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 Shall I just leave my requirement list? the chef asked.
Danni hesitated.  Are you able to purchase the things we still need?
The woman regarded her with a frank stare.  Will I get reimbursed?
A forlorn smile tugged at the corner of Danni s mouth.  One way or the other, yes.
The chef nodded.  I ll have to go to Seattle for some of these things. I ll be back
tomorrow or I ll call if there are any problems.
Danni nodded, thanked the woman, supplied her with her cell phone number then
turned back to Mr. Manning.
The banker regarded her with a frown.  Your name is not on the bank account.
 No, she agreed.
Alec came to sit beside her. She cast him a grateful smile.
 How do you plan to meet these bills? Manning nodded toward the pile of
envelopes Alec set on the table.
 Let s see what we ve got, Alec said. He looked at the first the gardener s and
frowned.  That s a hell of a lot for shredded bark and ground cloth. He set it aside and
checked the plumbing account, then the electrical and finally the building contractor s.
He winced.  I don t think petty cash is going to cover this.
Danni looked from the staggering amounts to the banker.  Is there any way I can
use the funds? These are legitimate expenses for the retreat. Can you cover the checks?
 With a power of attorney, certainly. Without one&  He spread his hands in a
helpless gesture.
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Tempting Mouthful
 A power of attorney, she repeated.  If she could sign one of those, she could sign
the checks. Look, she ll recover soon, I know she will. We just need to keep things
together until then.
 I m sorry.
Danni turned to Alec.  Is there anything&  Her voice trailed off, leaving only the
mute appeal of her eyes. Her lips twitched into a mirthless smile.  And to think I was
actually feeling pleased about the progress reports. She drew in a shaky breath and let
it out on a sigh.  I need to think. And tour the work areas. I ll be back in a bit.
And with that she strode from the room.
Alec watched her go. He wanted to console her. On the other hand, he might be
able to accomplish more if he stayed here. He turned back to the banker.  May I see
exactly how affairs stand?
 Do you hold a power of attorney? Mr. Manning asked.  If not, I m afraid I can t
disclose any confidential information.
 I m an attorney, damn it! With an effort, he brought his temper under control.
 Ms. Laurent s? The man looked interested.  In that case your name will be on the
paperwork. He sounded relieved as he set down his briefcase and opened it.
 Not Ms. Laurent s, Alec admitted.
The banker snapped his case closed again.  Sorry then.
 I  But Alec got no further.
A small woman of sturdy build and determined expression had entered and looked
around.  Who s in charge?
Alec considered sending her in search of Danni then decided better of it.  May I
help you?
 I heard there s a cash flow problem.
 From whom? he demanded.
The woman shrugged.  Everyone s talking about it outside. Is it true?
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Elyssa Lynne
 There will be a temporary holdup, but not 
 Oh hell. All right, I ll have to resign then. I ve had an offer to work at a medical
clinic and that s a guaranteed paycheck.
Alec hesitated.  You were one of the staff?
She nodded.  Massage therapist. I ll send a bill for the consulting I ve done to get
the facility set up. And with that she raised her hand in a halfhearted wave and left.
Oh great. Now the staff was quitting before they d even begun. Where would they
be able to find someone to replace her at such short notice? A qualified person would
have to be there, familiar with the facilities and ready to begin in four days time.
Damn and hell. The retreat would face bankruptcy if Ms. Laurent didn t wake up
soon. And when she did, there was a good chance there wouldn t be any staff and the
work wouldn t be finished and there d be no opening on Wednesday. Which again
meant bankruptcy.
He looked around the room then out the glass wall to the solarium where Danni
stood, chin raised, watching the plumbers install one of the hot tubs. Unexpected
emotion surged through him, not just for Danni but for the retreat. It was a beautiful
place, it held out such promise of being exactly what its name implied a serene retreat.
There weren t enough of those in the world.
Would the chain of hotels he represented ruin the place? Take away the personality
Zany Laurent and her predecessor worked so hard to create? But if Danni couldn t
come up with an immediate solution, there wouldn t be any choice but to sell when
Zany finally emerged from her coma. If the bank hadn t already foreclosed by then.
He was amazed how much that thought disturbed him. Oh hell. I m teetering on the
brink of blowing another job.
And only Danni s downfall, he realized, would save him.
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Tempting Mouthful
Chapter Six
Danni stood in the solarium, watching the plumbers and electricians as they made
the final adjustments to the hot tubs. There was a chance she could get the retreat open
on time. If only she could find some money.
She fought back a sick sensation in her stomach. What a complete nightmare! She d
already been so stressed she could barely cope even before she got here. But she had
found Alec, her advisor. A rush of gratitude swept over her for whatever kindly
powers-that-be that had gifted her with his presence.
She turned to look through the glass wall into the conference room where she could
see the back of his head as he talked to the banker. Alec. Lust surged through her,
primal and powerful. She wanted to undress him slowly using only her mouth. And
once she had him naked, she longed to lick him all over. Just looking at him made the
moisture pool between her legs and her clit throb. But it did more than that. He did
more than that.
He made her feel stronger, as if she might actually be able to pull this off.
Alec, she decided, was good for her.
And she wanted him in her life. That realization startled her and she examined it.
Yes, she d already proved to herself she was a complete and capable person in her own
right. She didn t need anyone, not even him, to be whole. But there was a part of her
that cried out for him. Craved him. He would make her life so much more joyful. So full
of love and laughter and contentment. She d never experienced anything like it before. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]