Their Colorado Conquest [Spirit, Colorado 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Zara Chase

  Josh had been wondering the same thing himself. “She was the best applicant, apparently.”

  Rex fixed him with a disbelieving stare. “You sure that’s all it is?”

  “I’m not sure about anything, other than that she’ll be on the phone to Annabel in New York right this minute and will stick by her friend. If Annabel tells her to bail, then that’s what she’ll do, regardless of the damage it’ll do to her career as a freelancer. Those two are tighter than a virgin’s snatch.”

  “If Annabel has given her an edited version of events, she’s bound to put her weight behind her friend.” Rex grinned again. “Although she’d do better to put it beneath me.”

  “You need to get laid, buddy.”

  “I always need to get laid. Anyway, we’re about to find out which way she’s swung,” Rex said, hearing footsteps on the stairs.

  Both men looked up as Ellie joined them, ever-present notepad in her hand.

  “Where do I work?” she asked in a no-nonsense tone.

  “That one’s yours,” Rex said, pointing to the third desk in the roomy office.

  “Thanks.”

  Ellie sat herself down and rifled through the desk’s drawers. They were full of the Lodge’s stationery and the usual office paraphernalia. She rearranged things to her satisfaction then switched on her computer and set a new password.

  “How’s Annabel?” Josh asked acerbically. “Got her permission to carry on, have you?”

  Ellie had her back to him, but he noticed her shoulders stiffen as she slowly turned to face him.

  “If we’re going to work together, then we ought to get a few ground rules established first,” she said, clearly royally pissed off.

  The sight of her eyes blazing with indignation and the rise and fall of her breasts as she struggled to control her breathing had the opposite effect on Josh to the one she intended, and he felt himself hardening. Despite her hostile attitude, he wanted this hotheaded babe, and there didn’t seem to be a damned thing he could do to dispel the sexual tension that felt as though it sucked the air out of the room. That was one damned complication he could definitely do without, but something stronger than his own will compelled him, and he couldn’t have broken eye contact with her if his life had depended upon it.

  Did she have any idea what a dangerous game she was playing, looking at him with such blatant challenge in her eyes? If she didn’t quit right now, she’d finish up across his knee having that cute butt of hers comprehensively spanked.

  Ellie swallowed, frowning as though she, too, was aware of the charged atmosphere and wasn’t any happier about it than he was.

  “I don’t like what you did to my friend,” she said, “but—”

  “You still think he’s the guilty party?” Rex’s voice had lost its convivial edge. “You’re not even prepared to consider that there’s always more than one side to any story?” He shook his head. “I’m disappointed in you, Ellie.”

  “You don’t even know me,” she said defensively.

  “Perhaps we ought to let her go after all, Josh. She clearly doesn’t want to be here. We can find someone who actually has faith in our integrity.”

  Ellie snorted but didn’t speak.

  “Perhaps we should.” Josh stood up, towering over her. “Okay, Ms. Kirkwood, it’s your call. Do you stay or do you go?” He thrust out a hand as though warding off a physical attack, his steely resolve presumably getting through to her and preventing her from voicing the interruption he could sense her formulating. “I’ve had about enough of this bullshit. If you work for us, then you’re with us all the way. I pay well, but in return I expect complete and total loyalty.” The muscle in his jaw flexed and hardened as incipient rage at her obstinacy washed through him. “It’s make-up-your-mind time, Ellie.”

  She leveled those astonishing green eyes on his face with unnerving stillness. He could detect conflicting emotions flitting through her expression as the crystalline silence intensified. Something passed between them as she glared at him with an attitude of wounded dignity, like she knew something he didn’t. This wasn’t gonna work. She’d have to go. The rarefied atmosphere was again polluted with sexual tension, and he could tell she was as astonished by it as he was. Her eyes widened, she muttered something incomprehensible under her breath and was the first to look away.

  Just as well, because Josh’s cock was now a rigid pole poking painfully against the denim of his jeans. He resumed his seat behind his own desk, using the wooden barrier to disguise his tumescent state. Shit, this wasn’t good. He’d given her an out. All she needed to say was that she quit. End of story.

  But he hoped like hell that she’d stay.

  God alone knew why. Her friendship with Annabel was firmer than his cock. She’d find out that Ellie was here, if she didn’t already know, and that could only spell bad news for the Lodge. Annabel was selfish and vindictive, but Ellie was totally loyal and would never see that aspect of her character in a million years. Was he out of his freaking mind? He ought to toss Ellie out on her slim ass here and now and be done with it.

  “I’ll stay,” she said, her eyes once again riveted to Josh’s face, almost as though the force that compelled her was beyond her control. He kind of got that bit, because he was similarly afflicted and couldn’t stop drinking in the sight of her. “I’ll do a professional job, and the subject of Annabel won’t be mentioned between us again.”

  “Agreed,” Josh said curtly.

  “Okay. You ready to talk your ideas through with me?”

  “Sure.”

  The three of them took seats around a table. Rex produced much-needed coffee, and they got right down to business.

  “What do you want to achieve by employing me?” she asked.

  “We need to put the Lodge on the map by making a big publicity splash,” Josh answered. “We’re well aware that there are plenty of upmarket hotels in this area. We need ours to stand out.”

  “Who are your target clients?”

  “People with money to burn, obviously. High flyers who expect and can afford to pay for the very best.”

  “Individuals or businesses?”

  “Both,” Rex said. “We have conference facilities here, or will have when we’re finished renovating the ground floor. You saw the space earlier.”

  Ellie nodded. “Yes, I remember.”

  “I reckon corporations will be attracted to the area, especially in the winter when they’ll have an excuse to combine winter sports with a sessions of business brainstorming.”

  “Okay, so I need to look into medium-sized businesses who might be interested in the facilities.”

  “Why only medium sized?” Josh asked.

  “You don’t have enough accommodation for large conventions. Well, you could do day-only seminars, I suppose, but I thought the point was to keep the accommodation full and get the clients spending for all the extras and patronizing the restaurant.”

  “Right.”

  “Have you thought about leisure breaks aimed at women or playing up the spa facilities to CEOs when advertising the conference facilities? Once their wives see glossy brochures hyping up all the spa has to offer, they’ll probably come along to the meetings and make use of them whilst their men beaver away in the conference room.” Ellie scribbled a note on her pad. “That would be the ideal situation. It’s always the women who persuade their men to open their wallets, and what woman can resist a few days of luxurious pampering?”

  Josh and Rex exchanged a glance. “Good point,” Josh conceded. “Are you suggesting we concentrate on sending invites to women for the gala opening?”

  “Yes and no. Yes, women are the key, but we shouldn’t wait for the opening. That’s still several weeks away. We need to build up press interest in the Lodge long before that. Pique the curiosity of the people who matter with photo spreads in local papers and as many magazines as I can persuade to take an interest, stuff like that.”

  “That oughta do it,” Josh said.


  “No, it won’t.”

  “Make up your mind.” Josh still couldn’t decide if she wanted to help or hinder him. “You suggested it, so you must think it’ll work.”

  “Yes, it’ll have some impact, but it’s too predictable. We need to work with something a little less obvious, like your links to Spirit,” she said, leveling her gaze on Josh’s face.

  “No,” Josh said firmly.

  “She could have a point there,” Rex said thoughtfully. “Boy who started out with nothing coming back to his hometown in a blaze of glory.”

  “No,” Josh said again. “This isn’t about me. I don’t want to talk about that stuff.”

  “You’re making a mistake,” Ellie said, locking eyes with him.

  “It’s not negotiable.”

  Ellie and Rex shared a glance. “You’re not making this easy for me.”

  “You’re supposed to be good at what you do.”

  “If I have the full cooperation of the client, then I’m ace.” She sighed. “Okay, we’ll go for the mystery angle and let people draw their own conclusions. But be warned, if I can get you even half the coverage I hope to, reporters will talk to people in the town and your story will come to light, without you uttering a single word about revenge.”

  Josh’s head shot up. “Who said anything about revenge?”

  “Brilliant!” Rex said at the same time. “Push people in the direction of Jake and Cal Martin.”

  “Who are they?” Ellie asked, making a note of their names.

  “They own the sporting goods store, and Jake is also a leading light in the ski patrol. They are two of the few people in town who didn’t badmouth Josh when we were kids.”

  “Okay, but we’re talking subtle here. If we’re not trading on humble origins, then we need to paint you as average Joes who’ve made a success of your lives and want to give something back to your hometown. You have invested nearly everything in this, I take it?”

  “Pretty much,” Josh said, wincing.

  “Okay then, we’d better make it work for you.”

  “You obviously have something in mind,” Josh said, “so let’s hear it.”

  “Well, the first thing I need to do is get as many print and television journalists here as I can so they can see for themselves how it’s going so far.”

  “What, all that mess out there?” Rex said dubiously, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.

  “Precisely. Not only that, but I think you should talk honestly about all the problems you’re having, all the pitfalls that might prevent you from opening on time, let them see you slugging hitches out with your foreman. People go for that sort of thing,” she said, talking over the interruption Josh attempted. “You’ve seen all the reality TV shows. Half the local population will predict that you’re bound to fail, the other half will be rooting for you. Either way, we’ll get their attention, which is kinda the point.”

  “Are you suggesting that I let a television crew dog my footsteps?” Josh asked with a shudder.

  “No,” Ellie said with a sweet smile that reignited the interest of his dick, “but I think you just did.”

  Rex roared with laughter. “You wanted the best there is,” he said.

  “I’ll think about it,” Josh said morosely, unwilling to concede that it was a good idea. He’d wanted Spirit to know how well he’d done for himself, but now that the opportunity had been offered to him, he wondered if he’d come across as petty by flaunting his success.

  “Whilst you’re doing that,” Ellie said, sharing a smile with Rex that pointedly excluded Josh, “let’s move on to the gala opening itself.”

  “Fine by me.”

  “It ought to be held in support of a local charity so that you come across as one of Spirit’s own raising money for a good cause. Wealthy people are suckers for charitable events. It makes them feel good about themselves.”

  “Now that I like,” Josh said, sitting forward and dipping his head to acknowledge Ellie’s plan. “The mountain rescue people are always in need of something or other and perpetually short on funds.”

  “Well, there you are then.”

  “Jake Martin could be your poster boy for the campaign,” Rex said. “He’s easy on the eye and knows all about the cash shortages the rescue services work under.”

  “There’s a woman in town who was recently rescued,” Josh said thoughtfully. “Lana Dupree. She went to school here but is now a criminal defense attorney. She had a ski accident, and Jake was involved in the rescue.”

  “She seems pretty tight with both the Martin boys since then,” Rex said, chuckling. “I’m sure she’d be willing to talk about what she experienced when being rescued.”

  “Okay.” Ellie made more notes. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

  “Are you thinking a silent auction?” Rex asked.

  “Oh no, I want a very vocal one. If I can get some wealthy men here and their wives see their friends’ husbands making generous bids, you can bet your life they’ll force their men into topping them.”

  Josh chuckled. “I’ve gotta hand it to you, Ellie, you know your stuff.”

  She offered him a sultry smile. “That’s why you’re paying me so much.”

  Her eyes glistened with enjoyment as they briefly clashed with his. He held her gaze for a prolonged moment, still wondering what the hell he’d gotten himself into with this complex, intelligent, and devastatingly attractive female. Survival instincts kicked in, telling him that he ought to avoid her like the plague. Her connections to Annabel made him nervous. Perversely he wanted her like he hadn’t wanted any woman for a very long time and couldn’t seem to concentrate on business when they were in the same room.

  I can’t have her. She’ll laugh in my face if I even suggest it. She hates me because of that bitch Annabel. Hold that thought, Cooper.

  It wasn’t working. The curve of her face as she impatiently pushed her hair behind her ears compelled Josh. Her lips were plump and full and highly kissable. He was willing to bet that they’d taste sweeter than summer fruit, too. Shame he’d never get to find out. The swell of her breasts as she took a deep breath and expelled it slowly drew his attention and held it. Like he hadn’t been fixated on them ever since she sat down!

  “Anyway,” she said. “We can auction the usual sorts of things. A free weekend at the Lodge with full use of all the facilities, free meals in the restaurant, a case of vintage port to keep the men happy—that sort of thing.”

  “That’s easily arranged,” Josh said.

  “Yes, but it’s not enough.” She leaned forward, placed an elbow on the table, and dropped her chin in her splayed hands as though seeking inspiration. “We need something more original as the major attraction.”

  “I get the impression that you already have some ideas,” Josh said.

  “Sure I do.” She sat back again and shared a mischievous glance between them. “How do you two hunks fancy being auctioned off to a couple of lucky ladies?”

  Chapter Four

  Josh’s mouth fell open. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  “Never been more serious in my life.” Ellie used the indomitable tone that usually worked for her father. “There’s nothing in this world that’s original these days, so we need to be inventive.” She grinned. “You two are about as original as it gets.”

  “What exactly does a guy have to do to qualify as a woman’s slave?” Rex asked, a wicked glint in his eye. “Are the duties arduous?”

  “No sex, I’m afraid.”

  Rex’s face fell. “Then count me out.”

  “The women’s husbands will be paying for your services, but those services don’t extend to…er, servicing their wives,” she said, giggling at her clumsy choice of words. “You guys don’t need to be cited in divorce proceedings.”

  “You’re no fun,” Rex complained.

  “The men will want to show how broadminded they are by letting you two loose with their trophy wives, but they won’t be daft enough to
leave you alone with them.”

  “They won’t because we’re not doing it,” Josh said, finality in his tone. “Of all the harebrained, off-the-wall suggestions—” He threw his hands in the air. “Is that the best you can come up with?”

  “I haven’t even started yet,” she snapped back.

  “Don’t be so hasty, Josh. Let’s hear her out.”

  “To answer your previous question, Rex, you’d do their yard work, take them to dinner, whatever they want, and we’ll have a friendly reporter recording the event for posterity.” She grinned at him. “Great publicity.”

  “Like you just said, it’s been done before,” Josh grouched.

  “Not in Spirit, it hasn’t.” She turned to face him. “Do you want to get this place noticed or not?”

  “That’s why I employed you, but—”

  “And I’m good at what I do. The thing is, you two and your links to Spirit is what will interest journalists.”

  “It’s not journalists I want to attract. Besides, I already told you that my background is off limits. It’s potential clients with money to burn whom I need to click with.”

  “And the only way to get to them is through publicity. Cue publicity stunt for a good cause.” Ellie paused, giving Josh time to digest that one.

  “I guess.” Josh kicked moodily at a trash can, his mouth tightening with irritation. “Okay, I’m not saying yes, but tell me more.”

  “For starters, we need to saturate the press with images of you two.”

  “Images?” they said together.

  “You’ve both gotten your hands dirty, helping to knock the place into shape, haven’t you?”

  “We sure have,” Rex answered.

  “What about you, Josh?”

  “I can turn my hand to just about anything, but carpentry’s my first love,” he said. “I enjoy working with wood. It’s how I got started.”

  “I’ll need to know more about that later.”

  “Yeah, I suppose that can’t hurt. But I don’t want you putting out anything personal about either of us without clearing it with me first.”