Patricia Thayer - The Man, The Ring, The Wedding

Angelina wasn’t going to let her brother bring her down. “Well then, tomorrow we go over there and convince him that Covelli and Sons can handle the job.” Her gaze shot back and forth between her brothers. “Come on, you two are the best. And you deserve to have this project.”

Rafe and Rick exchanged a serious glance, then Rick spoke. “Rossi could refuse us because of ... what happened with Dad.”

Angelina closed her eyes, remembering not only the pain of losing her father, Rafaele, in a construction accident, but the humiliation of the false accusations that the company had used substandard materials. “But Dad was cleared. Peter Hardin confessed to setting him up.”

Rick raised a calming hand. “I know, Lina, but sometimes people are still going to believe the worst about us.”

She thought back to her impromptu encounter an hour ago with John Rossi. She had to believe that he was going to give them a chance and at least consider their ideas for the Grand Haven. He simply had to award them the job. It was the only way Covelli and Sons could get firmly back on its feet.

Then Angelina would finally have her independence—and the freedom to find her own career. Since she’d given up on love, wasn’t that all she had left?

Chapter Two

The next morning, John sat at his desk going through paperwork and trying to keep his mind off Angelina Covelli. He tossed two business cards, one for an electrician and another for a heating company, into the trashcan. He would use his own people. It was the only way to insure the job was done right. The Covellis weren’t “his people,” but something told him they could be trusted.

John grabbed a pad of paper and a pen, and went into the lobby. He had a few minutes before the Covellis arrived and he wanted to make a list of renovations, starting with things that needed immediate attention. He took a quick trip around the hotel lobby, and realized just how many things there were in need of repair.

How could anyone let this beautiful place get in this condition? But John already knew the answer to his question. The economy and bad management.

Somehow, though, he would turn the Grand Haven Hotel into a showcase and even make a profit. It would take a few years, but he’d get a return on his investment. Hell, didn’t he love a challenge?

He started toward the registration desk and thought about the hundreds of people who had walked through this lobby. He’d heard rumors of politicians, presidents, even movie stars who had come to Haven Springs for the magical mineral springs.

Behind the desk were rows of boxes that had once held the keys to the nearly one hundred rooms. His excitement escalated. The place needed work, but the basic quality was already here.

Suddenly the front door opened and two men walked in. He saw the family resemblance right away. They had to be the Covelli brothers.

“Mr. Rossi, good morning, I’m Rafe Covelli,” one brother announced as he held out his hand.

John shook it. “Good morning to you,” he said, then turned to the other brother.

He stepped forward. “And I’m Rick,” he said and they shook hands, too.

“Nice to meet you,” John said, but his attention was riveted on Angelina, who had also stepped inside, followed by two other men. His chest tightened as she came toward him.

“Good morning, Angelina,” he said.

She nodded. “Mr. Rossi.”

Today she was dressed more sensibly in a pair of trim black slacks, a white sweater and a deep red blazer. John found he was somewhat disappointed that her dark hair was pulled back in a long braid. Then her clear blue eyes met his, and his pulse began to pound. It wasn’t until Rafe spoke that he realized that he was staring.

“Excuse me, what did you say?” he asked.

“I was just apologizing for being late,” Rafe said.

“No. You were on time. I arrived early.” He had to get back to business. “I was taking some notes trying to get a picture in my head.” He glanced around. “As you already know, the hotel has been neglected for a long time. Think you can handle a job this large?”

Rafe smiled. “Positive. Five been waiting to get my hands on this place.” He waved the rolled-up plans in his hand. “I’ve been working on this project for the past few months. Ever since we heard the Grand Haven had been sold.”

John nodded. He was impressed. Then his gaze fell on Angelina again and he couldn’t seem to focus. He shook his head. She was definitely a distraction. He forced himself to look away. “I guess we...uh, should get started.”

Rafe stepped up. “First I’d like to introduce our cousin, Tony Covelli. He’s our partner and financial advisor. And this is Charlie, our foreman. He has worked several years for us and is one of the best carpenters around. But I want to assure you that Rick and I will be on the job and do the majority of the renovation. We believe that if it has the Covelli name on it, then Covellis do the work.”

“That’s nice to know,” John said and turned his attention to Angelina. She was like the Tuscany sunrise coming over the hills. Hard to ignore. “What’s your job with the company?” he asked.

“I’ve run the office the past two years. On this job, if we get it, I’ll be the project manager.” Her eyes flashed a challenge. “Do you have a problem working with women?”

So she planned on being around. “Not at all,” he assured her and smiled to himself as he thought about his indispensable secretary, Donna, and other highlevel employees at his workplace. “There are several woman executives at Rossi International. I look at it this way. As long as the job is done and done well, it doesn’t matter if it’s handled by a man or a woman.”

“That’s nice to know,” she said.

Angelina wanted desperately to believe him. She needed John Rossi to recognize her abilities. That had been the reason she fought with her brothers so hard to be named project manager on this job. And just maybe by the time the Grand Haven was ready to reopen, she would have impressed John Rossi enough with her qualifications that he would consider her as management material for the hotel.

“Well, how about we tour the hotel and you can tell me your ideas?” John suggested.

Angelina smiled as his deep voice sent warm shivers along her skin. “We’re ready,” she said. “Just lead the way, Mr. Rossi.”

“Please, can’t we be a little less formal and go by first names?”

She nodded, feeling nervous with his coffee-colored eyes fixed on her.

John then glanced at Rafe and Rick. “I want the lobby restored to exactly as it was in its glory days. It’s perfect without any modernization.”

Rafe nodded. “We only need to make room for the computers behind the registration desk. Rick and I worked out a way to hide them.” They walked to the counter and unrolled Rafe’s plans.

Angelina kept her distance and watched the exchange, remembering that yesterday this man was just a stranger in town who had flirted with her. Now he held the future of Covelli and Sons—and her future in his hands.

“Don’t you think that you should be up there with them?” Tony asked as he came up behind her. “I mean, Rossi seems to have precise ideas on what he wants.”

Angelina wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize winning this bid. “Of course.” She hurried to the desk and listened, then began to write down instructions.

Ten minutes later they walked up the stairs to check out the second floor where there were two ballrooms. The largest one had sustained weather damage, and the window frames needed to be replaced, the floors required refinishing and the woodwork would have to be torn out and redone. Angelina took down the details as the men discussed them.