This resort is yours and Carmen’s to ruin. Hopefully when you lose enough money, Mom and Dad will come to their senses and let me run the company and take the Crawford name off the gossip pages.”
Solomon shook his head and fought the urge to punch his brother in the face. “You wouldn’t know what to do with this company if it was handed to you. Ever think that’s why the firstborn was passed over?”
Richmond’s hazel eyes sparkled with anger. “You asshole. I can’t wait to see you fail.” He threw the folder across the room and stormed out of the office.
CHAPTER 3
It was noon before Kandace woke up, and her first impulse was to head into Hometown Delights. Instead, she got out of bed and headed for her laptop. She typed VACATION SPOTS into her Google search bar. An ad popped up for Carolina Serenity and its grand opening this week.
“Wow, the mountains…I never thought about going there,” she said as she clicked on the colorful image.
Soft sounds of jazz played through her speakers as the Web site loaded. Kandace clicked on the details of the new resort and found plush suites with king-size beds in half of the rooms, marble fireplaces, wall to wall carpet, and garden tubs. There was a full service spa, which offered one complementary service with a week’s stay. Ski lessons were available with professional skiers.
“I guess I could try the skiing lessons, but I don’t know if I want to risk falling on the slopes,” she said as she clicked on the reservation tab. Kandace was excited to get away as she entered her information into the computer. As she clicked the reserve button, her BlackBerry rang.
“Hello?” she said, without looking at the caller ID screen.
“Is it true? You’re finally getting a life?” Serena joked.
“Whatever. Let’s see how you heifers get along without me for two weeks.”
“Just fine,” Serena said. “Besides, I’m going back to Atlanta now that Jade has this place and motherhood under control.”
“What about you and Antonio?” Kandace asked as she printed her reservation confirmation.
“You know, I don’t want to talk about that,” she said, but Kandace heard something in her voice that she’d never heard before—emotion. She wanted to ask Serena more questions about her “relationship” with Antonio, but Kandace let it go, knowing her friend would blow her off and keep whatever was wrong close to her chest.
“So,” Serena said, “where are you going?”
“Sugar Mountain. Just made my reservation at Carolina Serenity. Doesn’t that just sound heavenly?”
Serena laughed. “Yeah, if you like snow. I figured you’d go some place tropical or back to Las Vegas.”
“No more Vegas trips for me—and who goes to Vegas to relax? Do you find gambling relaxing?”
“That’s true. Well, have fun, be safe, and please leave the laptop at home. I’ll call you when you get back,” Serena said.
After hanging up with her friend, Kandace read more about the resort. It was a new property in the Crawford Hotel chain. The Crawford family business was nationally known for its boutique hotels and customer service. Kandace was sure she was going to have the best and most relaxing two weeks. If she had as much fun as she thought she would, she might even stay until Thanksgiving.
After logging off the Internet, Kandace decided to treat herself to some vacation clothes, including a pair of Uggs. After all, she was going to be in the snow and that’s just what those boots were for. She dialed Jade’s number as she reached for her car keys.
“Yes, Kandace?” Jade said when she picked up.
“What do you say we do some shopping?” Kandace asked. “I’ve got to get some ski gear.”
“Ski gear? You’re taking your vacation in the snow? That’s funny.”
Kandace smacked her lips. “Look, I grew up in Guam. It doesn’t snow there. Besides, the resort where I’m staying looks divine. I’ll probably just watch the snow fall from the spa.”
“Where are you going, Vail?”
“No, Sugar Mountain. It’s not that far a drive from here and it’s supposed to snow next week. The Web site said that it’s cold enough to make snow anyway.”
“I don’t see the big deal about snow, but I’m glad to hear you excited about a vacation. Wish I could take this shopping trip with you, but James and Maurice are done playing super dads. I knew they wouldn’t last all day. Kenya owes me a trip to Starbucks as soon as Jaden starts drinking a bottle.”
Kandace laughed. “That’s why women are the caregivers,” she said. “Well, I’m going to get my Uggs. Maybe I’ll stop by the restaurant to make sure everything is okay.”
“Don’t you dare. Shop, then go home and get ready for your trip,” Jade cautioned. “You’re banned from work.”
“Fine,” Kandace said with a chuckle. When she and Jade said their good-byes, Kandace headed outside to her car and SouthPark Mall. Two hours later, she was all shopped out with enough winter gear for her trip, including a pair of chocolate brown Uggs.
Kandace unpacked her shopping bags, ready to hit the road. Morning couldn’t come soon enough.
Sweat poured off Solomon’s forehead as he ran on the treadmill. The day had started out horrible and gotten worse. First, his office was bombarded with calls from reporters about his dalliance with the Maxim girl. Then Richmond returned with a message from their parents. “Straighten up,” he’d said his parents had warned. “Finally, they are tired of seeing our name dragged through the mud because you can’t control your libido.”
He was sure that Richmond had been leaning on his parents for months, despite the success of the business and the new direction he and Carmen were taking the company in.
“Thought I’d find you here,” Danny Jones said as he climbed onto the treadmill beside his best friend. “You’ve been all over the news today.”
“Yeah, I know,” Solomon said as he slowed down to a brisk walk. “I have got to stop attracting crazy women.”
“Crazy hot,” Danny said. “Kinsley Monroe. Damn.”
“Please, her looks are all that she has going for her. I guess I was supposed to be impressed by her cover. She didn’t know who she was dealing with.”
“And speaking of not knowing who you’re dealing with, have you considered my random background check offer?”
Solomon stopped his machine just as Danny was getting his started. He smiled at his friend, who was more like a brother to him than his blood relative. Danny was a private detective who had spent five years on the force with the NYPD before he struck out on his own. Truthfully, if it wasn’t for Solomon and so many of his indiscretions—tracking down false paternity claims and keeping scorned women quiet—Danny wouldn’t have been in business over a year. Now, he was one of the most sought after PIs in the city.
“Yeah,
