet at your cabin in an hour. At least, those I can get a hold of. And don’t worry, we’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”

  * * * *

  Not worrying was easier said than done, as the old adage warned. After everyone left Melody’s cabin with their revised schedules, Melody sank onto the sofa and buried her face in her hands.

  George Murphy, the resort handyman, had reported in his gruff way that they couldn’t go another season without replacing the engine that kept the lifts running.

  “That dinosaur is on its last leg, Ms. Carson. Been telling and telling, but nobody listens to old George.”

  “I’ve been listening,” Melody defended. “Unfortunately, the funds to replace it aren’t there and I’ve maxed out my credit.”

  Danny, George’s assistant waved his hand and said dismissively, “Don’t growl, old man.” He chuckled. “Boss-lady is doing what she can. What’s a little more duct tape and paper clips to keep it running, anyway?”

  George shot his assistant an irritated scowl.

  Danny was a happy-go-lucky simple guy who enjoyed making silly jokes and waving off anything that even hinted at trouble.

  Melody shook her head, then laid down on the couch, wondering for the millionth time how she’d get out of this mess. Her parents would be so disappointed in her. Three generations of Carsons had taken care of the resort and she’d been the one to bring about its sinking.

  Despair hung about her like a blanket made of iron chains. She needed to get up and pack but had no heart to tackle the imposing task.

  Melody dreaded leaving her mountain. She hadn’t visited a city since before her parents passed away. All her time and attention had been taken up with running the resort. What a life. And now she might lose it all! What if Jeremy couldn’t find anyone willing to help her?

  She’d looked into investors before, but all she’d found was the bigger resorts wishing to take over for her. She and her crew would be out. The good people of Timberview would be affected by the change, as well.

  “Oh man, enough of this.” Melody forced herself off the couch. Her head was beginning to pound so she headed for the kitchen for some headache pills. After swallowing down two, she rinsed the glass and set it on the leftover Christmas towel to dry.

  Decorations would need to be taken down. Soon, she’d have to pull out the hearts and cupids for the next holiday. Perhaps she should run a couple’s special.

  “This isn’t getting your bags packed,” Melody warned her wandering thoughts. She marched into her room and dragged out her old suitcase. There was a small rip in the side. Hopefully, it would hold up for this trip. Too late to buy new luggage.

  What was the weather like in New York? Certainly not as much snow as they had on the mountain. She packed a couple of sweater dresses and her best business outfits. Once she got started with the imposing chore, she found it helped her keep the doubts and fears at bay for a short while.

  Her phone rang. Jeremy! Her heart started pounding. They had sent a few texts back and forth, but this was the first time he’d actually called.

  Melody cleared her throat, hoping to keep her tone even and casual. “Hello? This is Melody Carson.”

  “I should hope so, that’s the number I dialed. How are you doing, Mel?” Jeremy sounded as if he was outside from the horn blares and voices coming through the line.

  Melody closed her eyes, focusing on Jeremy’s face instead of the busy city he lived in. She hated the traffic. “I’m…good. Yeah, I’m good. Packing. What’s the weather like there?”

  The background noises ceased at the sound of a car door slamming. “Brookview and Vine. The Woods Tower, that’s right.” His voice sounded louder as he said, “Your flight is all arranged. They’ll have your tickets for you at Mainton Airport.”

  “That’s the private airport. I thought I was catching a flight out of—.”

  “All the flights were booked, so I’m sending the family jet for you. Don’t freak out, it’s perfectly safe. And you’ll not have to worry about who you have to sit next to. The whole plane will be yours.”

  Melody sank onto the edge of the bed. “That’s…I…I can’t possibly—”

  “Just get on the plane, Mel. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll meet you at the airport and drive you to where you’re staying. Then we’ll go out to dinner at my favorite place. It’s quiet and we’ll be able to work out our game plan before you start meeting potential investors the next morning. I have three people who are willing to speak to you.”

  A dull ache was starting to fill her chest and stomach. She wasn’t even sure how to speak to investors. People who’d ask hard questions and want detailed information about what the resort made and costs for running…Melody rubbed at her forehead.

  “I can hear you breathing. There’s no need to panic, hon. I swear that you’ll not have to agree to anything that you aren’t one-hundred percent on board with. And don’t worry, Mike and I have all your information. We’ll do most of the talking for you. All I need is to know exactly what terms you’ll be comfortable with.”

  She sucked in a deep breath, wishing her heart would slow down. “Okay. I’m trusting you, Jeremy. I know this is your area of expertise.”

  He was silent for a long moment. “Thank you, Melody, that means a lot.” Jeremy sounded sincere, which struck her as odd. Normally he came off as confident, almost arrogant when talking about business matters. Why would her opinion mean anything to him?

  “Well, I mean it. Jeremy, your help means so…well, I know you’re busy. And I know this is taking up precious time and effort on your part. I’m not sure how I’ll ever be able to repay you.”

  “Keep your resort open. I’ve missed coming there and didn’t realize it until last week. I had a lot of fun with…I mean, I had fun skiing and…everything.” Jeremy seemed like he was struggling to find the right words, and that wasn’t like him at all. He always knew what to say and how to say it.

  “Anyway,” he went on. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll get this worked out.”

  Melody nodded, unsure what to say. Then she realized that he couldn’t see her. “Sounds great. Looking forward to seeing…the city.” She’d almost said you. Which would have been bad. This was no time to let her irrational feelings get in the way. Jeremy was helping her out.

  For all she knew, perhaps he would get a kickback from overseeing whatever deal they were able to make. She had no idea how all that worked. If he wasn’t such a dear family friend, she never would have put as much trust in him as she had.

  Except he’d been so attentive and kind that first night at Duncan’s engagement party. For a moment, the years of separation were gone and she was simply hanging out with her childhood buddy. They’d been such great friends back then. She missed Jeremy Grimwood more than she realized, and would need to keep herself in check over this week.

  Too much was at stake. Jeremy was her last hope and she didn’t need to mess this up, too.

  Chapter Five

  Jeremy’s eyes widened when Melody came from her room dressed in that simple, yet flattering emerald velvet dress. The skirt flowed down past her knees. She wore silvery pumps and a matching scarf. An intricate silver-leafed hair-comb held her hair in a loose twist.

  When he walked into his favorite Italian restaurant, Jameson, the maitre d` winked at him
and mouthed, “Wow,” behind her back as he held out the chair for her to sit.

  Jeremy couldn’t agree more. He wished that he could attend all his events with her on his arm. He was sure she didn’t even realize how stunning and elegant she truly was. They were seated at a cozy table for two in the corner.

  Melody asked him to order for them both since it was his favorite restaurant. Once he placed their order, she started to reach into her bag for a file.

  “Not yet,” Jeremy stopped her. “You’ve been running since you arrived. Let’s simply relax a moment and enjoy the evening. We’ll talk business after we’ve eaten.” He could tell from the way she was twisting her napkin that she was on edge. The city had left her wide-eyed and gaping as they’d exited the limo and he’d shown her to her suites at his hotel.

  Then he’d left her for a half hour so she could get ready while he did the same in his penthouse apartment. Being a Grimwood had its perks, that was for sure.

  Melody sat back in her chair with a sweet smile. “You’re right. I’ve been afraid to pause long enough to look around out of fear I’ll….” she shook her head, leaving her fear unspoken.

  “Don’t worry, hon. Everything will work out.”

  “You seem so sure of yourself.”

  “I am. Because I don’t intend to watch you lose your family’s resort. We’ll work it out. You’re not in this alone. Okay?” Jeremy gave her hand a gentle squeeze, hoping he wasn’t being too forward. He hated how nervous and jittery she was. Even if she was here because of her work, he hoped to see her relax and enjoy her little vacation. He’d intended to show her as much of an enjoyable time as she’d shown him last week.