He opened the door to usher her inside. “What do you mean they? I bought this place two years ago.”
She gaped at him while he edged past her. “You own the Hearthside?”
“Long way up from pro-shop manager, huh?” He had to laugh. He still couldn’t believe he’d wrangled this prime piece of real estate from its former owner. But he had, and this business belonged to him as much as Mogul Ryders.
“I’ll say. Congratulations.” A new light glimmered in her green eyes. Respect. “I never would have taken you for the type of person who would spend enough time in one place to run a hotel.”
That single comment brought back a wealth of memories on why they hadn’t stayed together. He flipped on his computer screen and avoided her gaze. “A management group takes charge when I travel.”
“Oh.” She apparently thought his globe-trotting ways were as irresponsible as ever.
He flicked on the gas fireplace to heat the rooms. The temperature had definitely dropped a couple of degrees since they’d walked in his office. He thought of other, more pleasurable ways to generate some warmth, but they had to talk business first. With more than a little regret, he reminded himself he needed her brains more than her body.
For now.
“Have a seat.” He pulled a dry towel off the back of his desk chair and flung it on the seat so his suit didn’t soak the upholstery. “I appreciate you coming up here, Tessa. When I started searching for marketing help, I wasn’t expecting to find you. You’ve sure made your mark.”
Tessa had told him eight years ago that she wouldn’t travel with him because she wanted to do just that. Make her mark. He wondered if she was happy now that she’d achieved her goal.
She folded her coat carefully around her and took a seat across from him. “I travel a lot for my job. The trip wasn’t a problem.”
“I mean because of our history.” He wasn’t willing to act as if nothing had happened between them. She’d affected him too much for that.
Her eyes widened just a little, but she maintained her cool. “I assumed it wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Great. How about we get together for dinner later and we’ll go over Mogul Ryders’ business plan?”
She opened her mouth, but no words issued forth. On the second try, she managed, “Tonight?”
“The sooner the better, don’t you think?”
“I haven’t finished the marketing plan yet, though. Maybe if we wait—”
“Are we going to be able to work together on this, Tessa?” He eyed her with a level gaze, all thoughts of their past put aside for the moment. Sure he owed Ines Cordova big time for convincing Tessa to come to Lake Placid again—he hadn’t been able to get Tessa out of his head ever since his accident. But no matter what he hoped might transpire between him and Tessa on a personal level this week, he wouldn’t risk a misstep with the marketing.
“Of course we are. Didn’t you specifically request my help in getting your new product line off the ground?” She returned his gaze, and for a minute, Mitch spied the steely determination that had no doubt helped catapult her to the top of her field.
“I’ve heard you’re the best.” He leaned closer. “But if you’re going to find it difficult to work with me, maybe we shouldn’t go through with this.”
“It’s been eight years, Mitch.” She folded her arms across breasts he remembered all too well. “I think I’m over you.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “Good. Then you won’t mind having dinner with me tonight. How is seven o’clock?”
She puffed out a small sigh and smoothed her hand over a stray lock of blond hair. His hand itched to mess it up again.
“Seven is fine,” she said finally. “I just want to give you fair warning. I barely had time to repack my suitcase this weekend, let alone do thorough research. I really had intended on working alone tonight.”
Perhaps he frowned at that, because she waved her hands in an impatient gesture.
“I don’t mean to suggest this puts me behind on your account. You have my personal assurance that we’ll come up with just the right marketing strategy for Mogul Ryders.”
Mitch stood. “Okay. You want to take the nickel tour before I walk you upstairs?”
He pulled one of the hotel’s robes off the back of the bathroom door and tossed it around his shoulders. Since his half-dressed state hadn’t made her swoon in appreciation yet, he figured he might as well try another tack.
“I’ve kept my own findings and market research in here.” He opened the door to a second sitting area and wondered if she’d notice the room’s central furnishing. “Just help yourself to anything you might need.”
He gestured to the stacks of brochures and folders on the file cabinets, but Tessa barely gave them a glance. Her eyes were glued to their old make-out couch in the corner.
Her breath caught.
Her cheeks grew pink.
She gulped visibly.
Maybe their weeks together had been as memorable for her as they had been for him.
Although the green love seat used to reside in the library, site of many of their out-of-control kisses, he’d moved the small couch in his office when he bought the ski lodge. Perhaps he wasn’t really playing fair to tease her with it, but he couldn’t resist the temptation to see her reaction.
She looked so much more buttoned-up than she used to. So off-limits.
When he’d first met her, Tessa had searched for adventure around every corner. She was the only girl he’d ever dated who gladly let him teach her how to snowboard. And she’d taken to it like a pro. He doubted she’d ever be so daring now. In her trench coat and navy pumps, she looked more fit for the boardroom than the slopes.
She faced him, cool as you please in spite of the steamy memories the love seat from the library had to call to mind. “Why don’t you box up the files and send them to my room? In fact, I should probably settle in now so I can review my notes before tonight, Mitch. I really can compile a comprehensive plan for your company once I sit down and—”
“I know you can. That’s why I hired you.”
She arched a brow as if she didn’t believe him.
“If you think I hired you because of what happened between us, you’re wrong.” Mostly. “I requested you because you’re reputed to have one of the sharpest marketing minds on the Eastern seaboard.”
That much was true. He’d been amazed to read her bio.
He stood in front of her, making sure to leave enough space between them to reinforce his claim that he only brought her here for business. He couldn’t afford to scare her away. “I need an expert to help me make Mogul Ryders a blowout success.”
Ever since Mitch had lost his ability to compete on the slopes, he’d hung his voracious need to succeed on his business. Tessa would be his ticket to realizing his goals.
She looked him in the eye. “I can do it.”
He shook his head. He didn’t want to hear the pat assurances she’d reel off to any of her clients. “But you said you hadn’t fully researched my company. What if—”
“Frankly, Mitch, if you made snake oil, I could sell it for you with a kick-butt return on your investment.”
He couldn’t help a low whistle of admiration. The cool confidence in her gaze made him a believer. “Really?”
She grinned. “Really.”