After Stella registered several people, she headed toward her office just to double-check on the couples currently on fantasy dates. No matter what the couple wanted, the discreet employees at Mirage worked overtime to make it happen.
In the short time she’d been there, she’d had some strange requests and some...risqué ones, as well. It was not her place to judge or try to understand people’s fetishes, but she had to admit sometimes she was intrigued.
And that intrigue only intensified when the thought of Dane Michaels flooded her mind. She couldn’t help but wonder what he’d think if she invited him to the Lumberjack Room or the Campfires and Corsets Room. No doubt she’d be in over her head, but part of her wanted to. She ached to get his hands on her.
But there would be no need for fantasy dates between her and the sexy rancher in the penthouse. That man was already like every single sexy dream she’d ever had come to life. If she wanted to try something daring, risky, adventurous, she had a feeling just sleeping with that man would embody all three.
Stella smoothed her hair behind her ears and let out a sigh as she rounded her desk. She didn’t bother taking a seat, there was never any time for such things. She cross-referenced her lists of guests and their requests, feeling reassured in her certainty that her staff could handle every need that was requested and any additional ones coming in.
Well, food and fantasies were covered for the next twenty-four hours. Maybe she would get through this day without a complete meltdown or catastrophe. One could hope.
Stella rounded her desk to head back out, but Dane filled her doorway and she froze in place. Her hand rested on the mahogany desk and her toes curled in her boots.
“Didn’t think you’d be someone stuck in an office.”
He hooked his thumbs through his belt loops and steadied those dark eyes right on hers...right after he gave her a visual sampling. Perhaps the sampling he’d had last night hadn’t been enough.
Her eyes were drawn to that belt buckle again. She’d ask him about the emblem sometime, though she already knew he’d tell her that it was his ranch. She found that she genuinely wanted to know more about it...about him.
“I’m rarely in here,” Stella replied, attempting to get her heart rate and nerves to settle. “I had a few things to check on. How did you know where my office was?”
The offices and anything considered “behind the scenes” were discreetly hidden from guests. Lara had thought of everything when she’d designed the adult retreat. She’d wanted the guests to feel like they were truly in a magical place and reality didn’t exist.
Dane shrugged and offered that sexy, borderline naughty half grin. “I can be persuasive when I want something.”
Wasn’t that the truth. She wasn’t naive enough to ask him what he wanted from her. He’d made that perfectly clear last night. In his defense, she’d also made her own wants quite apparent, even if she hadn’t fully acted on them.
“Dane—”
Her cell rang from inside the pocket of her button-up plaid dress. She held up a hand to Dane. “I need to take this.”
He nodded, but didn’t step out to give her privacy. Instead, he actually came on in and made himself at home by going straight to the window to look out over the back of the property.
Stella smiled at his audacity, but pulled her ringing phone out. One look at the screen and that smile vanished. She resisted the urge to groan or flat-out ignore the call, but she reminded herself that she wanted this. She wanted a relationship, so she swiped her finger across the screen.
“Dad,” she greeted. “I haven’t heard from you for a while. How are you?”
“I’ve been busy working.” The gruff reply wasn’t abnormal or unexpected. “Have you been keeping an eye on the weather? There’s a storm coming and they’re saying it could be quite substantial.”
Storms in Montana were always substantial. They were in the mountains so high, they were about one good stretch from touching clouds—or so it seemed most days. Snow and blizzards were nothing new here. And of course she kept her eye on the weather. Just like everything else around here. She had to stay sharp and know everything going on inside and out of her resort. Well...almost her resort.
“I’m aware,” she replied, risking a glance to Dane who remained with his back to her. “Everything is under control, Dad. Our backup systems have never failed and all of our guests will remain comfortable and happy. We’re actually booked up for the next month.”
She couldn’t help the pride that surged through her. When she’d come on board, they hadn’t been completely booked up, which told her that her marketing team had tapped into something brilliant in a relatively short time.
“Only a month ahead?” he scoffed.
Stella gritted her teeth and turned to pace to the other end of the office. There was no way Dane wasn’t hearing every word she said, but she couldn’t focus on the handsome stranger right now.
“In comparison to last year, we’re doing a remarkable job,” she retorted. “It’s been years since Mirage has been completely booked for more than a night at a time.”
When her father had first purchased the resort, he’d had an amazing manager, but when that manager passed away suddenly, her father had scrambled to fill the spot. Unfortunately, the replacement lasted only a year and that had been enough time to see numbers start to decline.
So here she was cleaning up someone else’s mess all while proving to her father that she was capable and deserved to have this property.
“One month of solid bookings won’t make up for three years of dismal numbers,” he replied.
“Yes, well, I’m working as hard as I can.” If he was here, perhaps he’d see that. “I’m confident the numbers will continue to grow now that I’m in charge.”
“And what have you done about the chef who quit?”
Of course he would know about that. He wasn’t a ruthless businessman for nothing. He’d never let his investments go unsupervised—and he wouldn’t consider his daughter to be supervision enough on her own. Stella had no doubt her father had spies strategically placed throughout the resort, either as employees or guests.
Dread curled through her. She’d just been half joking to herself, imaging the resort full of spies, but now that she thought about it, she realized she wouldn’t put it past him. In fact, she was positive he’d done just that. There was no other way he would know about the chef less than twenty-four hours after the man quit.
“Like I said, I have everything under control,” she told him.
On a sigh, she spun back around, only to lock eyes on Dane. She hadn’t seen that look from him before...something akin to compassion or worry. But just as quick as she saw it, the look vanished.
“If you want to know more about what’s going on here, you can ask me or maybe come check things out yourself. I think you’d be pleasantly surprised,” she added. “But I don’t appreciate being spied on.”
Her breath caught in her throat as she continued to stare at Dane. “I have to go,” she told her dad before disconnecting the call.
Without taking her eyes from Dane, she slid her phone back into her pocket then crossed her arms.
“How long have you been working for my father?”
Dane’s dark brows rose toward his hairline. “Excuse me?”
“You were sent here to spy on me, right? See if I can actually do this job and not screw it up?”
She’d been such a fool to think a kind stranger just happened upon her and saved the day, then was suddenly attracted to her.
“Does he know you want to sleep with me or is that all part of his plan?” Stella asked, suddenly sickened at the idea. “How much is he paying you?”
Before she could draw her next breath, Dane had closed the distance between them. His fingers curled around her biceps and he hauled her against his chest. The
motion had her tipping her head back to keep her focus on him.
“You think I’d whore myself out?” he demanded. “I don’t work for anybody and I sure as hell wouldn’t take money to have sex with you.”
Oh, he was angry. She didn’t know Dane, but after hearing the conviction in his voice, she had no doubt he was telling the truth. Beneath that anger, Stella saw pain.
“When I get you in my bed, it won’t have anything to do with your father,” he growled.
When.
Her entire body heated between the threatened promise of her in his bed and the way he’d plastered his body against hers from hip to chest, and Stella couldn’t do a thing but hold on.
She gripped his arms and stared back into those dark eyes, now hard with fury. But she wasn’t scared. Dane wouldn’t hurt her. Someone who sacrificed his whole evening to help a complete stranger, expecting nothing in return, wasn’t a person who should be feared.
But he was hurt by her accusation.
“I’m sorry.” Stella closed her eyes and pulled in a shaky breath, trying to rein in her frustrations. “My father... It’s all complicated, but I think he’s spying on me and how I’m doing here. With the timing of you showing up, I just jumped to conclusions when I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
Dane’s grip lessened, but he didn’t let her go. He eased back slightly, the muscle in his jaw clenched.
“Your father doesn’t trust you?” Dane asked, his brows drawn in.
“Apparently not. I never thought that was an issue,” she replied, hurt spreading through her. “But it would seem that my loyalty is in question or at least my judgment.” Stella shook her head and attempted a smile. “I don’t know why I find you so easy to talk to. Sorry about all that.”
Dane stroked his thumbs over the curve of her shoulders. “Don’t apologize. I’d say I’m easy to talk to because I don’t know the dynamics here. I’m just a stranger to you.”
Yes, something she needed to remind herself of. She shouldn’t get wrapped up in a stranger, emotionally or physically.
Yet here she was, doing a stellar job of both.
Everyone had a breaking point and apparently Dane Michaels was hers. She’d worked so hard for so long, putting her personal life on the back burner. No, her personal life wasn’t even on the stove, let alone a burner.
Maybe she should take an hour a day just for herself...and whatever pleasantries came along.
“Come to my penthouse for dinner,” she told him. “I’ll have everything ready at eight.”
Dane’s brows shot up. “You live on-site full-time?”
Stella nodded. “There’s no way I’d want to commute when I’m always needed. This resort is my life, my baby. I want to always be available.”
“You really do love this place,” he muttered.
“Of course I do.” She stepped back, needing to distance herself from the man who had her reevaluating her priorities. “So, eight o’clock?”
“You don’t need to feed me dinner.”
Stella smoothed her hair away from her face and squared her shoulders. “I do, so don’t argue. I’ll apologize and you’ll be a gentleman and accept my offerings.”
Once again, he got that hungry look in his eyes. Being in such close proximity with Dane made it quite difficult to remain a professional.
“Do you really think you’ll be back to your room by eight?”
“I’ll make it happen if you promise to be there.”
Dane flashed her that smile that had her stomach tightening with anticipation. “I’ll be there.”
He leaned forward, not reaching for her or even attempting to touch her. His breath on the curve of her ear sent shivers assaulting her every nerve ending.
“I’m counting down the hours until I touch you again,” he murmured.
Before she could regain her mental balance, Dane had eased around her and walked out of her office. Stella remained in place, wondering how she was going to focus on work when her body was more than ready for Dane’s promised touch.
And just how the hell was she supposed to concentrate on the potential storm heading toward the resort when her own storm was taking over her emotions?
Six
Damn. There was nothing sexier than an aggressive, confident woman. Stella not only embodied both of those qualities, she was so much more and Dane hadn’t expected her to be the complete package.
What he had expected to be a little flirting with a vulnerable woman who would give him insight to her father was turning into so much more than he ever expected.
Dane had the flirting down and was well on his way to the seduction—a little too well, really. Whenever he was near her, he couldn’t seem to remember why taking her to bed was anything other than an excellent idea. He was drawing her in, just as he’d intended, and yet the draw pulled just as strongly on him. This woman was a force all her own.
And as far as the insight to her father? Well, Dane’s original assumptions were correct. The guy was a bastard in the same over-entitled category as his own stepfather.
It was no wonder those two had done a business deal. Sharks tended to swim together. But Dane had heard a rumor the reality was that Robert had lost the resort in a gambling bet gone bad.
Never in all of his plotting and scheming did he ever think she’d assume he worked for her father. Dane hadn’t lied when he told her no. He hadn’t lied when he said he wouldn’t whore himself out or take money for sex.
But he would take the resort.
The guilt he’d tried to ignore, the guilt he’d told himself wasn’t there, suddenly grew sharp teeth and clung tight to his soul.
He’d come this far. Nothing and no one would stop him...not even Stella. He hated with every ounce that she was going to get hurt by his takeover of the resort. There was no avoiding that. But perhaps once she moved on she would see that Dane had saved her from her father. Because that man would never be happy with her running any of his businesses. Dane wasn’t sure of the issues that circulated between father and daughter. That wasn’t Dane’s business, but that didn’t stop him from wondering.
Dane left his penthouse at exactly eight and headed toward Stella’s rooms on the other side of the resort. Since leaving her earlier he’d done some exploring, taking in what had been changed since his mother’s passing and the last time he’d been there.
But even the remodeling, the addition with more saunas and private movie rooms in the back, the suspended decks overlooking the valley...none of that had taken his mind off the scene in Stella’s office. His mind just kept circling back to the phone call he’d overheard.
What the hell kind of game was her father playing? From what Dane knew, Stella had six months to turn this resort around and pull in more money than the previous manager had lost in the past year—a manager hired by Stella’s father, and kept in the position despite obvious incompetence, when her father still didn’t see her as fit for the job.
Well, here she was, doing a stellar job and Ruiz Garcia still didn’t see what an amazing businesswoman she truly was. Dane hadn’t missed the way she’d lowered her voice when he’d been present. He hadn’t missed the disappointment and the hurt lacing each and every word. And he hadn’t missed the pain in her eyes when she’d realized her father had likely planted a spy.
What really pissed him off was that she’d thought that was him. But he wasn’t angry with her anymore—no, he was angry with himself. She had every reason to be suspicious, given the timing. But her suspicions were pointing her in the wrong direction. He was a spy, but the only person he worked for was himself. Dane would never work for a backstabbing mastermind like Ruiz, but could he really claim to be that much better when he was plotting against Stella even as he headed toward her for their date?
Dane made his way through the lobby and glanced out the doors into the darkened nig
ht. Snowflakes swirled around in the beams of light. The storm was rolling in and, if the forecast was correct, they were in for a hell of a blizzard.
Living in Montana had acclimated him to snow and cold. He loved the weather, actually. His ranch was postcard worthy all blanketed with snow. He longed to be back there now, to be in his den with a roaring fire and his two golden retrievers, Buck and Bronco, asleep on the rug in front of the crackling flames.
Thankfully his housekeeper was staying in the guest quarters and taking care of the dogs while his foreman oversaw everything ranch-related. Dane trusted very few people, but once they were in his inner circle, they were there for life.
As Dane passed the hallway toward the Sleepy Forest suites, he did a quick glance and spotted a couple in their midfifties, if he had to guess. They were hand in hand and staring at each other as if nobody else existed outside their happy little bubble.
Dane couldn’t imagine ever letting someone that deeply into his heart. There was only so much brokenness a man could take and Dane truly felt he’d had his fair share over time. With the loss of his mother, the distance with his brother, the loss of friends in the war...
He didn’t even want to pretend to play the game of feelings and emotions and hoping for a successful long-term relationship. Living on his own and worrying only about himself and his ranch was more than enough to make him happy in this life.
When he took the private elevator to Stella’s penthouse, he forced himself to calm down and regain his focus. Getting wrapped up in her personal struggles with her father was definitely not Dane’s place. The only reason he needed that information was to use it to obtain everything he wanted.
And the damn guilt? He couldn’t get wrapped up in that, either. Not only was his brother counting on him, Dane owed this to his mother who never, ever had any intention of selling her businesses...let alone to the devil.
Stella may think she wanted to be here and manage Mirage, but until she was out from her father’s thumb, would she truly be happy?
She was brilliant, she had a drive not many people had. Stella would go on to do greater things, on her own, without her father.
Montana Seduction Page 5