“You must be proud of them.”
The older man nodded. “That goes without saying. And it has nothing to do with their careers or what they’ve chosen in life. Morgan, Paige and Leah turned out to be good people. They’re kind and caring, and most importantly, happy. There’s nothing more a parent could ask for.”
“I’d give anything to make that happen for Lauren.”
Tim stared at him. “I’d say you’re making a good start. You brought her with you. There’s nothing better than spending time with your child.”
“It isn’t always that simple in my line of work.” After seeing her reaction to Morgan and the rest of the Keenan family, he realized how hungry Lauren was for a stable life. He wasn’t sure if he could give her that.
Tim leaned back in his chair. “It’s only as complicated as you make it. Of course there are choices to make.”
“Explain that to my father,” Justin said. Marshall Justin Hilliard, Sr. believed in success at all costs. Marriage and family had always come second.
“Hilliard Industries is a large conglomerate, with interests all over the world. I expect it takes a lot of manpower to run, but you should be able to delegate some of the work.” Tim arched an eyebrow. “In fact, you could have sent an assistant to oversee this project.”
Justin took a drink of his wine, not sure how much he should reveal right now. In the past, honesty had always been his strength in his business dealings and it might be time to lay out his plan.
Morgan came into the room with Lauren. His daughter was proudly carrying a small dish of ice cream with colorful sprinkles on top. He smiled and helped settle her back in her chair.
There was nothing like seeing Lauren’s happiness. “There’s a reason I didn’t send my assistant.”
That drew Morgan’s attention from across the table. “It’s because if I decide to open a resort here, it won’t be a Hilliard Industries investment,” Justin began. “It will be mine and Lauren’s because…if this project turns out to be right for us, Destiny will also be our home.”
CHAPTER TWO
THE next morning in the conference room at City Hall a familiar feeling crept into Morgan’s stomach, but she pushed away the nervousness. She could do this. She had worked for years to regain control of her life. She’d earned her position as mayor and the community trusted her to bring in new revenue. She wasn’t going to let them down now. She’d gone over her proposal so many times that she could sell the idea to anyone.
But Justin Hilliard wasn’t just anyone. Having that good-looking man sitting across the table, studying her closely, was a little intimidating. She’d better get used to it, since he’d announced his plans to live here permanently.
Even without his company behind him, he was powerful in his own right. He could do so much for their small community. Building the resort alone, would mean hiring hundreds of laborers. She felt her own excitement growing and took a calming breath.
“As you can see from the chart, this area is perfect for an extreme ski resort. In fact, the established resorts are booked solid all season and have to turn people away. We’re hoping to get the skiers who want a more challenging run.”
She pointed to the huge graphics chart that Paige had helped her put together, along with Leah’s slide show of the incredible photos she’d taken of the ski area.
“With a new area opening up,” she continued, “along with five-star accommodations, we could handle the overflow.”
“What about the environmentalists?” Justin asked.
Morgan allowed herself to smile. “We’ve been okayed for the Silver Sky Canyon area as long as we limit the number of skiers on the mountain. The canyon is perfect for what we have in mind.”
“Extreme skiing,” Justin said thoughtfully.
She nodded. “It’s the big craze right now.”
“Won’t that drive up the insurance costs?”
Morgan knew she was being tested. Justin Hilliard wouldn’t have wasted his time in Destiny if he hadn’t checked this all out. She glanced down the table to the town controller/treasurer, Beverly Whiting. The middle-aged woman had been Morgan’s biggest supporter since she’d been sworn into office.
“It’s all in Beverly’s report,” Morgan said. “And remember the caliber of skier we’ll be catering to. They won’t hesitate to pay for the excitement, the adrenaline rush.”
Morgan watched as he continued to study the report, then glanced at Paige who smiled encouragingly.
“If I do decide to invest in the resort,” Justin Hilliard began, “and build a hotel here, it could cut into some of the businesses in town.”
“But if you employ locals in construction it will help our economy immediately, and we’ll eventually get revenue from the ski run.” In the original deal the town continued to own the land, but they needed an investor to build the resort and run it.
Morgan flipped her chart to the last page to show the mock-up of a planned strip mall next to the hotel complex. “And if you agree, we’d like to add a row of stores available for leasing. No chain fast food places, only fine restaurants, and one-of-a-kind shops.”
“Like your quilt shop?”
She shrugged. “We have a silversmith that could make jewelry for shops, and there are artists in the area who would love to sell locally.”
“What if I bring in my own people to run things?”
Would he do that? Morgan calmed herself once again. “They will still have to live and shop in Destiny. And I think you know that working with the community is more cost efficient.”
Justin Hilliard sat there with his elbows on the table and his fingers steepled together as if thinking of another question. Then he closed his booklet and stood.
“Thank you, Mayor.” He shook her hand, then went down to the end of the table and did the same with Beverly and Paige. He came back to Morgan. “Your presentation was impressive.”
“This project is close to all of us. Several people were involved in the planning.” She no sooner got the words out when the door opened and Lyle Hutchinson barged into the room.
“Did you think I wouldn’t hear about this?” the graying man in his mid-fifties said as he marched up to Morgan. “Just because you’re mayor doesn’t mean you get to make all the decisions for the town.”
This was the last thing Morgan needed today. Lyle Hutchinson, a descendant of one of Destiny’s founding families, hated the fact that he didn’t have a say-so in this, or a chance for any financial gain from the future ski resort.
“Lyle, you were there when we voted on the project at the last council meeting,” Morgan said. “Maybe if you met Mr. Hilliard…”
The usually impeccably groomed banker looked frazzled as he shook a finger in her face. “You aren’t going to get away with this. Mark my words I’ll stop you if it’s the last thing I do.”
Justin wasn’t going to stand back while this angry man threatened her. He moved around the table.
“I think you better step back from Ms. Keenan,” he warned.
The older man glared at Justin. “This isn’t your business.”
“I’m making it mine.” Justin straightened. “For the last time, move away from Ms. Keenan, or I’ll move you myself. Your choice.”
The man continued to glare at Morgan, but he finally did as Justin suggested. “This isn’t