“Sure, boss,” Pete said, following him at once. “What’s up?”
Boone sat behind his desk. “I want you to forget about Charleston. You’ve been jumping through hoops. They’re obviously not going to come around, at least not on our terms.”
Pete nodded. “I know you’re right. I just hate giving up. Should I get those other options so we can look them over?”
Boone shook his head. “I want new options, this time in southern California.”
Pete’s jaw dropped. “Los Angeles? San Diego? Where?”
“L.A.,” Boone said. “Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, whatever.”
“You know real estate there’s going to be as bad as New York, and the market’s just as competitive,” Pete said, frowning. “You were totally against that. I don’t get it.”
“Emily’s going to need to be in Los Angeles nonstop for quite a while. She’s not going to be there without me. You’ll take over East Coast operations. You can hire an assistant. I’ll fly in from time to time.”
Again, Pete’s jaw dropped. “Did I hear a promotion in there?”
Boone chuckled. “You did. I’ll give you a raise, too, so you can afford those tickets you’ll need for New York on a regular basis.”
Pete shrugged. “I don’t think that’s going to work out, but the promotion is great. How soon do you want the information on Los Angeles? After the first of the year?”
Boone shook his head. “I want it yesterday. There’s a bonus in it, if you can find me the perfect property by the end of the day today, so I can fly out to take a look at it tomorrow. And, by the way, I’ll be in Colorado for a couple of days after that.”
Pete looked as if his head were reeling. Boone had never done anything this impulsively before.
“You’re full of surprises,” Pete said, sounding concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Never better,” Boone said with conviction. He fingered the thick vellum invitation to the opening of the Aspen ski lodge and smiled. “It’s taken me a very long time to have what I want within reach. This time I’m not letting go.”
* * *
Though Emily had been repeatedly told that she had no official duties at the grand opening party, that her role in readying the ski lodge had been successfully completed and that she was simply a very valued guest, she couldn’t help wandering through the crowded event and looking for any problems she might not have noticed earlier. Was there adequate seating for a large crowd? Were there sufficient conveniently located end tables so guests could set down their drinks? Was there any risk of tripping at carpet edges?
“You’re working,” Tricia accused when she ran into her. “I thought I told you to enjoy yourself tonight. You’ve earned it.”
“Force of habit,” Emily said with a chuckle. “Sophia’s stopped inviting me to her events, because she says all my obvious fretting makes her guests nervous.”
Derek’s wife grinned at her. “I am not going to banish you from this amazing party, but I will order you to take a walk outside, breathe in the incredible scent of that mountain air until you feel completely relaxed, then come back in here and drink this outrageously expensive champagne.”
Emily laughed. “Okay, I can do that.” She hugged her friend. “Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you. You performed a miracle here in record time, and you did it without killing my demanding husband.”
“I’ll take a client who knows what he wants anytime over those who keep changing their minds,” Emily said. “Now, go. Enjoy your success. I’ll step outside and look at that amazing, clear sky and the fairyland of trees along the driveway.”
She went to her room, grabbed her coat, scarf and gloves, then walked out onto the lodge’s wide front porch, captivated by the scene spread out before her. It was like a picture postcard of the ideal Christmas setting. With snow-covered mountains as a backdrop, white lights twinkled in majestic firs as far as the eye could see. Derek had wanted the entrance to the lodge to be magical, and it was.
“It’s beautiful,” a voice from the shadows commented.
Stunned and not quite believing her ears, Emily whirled around. “Boone?”
He stepped into the light and walked toward her.
“It really is you,” she said, her heart lifting as she flew into his arms. “When? How?”
“I received an invitation,” he told her. “Didn’t it come from you?”
“No, but I think I know exactly who’s responsible,” she said. Derek had said his wife was a meddler. Obviously Tricia had seen the perfect chance for nudging Emily’s romance along. “And this explains why I haven’t been able to reach you for days now. Either you were scared you’d spoil the surprise or you were en route.”
“Something like that,” he said, his tone oddly mysterious.
He put his arm around her and pulled her close to his side. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything this beautiful,” he said.
When Emily glanced up, she realized he was looking at her, not the glorious scene spread out in front of them.
“I’ve missed you,” she said. “And I’ve been worrying myself sick that you’d changed your mind.”
“Never,” he said succinctly. “Not about us. What we have is a done deal.”
“Thank God,” she said, snuggling closer. “Do you want to come inside? See the rest of the lodge? Put your bags in my room?”
He laughed. “I think we need to avoid your room for now. We might never get out of there. And I’m content to stay right here for a few more minutes, unless you’re cold. Are you?”
“Not since you showed up,” she said. “Did you bring B.J.? I spoke to him earlier. He talked on and on about his school play, but he certainly didn’t give me a single hint about what was going on with you.”
“He doesn’t know I’m here. I told him I had to go out of town on business. He’s staying with Jodie and Frank. We’ll bring him with us next time. He’s going to love this place. And he’s going to want to
