“Oh, I was. A few times. I had a couple of year-long relationships that ended mutually, and then closer to graduation I met someone special and we moved in together. I imagined that was going to be it for me until I came home one day to him in our bed with another woman.” She sighed. “I never thought I’d be one of those women who so sorely misread a man. Walking in on your lover with someone else happened to other women and only in the movies.”
“Not to you?” He chuckled. “I didn’t walk in on one of my girlfriends, but she told me she had been with someone else. That was after college. I was working a lot and I guess she got sick of it.” He drank some wine as he remembered how much that had stung. The realization that he’d become his father had been difficult to swallow. That’s when he’d begun to think how different his life would be had he not listened to the great Russ Colton. He’d envied his brother Wyatt for defying their father and going off to the rodeo before inheriting the Crooked C.
“I’ve found that waiting for them to come to me works best, rather than actively looking for it,” Kendall confided.
He set down his glass as the servants brought in the next course, which was creamed pea-and-leek soup with croutons.
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