AKA Lexi Frost (Lexi Frost Series) (18 page)

“
She’s a bitch.”

“
But she’s apparently
my
bitch. Until death do us part,” he chuckled lightly.

“
There’s more?”

“
Another time, perhaps. Nothing important.”

“
When were you planning on telling me all this?”

“
Ah, there’s the kicker, I knew I had to tell you. I knew you were smart, so sooner rather than later. I planned to tell you in London or Paris. Things moved faster than I planned, but I got called away. Then New York, but the right time never came. At least that’s what I told myself. I vowed to make the time in Seattle. Over the phone seemed like a poor idea and just, well . . . cowardly.”

Paul leaned over and kissed Teri
’s forehead. “I imagine you hated me when you heard.”

“
I’m sorry.”

“
Do you still?”

“
Hate you? No. I don’t even blame you.”

“
But?”

“
Let me think on it,” she sighed unhappily.

Paul signaled the controller as they passed by.
“That’s fair. So, one more trip around the Ferris wheel. If I kiss you at the top, would I get slapped?”

Teri laughed.
“No.”

They weren
’t quite at the top yet, but Paul slipped a hand behind her neck, pulling her to him. He kissed her deeply, hoping to leave an impression; knowing it could be the last. The kiss lasted until the ride started to slow as the operator brought their bench down to stop.

“
Don’t torture me too long, okay?” Paul asked quietly as he pushed the bar forward and got out. He held out a hand for Teri and helped her down.

“
I’ll try. I am flying out tonight, regardless.”

“
I’ll drop you off at the airport,” Paul said as they walked back out toward the street. The limo driver was waiting for them as they reached the sidewalk. Paul held open the door for Teri and then slid in after her. Nicholas rejoined them while they were talking, sitting in the front seat with the driver. He called to make the airline arrangements as they headed to LAX. Paul, with a protective arm around Teri, prayed it wouldn’t be the last time saw her.

The next week was stressful for Paul. He stayed in New York to give Teri some space. It was difficult to restrain his desire to call her just to hear her voice. He wanted to pick her brain for how she was feeling about their talk and offer assurances that he loved only her.

On the second day he gave his cell phone to Tim. Of course that left Paul access to email and landlines. Paul wasn
’t a victim of depending on his phone’s contacts list. He had Teri’s home number, cell number, and email addresses committed to memory. With so many other avenues available to encroach on her contemplation, he finally simply had Tim with him every waking moment.

On the third day after his return to
New York, Tim moved into Paul’s guest room. He cleared Paul’s schedule for the remainder of the week and told Lia not to book any more meetings until further notice. He also ensured Paul’s normal reviews and routines were being handled so nothing would fall through the cracks. Paul frowned when Tim told him, but Tim knew his job.

“
Paul, work won’t be a distraction while you wait this time. Your mind’s not in it and it’ll only cause more stress later. Besides, you don’t want the office to see you agitated like this. For now, the office is off limits.”

Paul conceded. He trusted Tim. Tim was a good man
, a loyal man, Paul’s man. He hoped Teri liked him.

On the fourth day
, Tim called a doctor because Paul wasn’t sleeping. The doctor suggested taking a vacation. Then reminded Paul he hadn’t had a physical in nearly three years. Paul put it off for now. He was too stressed and he was sure it’d affect something in the physical.

Tim arranged a visit to rural
Vermont on the fifth day. Paul spent an entire day riding horses in the peaceful countryside. Tim extended the stay when Paul seemed to be unwinding a bit, and arranged to take him fishing the next day.

Early the next morning
, Paul and Tim rose to go fishing in a small lake about an hour from the resort. The guide, a grizzled, gray mountain man known only as Bob, picked them up, outfitted them, and entertained them with hunting stories as he drove them up the rough country road through the dew-drenched forest. A clearing came into view ahead, and then a small abandoned cabin.

“
Stop,” Paul ordered when he saw the cabin. Bob pulled the battered Bronco over in front of the cabin’s collapsing front fence and Paul got out.

Paul looked over the cabin in the early morning sun. Teri called it the golden hour: the
brief time when the sun casts a visual warmth over everything it touches. The cabin certainly needed that little bit of help.

A low picket fence
, with remnants of white paint on it, circled the yard - although only parts of it still stood. Paul walked through the opening where the gate once hung. The cobblestone path threatened to disappear beneath moss growing in the space between the rocks. The grass hadn’t been mowed in an undetermined amount of time, and the flowerbeds were unattended long enough that the roses grew wild and threatened to obscure the windows behind them.

Tall
, broad maples and oaks grew nearby - far enough to allow the sun to shine on the cabin, but near enough to show they belonged to the yard and not the forest starting to encroach on the property. Along one side was a large open area with remnants of a wood pole fence, possibly for horses.

As Paul studied the area
, he saw a small shed in the far corner and the remains of a barn. The barn was a write off, it had long ago collapsed and only the frame was clearly identifiable. A good place for snakes and lizards to hide, he realized, and smiled at the thought.

The cabin itself appeared neglected but sound. It needed paint
, but it didn’t sag anywhere that he could see. The stone foundation didn’t show any obvious cracks as he wandered around it. The wood siding seemed secure, and only a few shingles and shutters were missing. A good portion of the back was taken up with a wide stone chimney, which also seemed to be in decent shape.

Paul peered in through one of the windows. As he suspected
, the cabin was mostly one room with a loft above it. There appeared to be a room under the stairs, probably the bathroom, and a tiny kitchen with an old-fashioned stove and refrigerator in one corner. There was just enough room for a sitting area near the fireplace and a small table near the kitchen. Perhaps some bookshelves, but a desk would be pushing it.

Perfect.

He walked back around to where Tim and Bob stood by the Bronco.

“
Who owns this?” Paul asked Bob.

“
Bank I’d imagine,” Bob answered, scratching at his beard. “Used to belong to Ol’ Doris, but she passed ‘long time ago and didn’t have kids or nothin’.”

Tim pulled out his phone and just nodded when Paul looked at him.
“Bob, do you have an address for this location?” Tim asked.

“
Nah, just say it’s Doris’s cabin, they’ll know.”

Tim raised an eyebrow in surprise
, but nodded in acceptance. Paul turned to consider the property as Tim got the number and hours for the local banks.

“
It’ll be awhile yet before the banks open, Paul. Shall we go fishing?” Tim asked.

Paul hesitated
, then nodded. He didn’t want to leave, but there was really no point in staying. They piled back into the Bronco, Paul taking the back seat this time to think about his plans for the new acquisition. That he’d buy the cabin was a foregone conclusion. No one else wanted it; he did, and he was willing to pay what was needed. He didn’t get to be a multi-millionaire by throwing money away. But Paul knew that money was for more than just keeping score in the game called big business.

He smiled as he pictured Teri hunting snakes in the debris of the barn. A fire in the fireplace
, a cozy little getaway for the two of them with a resort down the road for everyone else. He wondered how fast Tim could get it in good repair.

They pulled over near a small lake with a boat dock jutting out into the water. The lake didn
’t look big enough to warrant a dock, but Paul didn’t question it. Within fifteen minutes of their arrival, all three men sat on the dock with lines in the water. They sat quietly waiting for the fish to discover the tidbits they used to bait their hooks.

After sitting silently and still for an hour
, each man lost in his own thoughts, Paul’s phone beeped faintly in Tim’s pocket. Tim pulled it out and looked at the text. He smiled as he handed it to Paul and took his pole.

You
’re forgiven and you can take me to dinner. I’m thinking seafood.

Ten minutes later
, they were back in the Bronco and heading for the helicopter pad at the resort.

Lia met the helicopter at the airport in New York with the garment bag Paul left packed for impromptu trips. It supplemented the small bag he packed for the trip to Vermont, but not by much. Paul took the garment bag and got on the next flight to Seattle, not willing to waste the time to go home and repack. Tim would follow Paul on a later flight with properly packed bags. By the time Paul arrived in Seattle, Tim had a car and driver waiting at the airport to take him to the hotel.

“
Mr. Lovett?” The chauffeur confirmed as Paul approached.

“
Yes.”

“
My name is Charles, sir. Mr. DeLaney has hotel and dinner reservations arranged. He asked me to give you this to review on the way to the hotel.” Charles handed Paul a manila envelope and took Paul’s bag. “This way, sir.” Charles led Paul through SeaTac International to where a limo waited at the curb with another driver. Charles opened the door for Paul and put his bags in the trunk before joining the driver in the front.

Paul was already preoccupied with the contents of the envelope by the time they pulled away from the curb. Tim was his usual efficient self
, Paul noted with gratitude. The envelope held faxes regarding the cabin he looked at that morning. Old Doris’s cabin sat on ten acres and the bank was asking $700,000 because of it. Tim noted the estimated appraisals on similar properties in the area and that a local realtor believed the bank would accept $675,000 because there hadn’t been any interest in the property. Also, the road to the cabin is said to be virtually impassable except by snowcat during the winter months.

Tim had an appointment set up for the realtor to let a general contractor into the house to examine the structure
, with a local architect and a photographer to take pictures and submit design concepts for Paul’s review. Paul glanced at his watch. The realtor would have opened the house for the contractor over an hour ago. As if on cue, his phone rang.

“
Tim, I was just looking over your fax. Excellent work,” Paul answered with a smile.

“
I’m glad you appreciate it. I just got off the phone with the contractor. He’s still looking things over, but the cabin will take a lot of work. The foundation is good, but the structural integrity has been compromised by mold and the roof needs to be replaced. The photographer is taking specific pictures of problem areas. The outbuildings are a write off, but I suspect you were aware of that.”

“
They should house some local wildlife though.”

“
Okay, we’ll leave the outbuildings alone. Would you like to make an offer or wait for the architect’s concepts? He’s focusing on maintaining the general impression of a rustic cabin, but adding small comforts so you wouldn’t actually be camping. A water heater, for example. I told him to plan for a large one, given Ms. Giles’ fondness for long baths.”

“
Good thinking. I want it, but let’s keep it from Teri for now.”

“
I assumed as much. I’ll call the realtor back and we’ll make an offer. Given the state, I think offer $650,000 and go from there.”

“
Sounds good, Tim.”

“
All right. I’ll be there tonight but you’re going to have to wear your back-up suit for dinner. The hotel has the information for your dinner reservations and there should be a selection of flowers waiting in your room. Daffodils are out of season, but I encouraged them to try to find some.”

“
I’ll take what I can get at this point. Thank you, Tim,” Paul said sincerely.

“
Good luck, Paul.”

Paul arrived at Teri
’s house that evening with a small pot of spindly green leaves that would someday be daffodils. For now they looked like chives and he briefly reconsidered giving them to her. He should have chosen the roses. Shaking away his doubts, Paul cursed his sudden bout of indecision. He
never
second-guessed himself.

In an effort to ignore the disappointing flowers
, Paul looked out his window. He’d seen pictures of the house, but he still sat in the back of the limo analyzing her home for a moment.