toward her desk, grabbing a notepad and pen.
Stepping aside, he motioned for her to precede him into Brian’s office. Their gazes held for just a second too long and he felt that jolt of adrenaline again that had been missing from his life for many years.
As Alan waited for Lisa to be seated in one of the chairs in front of Brian’s desk, Brian explained, “Lisa graduated in December with a degree in business.”
“Margery left?” Fifty-five years old now, Margery had been Brian’s office manager for as long as Alan had been working with him.
“Margery’s husband retired and she’s traveling with him. Lisa’s only taking over the job temporarily until she has her license.”
Alan wondered why Brian had chosen Lisa out of all the people he could have hired for the position. Why would he be waiting for her to earn her license to join his team? Why wouldn’t he hire someone with experience?
As he checked out Brian’s interaction with Lisa, he didn’t see any evidence that his colleague was enamored with the young woman, or that Lisa was attracted to Brian. Still, one never knew what went on behind closed doors. Brian had once alluded to a rocky time in his marriage, but Allan had never seen evidence of that, and with adopting Timothy, he and Carrie seemed to have absolutely everything they wanted.
Studying Lisa, Alan thought she still looked unsettled. She was staring down at her pad, pen in hand, ready to take notes. But he sensed she was distracted.
He was sure of it when Brian began talking about the project they were working on. She was writing, but not much, and she didn’t look up.
“I got the paperwork you faxed me yesterday,” Brian said to Alan. “All of the properties look as if they’ll be suitable. Do you have a meeting set up with the investors?”
“Next Thursday. I thought we could fly down on Wednesday. Does that fit your schedule?”
“That should work out fine. Lisa, I’m going to want you to fly along on this trip and be an assistant to both me and Alan.”
When his office manager didn’t look up, Brian said a little more loudly, “Lisa?”
Her head came up then and she flushed, putting color back into her cheeks. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Brian’s brows quirked up. “I said I want you to fly to Texas with me and Alan and act as our assistant on this venture. I hope we can put together a deal for the golf resort. Fortunately, it’s practically in Alan’s backyard and we’re going to be staying at his family’s ranch.”
“You’re sure you want me to come along?” She glanced at Alan, as if being in close proximity to him wasn’t a good idea.
He didn’t know whether to be insulted or flattered.
“No better way to get your feet wet,” Brian assured her.
“I’m still furnishing my apartment and—”
“As long as you have a bed to sleep in and a chair to sit on, that can wait, can’t it?” her boss asked.
Again Lisa glanced at Alan. “Of course it can. I guess I’m just anxious to settle into my own place.”
“You know Carrie and I will help you do that any way we can, including shoving around furniture.”
As the discussion turned back to business, Lisa took copious notes, as if she’d put her distraction behind her. This young woman intrigued Alan, and he’d known her less than a morning.
After the discussion about the proposed golf resort wound down, he checked his watch. “I’d better be going. I have another meeting in half an hour and then I’ll see you again at four to discuss the Sacramento resort with Joe Dulchek.”
When Brian stood with a nod, Alan and Lisa rose, too, and found themselves standing very close together. He was a good six inches taller than she was. She was so slim and fragile-looking, yet the set of her shoulders and the fire in her eyes told him she’d fight for whatever she wanted. The term spitfire came to mind. Her perfume tempted him again, and he found himself studying her face.
He wasn’t sure what prodded him to say it, but before she went her way and he went his, he advised her, “Bring comfortable clothes along to Texas when you pack. If you have boots, throw those in, too. We’ve got horses if you want to ride.”
She said softly, “I’ve only been riding once before.”
“We’ve got a few gentle horses.”
“He’s being modest,” Brian interjected. “They breed cutting horses as well as their own cattle. You school them, too, don’t you?”
“When I have the time. Neal does most of that now. I’ve been away from the ranch so much this past year, he’s taken on horses I know nothing about.”
Lisa looked at her boss again. “How long will we be staying at Mr. Barrett’s?”
“We’ll probably be there three or four days. We’ll see how the meetings progress and how much property we can get covered.”
“Should I make airline reservations?”
“No need for that. I’ve got my own jet,” Alan explained. “My pilot can be ready at a hour’s notice if he has to be.”
When Alan mentioned his jet, most women looked impressed, but not Lisa Sanders. She simply said, “I see.”
“If you have those notes on my desk by the end of the day, that will be fine,” Brian informed her. Then he asked, “You’re going to lunch with Craig, aren’t you?”
She nodded and her lips turned up in a genuine smile. “I have to get changed. No way do I want to ride on his bike dressed like this.” She held out her hand to Alan. “It’s good to meet you, Mr. Barrett. Next time you come in, I’ll make sure to buzz Brian right away.”
Was she mending fences because they were going to be working together? Taking her hand, he realized it was cool to the touch—at first. Her handshake seemed to generate heat that flowed through him like aged bourbon.
They released each other at the same time, and he thought she looked as startled as he felt. Damn, this was a kind of chemistry he’d never had with a woman before. How was that even possible? At thirty-eight, hadn’t he had every kind of experience there was with women?
Looking a bit flustered, Lisa left Brian’s office.
Brian was shuffling through a few papers on his desk when Alan asked, “How old is she?”
“Lisa? She’s twenty-one.”
“Are you sure you don’t want someone more experienced to sit in on these meetings? I can have someone join us from my office in Rocky Ridge.”
“Lisa’s young, but she’s a hard worker and she learns fast. She went through four years of college in three and a half, even with working summers. Still, if you’d feel more confident having one of your people involved…”
Alan
