Sheryl Lynn - Undercover Fiance

“He owns Wild and High Outfitters. It’s a retail chain that sells camping and skiing equipment. He’d like to open a concession here at Elk River. My father is for it. I’m against it.”

“And?”

Even remembering the incident embarrassed her. “It wasn’t the business I objected to. We’ve been discussing concessions for some time. People on vacation spend a lot of money on impulse buys and souvenirs. I, however, didn’t like Les Shuemaker.”

“Why is that?”

She sighed. He wouldn’t rest until he knew everything. “He’s a lecher. He implied that I could wrangle an extra half percentage point of his gross sales if only I were extra nice to him. He offended me. Of course he was a perfect gentleman whenever the colonel was around. That especially offended me. He began pressuring the colonel to make an agreement on the spot and I...I lost my temper.”

“In public?”

“In the restaurant.” She closed her eyes. “The colonel had no idea why I was so angry with the man, so he was upset with me. Then Shuemaker said something idiotic and I dumped a bowl of soup on his lap.”

Daniel’s smile showed million-dollar teeth. His eyes sparkled.

“It isn’t funny. It’s humiliating.” He kept grinning, though, and his was an infectious smile. To her horror her cheeks began twitching with the urge to laugh. Some of the tightness eased in her chest. “The colonel was very angry.”

“He yelled at you?”

“We were both yelling.” She tried to banish the image of Les Shuemaker’s calf-eyed surprise when she’d hit him where it hurt with steamy soup. “I’m a professional. So is my father. We generally conduct our tussles behind closed doors.”

“What kind of soup?”

“Pardon?”

“What kind of soup did you dump on the lecher’s lap?”

A laugh burst free and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Daniel Tucker, she decided, had a twisted sense of humor. “Winter squash,” she said between her fingers. “Chef’s specialty.”

He nodded. “So your dad yells and the goddess lifts her skirt to show off feet of clay. No wonder Pinky is ticked off.”

“I was yelling, too,” she reminded him.

“That’s worse. Yelling is much too human. Do you see what I’m getting at?”

She saw his point. As long as she was perfect, Pinky contented himself with anonymous notes. “I never would have connected the incident with Pinky’s attitude. I suppose you do know what you’re doing.”

“I’ve done my homework.” He steepled his fingers over his chest. “That’s why you need to step out of character. Even if it means public displays of affection.”

She never fraternized with employees. She kept her personal life 100 percent private. Having Daniel hanging all over her, hamming it up and pretending he loved her would cause gossip and speculation.

“Why is this so hard for you?” he asked.

His question bothered her in ways she couldn’t define. “You wouldn’t understand. Not that it matters. I’ve already conceded I need your help.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled with his smile. “Tough girl, huh.”

“Not tough enough to make Pinky leave my father alone.” She reached for her coat. “We’ll begin with a tour of the grounds.”

He opened the office door. “Just remember to giggle at my jokes.”

Chapter Three

Shaken by Pinky’s latest missive, Janine had trouble maintaining a pleasant demeanor. Pinky had threatened outright murder. No amount of denial or putting a spin on it made it anything less than a death threat. Arm in arm she strolled with Daniel through the lobby. She forced a smile even though it made her face ache. Her head throbbed. She introduced him to employees and guests she knew by name. Each time she said boyfriend, her throat choked.

Young or old, beautiful or plain, women turned their heads to watch him walk by. He moved with the easy grace of a natural-born athlete. His penny-bright eyes appeared to miss nothing. He exuded self-confidence, intelligence and goodwill—he radiated attitude.

They walked outside onto the huge deck behind the lodge. In fair weather it sported tables and umbrellas for alfresco dining. A few hardy souls garbed in ski togs braved the biting cold. The smell of hot cocoa and buttered rum rose like perfume. Daniel commented on the view. Strategically planted trees blocked the sight of the parking lot, but not the forest and mountains gleaming pearly white.

A bus lumbered up the graveled drive and parked below the deck. Daniel and Janine stepped aside to make way for a group of people dressed for skiing. Laughing and talking, their boots making the wooden deck rumble and shake, the people carried skis, poles and snowboards onto the bus. Daniel kept an arm wrapped firmly around Janine’s waist.

“Is the shuttle driver your employee?” he asked.

“No. We contract with the bus company. Why?”

“He’s staring at you.”

She sneaked a peek and recognized the driver. He’d been working for the shuttle company for as long as the Dukes had owned Elk River Resort. “He isn’t Pinky.”

“You’re sure?”

She chuckled at the idea of the shuttle driver being a deranged stalker. “Positive. He and my father are friends.” She waved to prove her point. The driver waved back, then shut the bus doors and shoved the transmission into gear. The bus rolled into the parking lot to make the turnaround.

Janine walked down the steps. “I’ve hired twenty new employees this year. Of those, twelve were hired specifically for the holiday season, mid-November through the end of February. Four of the seasonal employees worked for us last year.”

“You have sixty people on staff, right? How many of them live at the resort?”

“At the moment, eighteen. We offer room and board as part of the employment package. It can be a tough commute in the winter.”

“Where do they live?”

She pointed toward a fence nearly concealed by juniper trees. A green-painted roof was visible beyond the foliage. “The dormitory can house thirty people. The managerial staff have rooms inside the lodge in the east wing.”

She gave him the grand tour. Daniel listened attentively as she pointed out various buildings. Warmed with pride, she stopped having to force a smile.

Even in the midst of winter, the resort grounds sparkled. All the outbuildings were clean and painted white with green trim. The parking lots were graded and cleared of ice and snow. Evergreen hedges and trees concealed areas with less-than-aesthetic features.

“I can see why you love it here,” he said. He breathed deeply. “Wood smoke and snow. Ought to bottle it.”

His charm was getting under her skin. She was beginning to relax, even to enjoy herself. “You’re quite the romantic.”

“Hopelessly.” A light breeze tousled his hair. Cold turned his cheeks ruddy. He playfully flipped at her furry coat collar. “Aren’t you?”

She reminded herself he was an employee with a specific task to accomplish. No flirtations. No silliness. “No. I’m a businesswoman.”

“Nine-to-five and nothing else? I don’t believe it What do you do for fun?”

“Balance spreadsheets.”

He threw back his head and laughed.

They walked past the tennis courts and picnic grounds. She pointed out the stables. From a distance a faint jingling of bells said guests were enjoying a horse-drawn wagon ride.

A discordant noise caught her attention. She followed the source and spotted puffs of black smoke rising toward the jewel-like sky. She headed toward it.

“What’s going on?” Daniel asked.

“I’m about to find out.” She reached a garage. Off by itself, tucked behind the dormitory and equipment storage sheds, her father used it to store his antique Jeep. The maintenance people used it to repair mechanical equipment. She considered it an eyesore.