Decker didn’t miss how Kendall appreciated the presentation of the dishes. Although she was no stranger to fine dining, she didn’t bask in the elegance for the wrong reason, though. The way she took it all in, smelled the aromas, told Decker she loved the art and the tastes more than the privilege. She hadn’t lost her humble nature and took nothing for granted.
Like now, she lifted her spoon and smelled with her eyes closed before sampling the soup. When she finished she looked at him and said, “You know what I love most about dinners like this?”
He felt a shot of warmth as he observed her. “No, what?”
“I don’t have many meals like this, but when I do, they’re always special because they take time. It’s more than good food. It’s the entire experience, and the social aspect.”
He concurred, especially about the time. His curiosity of her grew and he needed to know more. “Is that why you agreed to this dinner?”
She stopped eating the soup. “No, of course not.”
It had to be more than him, or more aptly, their fathers coming to her. “Then why even consider marrying me?”
“Why did you even consider marrying me?” she volleyed back.
“I asked you first.”
Smiling, giving him another shot of warmth, she murmured, “I guess I haven’t really considered it yet. I wanted to meet you. See how it went.”
“And how is it going?”
“I’d say quite well.” Still looking at him with a soft smile, she asked, “Are you going to answer the question now?”
Decker wasn’t ready to let her off the hook yet. She hadn’t exactly answered his question. Why did she skirt it? “So you have no intention of marrying me? Why agree to dinner with me, knowing this is all for the purpose of the two of us getting married?”
She took a moment before responding. “Like I said, I wanted to meet you, meet the man and see how the high school boy turned out. Do I have to definitively say I’ll marry you yet?”
“I can give you until after dinner,” he half joked.
She smiled again, bigger this time. “What about you? Why did you consider marrying me?”
“I’m not sure I did. I worried that I’d do yet another thing my father expects of me,” he said.
Her smile faded and her brow lowered as though confused. “Then why...”
“I was curious, too. I remembered you from high school and I had to see you.”
“It was the same for me,” she confessed.
After a long stare, she lowered her eyes first and he forced himself to pay attention to the soup. His anticipation of continuing this courtship stimulated him more and more.
Minutes later, two servants returned with fresh plates.
“Sea bass served with celeriac purée, sorrel leaves and smoked sauce,” one of them said.
Kendall went about her usual delighted inspection before enjoying the first bite.
“What do you like to do in your spare time?” he asked as they shared the meal.
“I love being outside. I also read a lot. Flower garden. Go out for lunch with friends. Spend time with my parents. What about you?”
He chuckled. “I work a lot.”
“Surely you must do something other than that. Don’t you ever get outside?”
“I ski when I get the chance,” he replied.
“How thrilling.”
Her teasing didn’t offend him. “I read sometimes.”
“Hmm...something in common. What about friends?” she asked, no longer teasing.
“I didn’t keep in touch with anyone from school. My friends work for me or frequent The Lodge.”
“It sounds like you have a bland life.” She sounded as though she pitied him.
“Running The Lodge is not bland. I meet all kinds of interesting people.”
Kendall contemplated him and he could all but hear her thinking of the affluent people who came to The Lodge, famous or just wealthy and successful. He liked the challenge of running such an upscale establishment.
“What would you have done if you hadn’t followed your father’s footsteps?” she queried.
Caught off guard, he had to take a few seconds to think. “I would have still chosen business. Growing up, I was always fascinated with the resort and The Chateau. I used to love to ride the gondola and watch all the people. Then when I was older, I paid attention to how my dad made profits. Even before he started pressuring me to work and learn to take over the business, I was already headed for an MBA. But I’m not sure I’d have chosen my father’s business. I think I would have chosen to start my own.”
Kendall nodded as she absorbed his response. He really liked her genuine interest. It gave him a shot of heat and made him notice how beautiful she was. He had found her beautiful from the moment he saw her but now it had taken on a new intensity, more sexual. He wanted her every time he saw her.
“Would your dad have fired you if you didn’t run the business the way he wanted?” Kendall asked.
“Yes.” Russ could be a real hardhat when it came to that. “I want to be CEO. So far he isn’t convinced I’m the man for the job.”
“I suppose that’s a good thing. You wouldn’t want that role if it would set you up for failure.”
“It won’t set me up for failure. I’m the only one who can do it.” He wasn’t bragging like his father often did. He knew he was good enough for that job.
“Well, you certainly seem to work hard enough. And you’re in great shape so you must at least have time to take care of yourself.”
“I have a gym in my house and there is one at The Lodge. I also do get a lot of exercise just walking the property.”
The salad course arrived and Kendall rubbed her tummy. “I don’t want to get too full.”
There were more courses to come. “You don’t have to eat everything.”
She lifted her fork. “And miss all this deliciousness? I don’t think so.” She ate a bite.
“Tell me about your work,” he said. “Why forestry? Were you another victim of a father’s dreams and aspirations?”
She smiled, something she apparently did often. He noticed her again with more intensity, his reaction sort of taking him by surprise with its immediacy. She seemed like a happy, confident woman.
“Yes and no. I always knew I wanted to get into a career that involved the environment. My father encouraged me to go to school for forestry. I chose wildlife biology and took some forestry classes.”
“What do you love about what you do?”
She pushed the salad away and leaned her elbows on the table, blurring his view of her through the candle flame. “Being outside. Preserving the forest and the wildlife.”
Humble indeed. She cared about doing good in this world. She was driven like him. Smart, too. Decker experienced a jolt of excitement along with his increasing awareness of her, her sexy shape, her hair, her eyes, everything. He definitely wanted to see her again.
“I found a small pack of gray wolves,” she said. “They haven’t existed in the Colorado Rockies since the nineteen forties. Sightings are increasing, which means they are likely crossing the state line from Wyoming.”