At the cabin, Delanna and Ivy got reacquainted. “Thank you for coming,” Ivy said. “I still feel bad about leaving you in the lurch. Have you found another roommate?”
Delanna nodded. “I did, and she’s great. Cooks, too. Don’t worry about it, Ivy. Things work out the way they’re supposed to.”
Farrell winced inwardly at that careless bit of philosophy. In his experience, “things” often backfired in your face, but he didn’t contradict Delanna. Katie’s sister was a free spirit. Who was he to judge?
When Ivy finished going over Dolly’s schedule and handed off the baby to her new sitter, Farrell pulled Ivy aside. “You look fantastic,” he said, wanting to kiss her, but certain she would object in this situation. She wore slim-legged black pants with a matching jacket and a silky top whose color reminded him of the ocean at Martinique.
Her smile lacked conviction. “Thanks. I’m nervous,” she confessed. “Katie had flats picked out for this outfit, but I went with the heels instead. Feeling taller gives me confidence.”
He let his gaze drift from the silky wisps of hair that brushed her forehead to her flushed cheeks to the rise and fall of her chest. “Just be yourself, Ivy. All I need you to do is analyze the way we handle this get-together. Take note of anything you think should be altered or eliminated. Your insights will be important when we do an evaluation later.”
“You make it sound so easy. This is my first billionaire house party. I won’t know what to say.”
He cocked his head, giving her a devilish smile. “I’m a billionaire,” he said. “You seem to have plenty to say to me. Remember?” He mimicked her voice. “‘Ooh, there, Farrell. Don’t stop. More, harder, faster.’”
Ivy’s face turned beet red as she glanced around frantically to see where Delanna had landed.
“Relax,” Farrell said, chuckling. “She and Dolly went out the back door to look at the birds.”
“Oh.” Ivy put both hands on her hot cheeks. “That wasn’t funny.”
“Pretty funny from where I’m standing.” He kissed her cheek, careful not to muss her hair. “You smell delicious. Do we need to take your suitcase?”
“I’ll get it later when I change for the afternoon. I’m ready to head up to the house.”
By the time they returned from the cabin, the caterer had taken over the kitchen. Katie and Quin had been banished to the front hallway. And the first of Zachary’s caravan of limos had pulled up in the driveway.
The next half hour was organized bedlam. The introductions alone took forever. After everyone had met everyone, the three brothers—plus Katie and Ivy—began ushering couples to their various rooms.
Farrell kept an eye on Ivy, curious to see how she would react to the diverse group. But he needn’t have worried. She plunged right in, chatting and listening, and offering help when it was needed.
The large dining room, a place Farrell seldom used except for weekends like this one, was already set up for the luncheon. When he checked on the caterer, the pleasant thirty-something woman gave him a thumbs-up.
By the time the crowd had raved about the view, freshened up and rested if necessary, Farrell already had a good feeling about his goals for the weekend. He and his brothers and Katie took one last look at the packets they would be passing out after the meal.
The navy folder with ecru lettering and the SRO logo—two mountains intertwined with a river—was filled with glossy, impressive images of the company’s latest products, many of which would hopefully be adopted by the guests and their respective companies.
Everyone had been asked to convene in the dining room at eleven thirty. When Farrell walked in, he found Ivy chatting animatedly with the only “single” guest on the roster. Unashamedly, Farrell lingered behind the open door and listened.
Ivy laughed. “I’m serious,” she said. “When Farrell told me a Swiss watchmaker was coming, I pictured a stooped old man with a long white beard and tiny gold spectacles. You’re not at all who I pictured.”
Luca Bain took her hand and kissed it with European flair. “I hope you are not disappointed, mademoiselle.”
Farrell bristled unconsciously. The sophisticated, well-traveled bachelor was easily twice as wealthy as the Stone brothers. And he collected female hearts as a hobby—never in one piece. Until this exact moment, Farrell hadn’t thought about the fact that Ivy might be vulnerable to Luca’s suave charm.
Ivy blushed at having her hand kissed. Women loved that kind of thing. Farrell’s misgivings grew.
She escorted Luca around the table. “I believe you and I are seated here by the window. And you speak French? Again, not what I expected. I would have guessed a German accent.”
“My people are from western Switzerland,” Luca said. “Our country has four national languages. Where I live, it is not uncommon to hear French.”
The conversation continued, but Farrell was forced to abandon his spy post and greet his other guests. In addition to the Swiss playboy, the Italians had brought their twin nineteen-year-old daughters, whose presence evened out the numbers.
Farrell couldn’t very well insist on sitting beside his lover. He and his brothers, along with Katie and Ivy, were spread around the table. Katie had found someone at the Portland office who was proficient in calligraphy, so the place cards were works of art. When everyone was seated, Farrell greeted the group on behalf of Stone River Outdoors and expressed his appreciation.
“We’re delighted you’re all here,” he said. “Our hope is to show you a relaxed, enjoyable weekend...one where we can all get to know each other and hopefully make plans for our collaboration.” He picked up his wineglass. “To future endeavors. May they bloom in each of our countries.”
* * *
Ivy beamed at Farrell. She might be prejudiced, but she thought he was the most impressive male in the room. He had a natural air of command and, when he put his mind to it, a warm, welcoming attitude that made people feel at home in his gorgeous house.
Luca Bain, at her right hand, tried to monopolize her attention. He was handsome, probably too handsome. A little full of himself. At the appropriate moment, Ivy directed her attention to the gentleman on her left. The Namibians, native Africans, were an impressive couple. Tall and reserved, they spoke perfect English with a delightful accent.
Their safari company was one of the top three tourist businesses on the entire continent of Africa. Most of their clientele was European, so their impetus for traveling so far was to work with Stone River Outdoors and hopefully grow their client base in the US.
When lunch was done, the schedule allowed for an hour of free time before the afternoon’s planned activity. Zachary pulled Ivy aside in the hallway. “Thank you for all you’ve done for my brother.”
Ivy evaluated that statement and decided there was no way he could know about the sex. “Honestly, I should be thanking the Stone brothers. I was at a low point in my life. Needed a job. Katie vouched for me. Your company is paying me well to be helpful.”
“Still,” Zachary said. “Knowing you’ve been here to look after Farrell has given the rest of us peace of mind.”
She frowned at him. “Your brother is a grown man. He hasn’t needed a babysitter.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Zachary lowered his voice. “He lost his wife some years back, as I suppose you know. It hasn’t been easy. We love Farrell, but we worry about him disappearing into that damn lab and never coming out.” He shrugged. “I’ve always looked up to my big brother. I want him to be happy again. But in the meantime, I’ll settle for well-fed and not a vampire.”
Katie interrupted. “Ivy, do you mind helping me with the snacks?”
Though the international visitors had some downtime, the rest of the group was busy constantly. Quin would be taking point on the hike. He and his siblings were providing brand-new backpacks and personal hydration systems for each guest
.
After the fresh-squeezed orange juice and homemade granola bars were packed, Ivy rushed over to the cabin to change clothes and retrieve her suitcase. She had folded all of her new clothes carefully, and she wasn’t going far. Delanna was reading a book while Dolly napped.
“I’ll be here at eight to put her down for the night,” Ivy said.
“Won’t that be in the middle of your fancy dinner?”
“I’m sure they won’t miss me.”
By the time she made it back to the big house and climbed the stairs to the second floor, she was hot and flustered. Taking the smallest bedroom at the back of the house only made sense. And besides, it was only “less” desirable in comparison to the other rooms. The furnishings and decor were actually quite lovely.
She felt a little self-conscious in her new hiking gear. The price tag on the shirt alone made her gasp. Nothing but the best for the Stone family. And Ivy, it seemed.
Everyone had agreed to meet out front at two thirty. Ivy made it with three minutes to spare. Farrell frowned at her from across the porch. She wrinkled her nose at him and turned her back. He wasn’t the one juggling two residences and a baby and a distinct lack of experience with social occasions.
The group set off through the woods with much chatter and enthusiasm. Each of the Stones’ visitors was widely traveled and widely experienced in high-end physical challenges. The Italian couple, in their late fifties, had made their fortune in the wine business. Now their walking-tour company was more of a retirement hobby, or so they claimed. Katie had told Ivy they had a seven-figure income solely from Tuscany Travels.
It was the same for the expat Irish couple who did ecotours in the British Virgin Islands.
Only Luca Bain was a bit of a puzzle. He’d been around the world, too. Had skied with Quin and raced Formula One cars with Zachary. He and Farrell climbed together in the Alps.
Even the Italian daughters were more cosmopolitan than Ivy. One had already begun an international modeling career, and the other was entering university in the spring, with plans to become a doctor.
Ivy was relieved to know she was able to keep up with the pace. Although this kind of trek was not something she normally did, she had exercised diligently after Dolly was born, and her body was fit. Because she had been so ill during her pregnancy, she’d not had as much baby weight to lose as some women.
The trail wound through the woods and up over a rise to a promontory overlooking the ocean. A breeze blew off the water, cooling heated skin. As everyone paused for a drink, Quin gathered the troops and gave them a quick, humorous summation of Stone family history.
They were standing on the northernmost point of their ancestor’s land acquisition. He grinned. “I know you’re all jet-lagged, but since you’ll probably wake up early tomorrow, I recommend the sunrise. We’re so far east in the continental United States, we catch the morning rays before any of our other countrymen. My great-grandfather always used to say that was why Stone River Outdoors prospered.”
Katie joined Ivy at her elbow. They were standing at the back of the group, listening and watching. Katie sighed. “Isn’t my husband wonderful?”
Ivy laughed softly. “He is, indeed. But Quin is the lucky one, because he found you. You’re the perfect couple.”
“I hope so.” Katie sobered. “I worry that he’ll get restless or bored with me. His life has been one adventure after another. As a single man with unlimited funds, the world is a smorgasbord of entertainment and experiences. Do you think he’ll be able to settle down to domesticity?”
“Aren’t you the one who told me to forget about the money? To jump right in and be fabulous? You’re going to have a wonderful life together, Katie. The man adores you. He wants to be with you.”
Unlike Farrell and Ivy. Farrell wanted sex with Ivy, but not a relationship. He couldn’t have been clearer. Though her chest ached with poignant regret, she told herself to enjoy this time in Maine. It wouldn’t last forever.
Amid the flurry of activity after Quin’s speech, Ivy stepped closer to the edge of the small cliff, closer to the ocean. She’d spent half her childhood in Portland, the rest of her life near Charleston. Always, the sea had been a pull in her life.
Ivy was determined to make the next decade a memorable one. In her gut, she knew that leaving Farrell, losing him, would be a blow. But she was stronger now than when her parents died. Ivy would not be that vulnerable again.
She and her daughter were a family. Ivy wanted to give Dolly the kind of childhood here in Maine that she herself had experienced. The state was plenty big. She could stay out of Farrell’s way.
She sneaked a peek at him. With the sun burnishing his hair and the breeze carrying his masculine laughter, he seemed like a star, a man far out of her reach. He was flesh and blood. That much was true. But billionaires didn’t marry destitute widows with babies.
Maybe if she told herself that enough times, she would believe it.
Fifteen
Farrell nursed a cup of coffee while leaning against the front-porch railing of his house Saturday afternoon and brooded. Even the brilliant robin’s-egg azure of a cloudless sky and the serene expanse of darker blue sea hadn’t eased his mind. Parts of this weekend had skidded off track in the wrong direction. But that was personal, not business.
As far as Stone River Outdoors was concerned, the corporate retreat, or house party, or whatever you wanted to name it, was a success. He and his brothers had called an audible last night and changed up the plan with the caterer’s permission. Instead of a formal dinner in the dining room, they had set up tables on the porch to take advantage of the near-idyllic weather.
Zachary had fired up two gas grills to cook bison burgers and chicken. The caterer then prepared all sorts of delicacies and served them alfresco. Katie suggested s’mores and made a not-so-quick dash for ingredients. Quin built an after-dinner bonfire. Farrell’s sophisticated guests took to the distinctly American treat with enthusiasm.
But it had been a late night when all was said and done. Everyone was exhausted. Though Ivy had slipped away to put Dolly to bed, she returned as promised. Even then, she eluded Farrell’s attempts to have a private conversation with her. Earlier, she had said she wanted to sleep in his room, but instead, she had excused herself when the Italian twins headed upstairs. She joined the two young women on the pretext of helping them find a TV program they wanted to watch. But she didn’t return.
Perhaps Ivy was having second thoughts.
This morning, breakfast had been a riotous affair. The group was becoming more cohesive, which was part of the point of this exercise. During a two-hour brainstorming session before lunch, led by Zachary, Quin and Farrell, the guests had been enthusiastic and connected as everyone discussed ways to build reciprocity in their business relationships.
Ivy did not attend, which was fine.
But she had been there at the noon meal when Luca Bain snagged a seat beside her and wielded his European charm. Farrell couldn’t tell if Ivy was affected by Bain’s determined flirtation or not. But in this kind of situation, anything was possible.
During the afternoon’s expedition—sea kayaking down at the tiny beach—Ivy had actually shared a kayak with Zachary, who professed himself more than happy to give the inexperienced Ivy a few lessons in how to paddle.
Farrell ended up with one of the gorgeous Italian twins in his kayak. The girl was funny and charming and game to try this new sport, but although Quin teased Farrell on the sly about his lovely companion, Farrell had no interest in a nineteen-year-old. The only woman he was focused on was Ivy. And she had clearly been enjoying herself with Zachary.
This was what happened when a man mixed business with pleasure.
Tonight’s meal was formal. Farrell would be forced to shower and shave and don his best dark suit. But he made a decision on the spot. Ivy would sit beside him.
/> As he turned to go back into the house, something in his chest caught. Ivy was standing there. Watching him.
He cleared his throat, his grip tightening on his empty stoneware mug. “How long have you been out here?” he asked.
Her tiny smile was shy. “A bit. I like watching you,” she said. “Especially outside. The sun catches the gold in your hair.”
The innocent compliment made his face heat.
Before he could respond, Ivy joined him at the rail. “We’ve been so busy since you left the cabin Thursday night, I haven’t had a chance to ask you about the device. Did you make progress? I know you were operating on very little sleep yesterday. I hope the lab time was worth it.”
He inhaled her light, feminine scent, feeling his mood shift in a positive direction. Something about being with Ivy smoothed his rough edges. He knew it would embarrass her if he mentioned it, but her slow, sexy speech affected him strongly. Always had. Even that very first day.
Perhaps it was why he had hired her.
He set the mug on the rail, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms. They were surrounded by a dozen other people, even if none of them were close at the moment. Discretion was advisable no matter how badly Farrell wanted to hold her and kiss her.
“The weekend is going extremely well.” He cleared his throat, fully aware that he wasn’t saying what he wanted to say. “Thanks for everything you’ve done.”
“Happy to help,” she said. “They’re a fun bunch of people.”
The afternoon was unusually warm. Ivy was wearing another of the outfits Katie had picked out. The turquoise cotton dress with yellow polka dots bared Ivy’s arms and emphasized her narrow waist. Yellow-and-gold sandals completed the look.
With her short haircut and delicate jawline, there was an innocence about her, a sweetness.
Upstairs Downstairs Temptation (The Men 0f Stone River Book 2) Page 13