by Lori Ryan
“I’ve talked to Elsbeth Noble at the resort,” his mother said.
“Elle?” Max asked.
Emmett sat ramrod straight, momentarily stunned, but his mother didn’t seem to notice
She went on as though she hadn’t just screwed with his whole world.
“Yes,” his mother said. “Elle’s the director of the resort’s sales and marketing department as well. She and I have been talking about running some joint marketing, bringing a few new festivals and things to the area.” She looked around the table at all of them, as if there was nothing wrong with what she was saying. “If the resort and the lodge work together—”
“No.” Emmett broke in, his voice low and quiet, but unyielding. “It’s not happening, Ma.”
The room fell silent and his mother turned a confused gaze on him. Shit.
No one in the room knew about New York City. He couldn’t explain it either. He wasn’t dragging that story out for the whole family.
Long seconds passed without anyone saying anything, until his mother broke the silence. “Surely you’re over what happened in high school. It’s been years, Em, I honestly thought you’d be happy to reconnect with her.”
Emmett sighed. His mother had done this over the years. She’d given him cheerful updates about Elle whenever she heard something about her life. They’d increased when Elle had come back to Canyon Creek after retiring from her dancing career in New York.
Emmett had had the same reaction each time. He’d quickly changed the conversation or ended the phone call. Apparently, his mother either hadn’t noticed or was choosing to ignore the not-so-subtle hint.
Emmett didn’t look away, and neither did his mother.
Maggie cleared her throat. “Well, let’s table the idea for now. We can revisit it later.”
Emmett opened his mouth to say there’d be no revisiting it, but Maggie didn’t give him a chance to say anything. She looked purposefully to Max. “Okay, so Max.”
“Yep, ready and willing. Possibly able.” Max waggled his brows. His brother dealt with anything uncomfortable by goofing around.
“I would like you to be in charge of overseeing the remainder of the build-out on the wedding barn and the cabins,” Maggie continued, unfazed. “Shawn said you’ve already started to help the construction team so I think you would transition smoothly into a head of engineering role, of sorts.”
Shawn Braddock was their contractor, and a talented wood-working artist. He’d done an incredible job on the rest of the lodge.
“I don’t know anything about engineering,” Max said.
“You studied biomedical engineering in college,” Emmett said.
“That’s different,” Max rolled his eyes.
“Not so much,” Maggie said. “I think your degree could prove very useful in this role. If you would be willing to accept it.” She stared at Max and Emmett knew her sea-green eyes had the man transfixed. He’d do anything she asked, just like Ben.
With her wild, curly auburn hair and beguiling smile, Emmett was convinced Maggie Lawrence was a witch. When she wasn’t working her magic on him, he found it funny. And if he were honest, he was happy she was going to be his sister-in-law. She already felt like part of the family.
“I guess I could try it.” Max said. “Just don’t expect a lot.”
Maggie nodded, her face splitting into a huge smile. “Thanks, Max.” She turned to Aaron and Jake. “I know you guys won’t be here much longer, so I hope you’re not upset that I didn’t include you in the organizational chart.” She raised a finger. “Yet.”
“Not at all,” Aaron said and Emmett could swear he heard his brother sigh in relief.
He understood. None of his brothers had wanted to come home, but Ben had made it clear. Their family’s land, their childhood home and the lodge were in jeopardy if they didn’t all pitch in.
The loan his parents had taken out to build the lodge had tons of covenant clauses, some Emmett still wasn’t one hundred percent sure of. The bottom line was, not only did they have to make their payments on time, his mom had to meet certain sales projections and forecasts each quarter or face default.
Emmett’s job was critical to not only the success of the lodge, but to the safety of his family’s land. If the lodge didn’t succeed, they’d lose their land along with all the buildings. Land that had been in his family for generations.
As much as they might all bitch about coming home, all of them would do what it took to make this work. For the mother.
All of his brothers and he led busy lives but shortly after their father’s death, they’d developed a plan—a schedule of sorts—that rotated them all in coming home to help their mother stay afloat. Emmett and Ben had come home first. Max would be staying for a while now that football season was over. Jake, Aaron, and his baby brother, Grant, would all take time off over the next sixteen months to return home in stages. They would back their mother’s dream and make sure the quarter of the mountain that the Sumners still owned wasn’t lost forever.
Ben had confided to Emmett that the loan was with the Canyon Creek United Bank, a financial institution whose board was stacked with members of the Noble family. Although the Sumner and Noble families had each owned half of the mountain when the town was founded, the Noble family took half the Sumner’s land in the 1800s after Lazarus Sumner racked up gambling debts he couldn’t pay off.
What remained to be seen, now, was whether the current generation of Nobles were just as eager to foreclose on the lodge if they couldn’t make its payments or meet the covenants of the loan. Emmett wasn’t sure he wanted to gamble on the generosity of the Nobles. His family couldn’t afford a default.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay and help,” Jake said. “This election has me swamped right now.” He ran a hand through his thick black hair. He was currently managing the campaign for a California senator running for the U.S. Senate with talk of moving on to the presidency within the next decade.
“But please know,” Maggie continued, “if you’d like to return some day, we could always use your help.”
Maggie and his mom might have missed the looks Ben and Emmett shot their way, but Jake and Aaron sure as hell didn’t. There was no getting out of this. They would all be coming home sooner or later.
Aaron gave a slight nod to his brothers then turned his attention to his mom, eyeing her with the look of a physician. “I’m not going to lie, Ma. I’m not sure you’re ready to take on all of this.”
“Nonsense,” Valerie said. “The doctor said I’m perfectly fit. And my stress test came back all clear. She said I have the heart of a thirty-year-old.”
“And the ass of a twenty-year-old,” Aunt Sally added. “High five, girl.” She held up her palm.
His mother slapped it. “It’s the yoga.”
The room rang with a collective groan. The last thing Emmett or any of his brothers wanted to think about was his mother’s ass.
Maggie ignored the sideshow and continued. “You’ll see we also have a Food and Beverage Department listed on the chart,” Maggie continued. “Once we make the first payment of our loan we want to expand that section.”
“That’s why Sally’s here,” Maggie said. “We’ll be talking more about that in the next few weeks, but just know that there are some ideas we’re throwing around and we’ll be coming to all of you for your opinions on that soon.” She glanced around the table. “I know I’ve given you a lot and it can be overwhelming but I want you all to know that I’m dedicated to this lodge, to seeing it succeed.” Maggie looked at his mother, her eyes glassy. “Your mother and father put so much trust in me five years ago when I had little experience to go on. It meant a lot to me, and I just want you guys to know I’m going to repay you for that confidence and trust someday.”
His mother reached out and squeezed Maggie’s hand. “You already have, Maggie.”
“This is a good plan, Maggie,” Jake said. “It looks solid.” If anyone would know about a solid pla
n it would be his brother Jake. Emmett just wished so much of the plan didn’t count on him and his brothers. Except Ben, none of them planned to stay in Canyon Creek long-term. Emmett hoped the budget could withstand it when they had to be replaced.
Maggie nodded and ducked her head, the room falling silent. Emmett knew she was thinking of his dad, and his own thoughts followed hers. He could almost swear he felt the presence of John Sumner in the lodge at times. Maggie and his mother had known his dad better than he had in recent years. A tight band squeezed his chest with regret from the realization.
“Are we done here?” Aaron asked, his strong voice cutting through the quiet. “I’m sorry to leave so soon but I need to head out for the airport if I’m going to make my flight.”
Jake nodded. “I’ve got to pack for my flight.”
His mother rose from her chair. “Yes, I know you have to go. I don’t want to let you, though” she said with a teasing grin, “but I will. We’re finished with the planning, for now.”
“What does for now mean?” Max asked as everyone else stood.
“We’re going to put these changes in place over the next few days,” Maggie said. “We’ll revisit them in four to six weeks to evaluate their effectiveness. Jake, would you be available for video conferences so we can evaluate the changes with you and get your input?”
“Absolutely,” Jake responded with no hesitation, even though his body looked like he’d fall over at any minute. Emmett wondered what was happening with the campaign that had his brother looking like this?
“Jake,” Aunt Sally said, “why don’t you come over to my house so I can fatten you up. You look like a train wreck. You’re eating too much sushi out in California.” She laughed as she slid her arm around Jake’s waist. “That state senator running you ragged?” She asked the question that had been on everyone’s mind.
“If I say yes, do I get apple pie?” Jake smiled down at his aunt.
“Lucky for you I just pulled one from the oven this morning.” Even if she hadn’t, they all knew she would whip one up in no time for her nephew.
“I’m in. As long as I don’t have to listen to Journey,” Jake said.
“You know I make my best desserts when Steve Perry is singing in my ear.”
His brothers groaned.
His mother and aunt had an epic feud about what ’80s rock band was better, Journey or Bon Jovi. Aunt Sally’s bedroom was actually plastered with posters of the leather-clad members of Journey, her band of choice. Their Aunt Lisa was just as fanatic about Van Halen. She’d once told Emmett that David Lee Roth’s ass was so hot, she never felt the need to defend him to her sisters-in-law.
Emmett cringed at the memory.
“Just don’t go into her bathroom,” Ben said.
“Why?” Jake asked.
Emmett and Ben shared a knowing shake of their heads. Jake hadn’t been home since Aunt Sally had redone the bathroom décor. Heaven help him, Emmett still couldn’t get the images out of his head. She’d plastered the walls surrounding her jacuzzi tub with posters of the band. It was…disturbing.
Aunt Sally swatted the air. “Don’t mind those boys.” She led Jake to the door. “You were always my favorite anyway,” she said in a stage whisper that could have been heard on the Noble side of the mountain.
Everyone began to file out of the room. Emmett hoped Maggie’s plan would work. Even though sales had grown steadily since he’d taken over the marketing, things weren’t where he’d like them yet. He had hoped to have more bookings for the wedding barn but it was hard to implement much of what he wanted to for the venue since the build-out wasn’t done.
If his plans for the marketing didn’t kick in as soon as the barn was ready, they could be in real trouble. He wasn’t at all sure he could pull this off as well as Maggie and his mom seemed to think he could.
“Emmett,” his mother called.
He glanced over his shoulder.
She crooked her finger with a raised brow.
Shit.
“Someone’s in trouble,” Max chuckled under his breath.
Emmett shot Max a middle finger behind his back as he slowly watched his safety net file out of the room.
“Have a seat,” his mother said, pointing to a chair.
Great. Now he needed to figure out how to tell his mom he wasn’t going to talk to her about Elle Noble. Ever.
Chapter Two
Emmett’s mother was tall but slender and he’d always thought of her as a little fragile. So why did she seem to tower over him right now?
What was really impressive was how innocent she made her next statement. “Why did you say that about meeting with Elle? I would have thought you would be happy to see her.”
Emmett’s stomach tightened. He was not going to share this story with his mom.
She tried again. “I know Elle left after graduation and there were some troubles between you.”
Troubles was putting it mildly, but it wasn’t graduation he had been thinking about. There was a lot his mom didn’t know. That no one did.
“But you two have been close since pre-K.” His mother pressed on.
Emmett coughed out a laugh. Elle and he had been close at one time, but it was funny his mom should mention pre-K. It seemed that long since things had been uncomplicated between him and Elle.
They’d once been as close as two people could be without becoming intimate. He’d considered Elle his soulmate, even though they’d never kissed until late in high school. He’d watched her date loser after loser and never said a word, only held her when they inevitably broke her heart.
He’d begun to think of her as more, to think that maybe they might have something real and lasting. Until the day she’d crushed him.
“That was a long time ago, Ma.”
She nodded. “I know, I just thought maybe now, since it’s been so long—”
“Look, Ma, you don’t know the whole story.” He glanced at the oak door, wishing he could escape.
“Then tell me.”
Hell no. Wasn’t happening. Emmett shook his head.
“I know she left after graduation and you weren’t able to say good-bye. You were heart-broken.”
Emmett wanted to laugh. He had been heart-broken, but that wasn’t the reason for his anger now. As far as his mom was concerned, the last time he’d seen Elle had been after high school. And as far as he was concerned, she could keep thinking that.
“There isn’t anything to tell, Ma. It’s in the past.”
“I asked Elle,” his mother said.
“You what?”
“She said it was a miscommunication,” his mother continued.
Emmett barked out a laugh. Miscommunication. More like flat-out lie, he thought.
“You know, something’s different about her now,” Emmett said. “When I saw her in the hospital, I could see it right away.”
“How so?” The tilt of his mom’s head made that silver hair swish around her face. She tucked a piece behind her ear in a gesture more like a teenaged girl than a woman in her later fifties, but it was a move he’d always associate with his mother.
Emmett shook his head, breathing deep. He didn’t know why he’d brought it up. Maybe because it had been weighing on him. He shrugged. He didn’t have words for what he was thinking, which was ironic, since he was a writer.
“You need to talk to her, Emmett.”
How the hell did his mother do that? She knew just where his thoughts had gone, and she went right where he needed her not to go.
He didn’t answer.
“I think it could be good for both of you,” she said. “She has some good ideas. Just meet with her, once, for me?”
Emmett raised his head and stared into his mother’s blue eyes. They were brighter now. She looked better than she had in weeks. He didn’t want to disappoint her.
“Really, Ma? You’re breaking out the for me card?”
She smiled, her eyes wrinkled around the edges as she nodded h
er head.
Emmett let out a low growl. “Fine. For you,” he said sarcastically.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” His mother stood and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Thank you for staying and helping me. And believing in me.”
Emmett squeezed her back and nodded. His stomach lit with anger just thinking of meeting with Elle. He’d only seen her that one time at the hospital since he’d been home.
Except for her short hair, she looked exactly the same physically—tall and graceful, ice blue eyes, jet black hair, and skin so flawless it looked airbrushed. She’d been scouted by modeling agents in high school but Elle’s passion had always been dance. She was magic on the dance floor.
His mother released her hold. “Are you all right, Em?”
No.
“Yes,” he answered.
She eyed him suspiciously as she’d done when they were kids. Obviously believing he wouldn’t say more, her gaze cut to the watch on her wrist. “I told Elle you’d be there at three, so you better scoot.” She turned his chair away from the table and pushed on his shoulder.
“What? You set this up for today?” Emmett looked up at the ceiling, as if he might find patience there.
“Three o’clock with Elle. Shoo.” She pointed to the door.
“Ma,” Emmett growled.
She stood straight, her face void of any sign she’d been playing him this whole time.
“You have to stop with this matchmaking shit,” he said. “It isn’t going to happen with me and Elle.”
“Language, Emmett Daniel—”
“Sumner,” the both finished in unison.
“Yeah, that full name thing isn’t working on me this time, lady.” He stood.
“You might want to take a shower and do something with your hair before you head over to meet her.”
“Seriously, Ma? This isn’t a date. It’s not happening.” He’d never admit to his mother, or anyone, but Elle’s disappearing act had crushed him in high school, and it had destroyed him the second time she’d walked away. The time only he and Elle knew about. Emmett wouldn’t allow her to break his heart a third time.