took a deep breath. “Mr. McGrath, I’d like to introduce you to my daughter, Shelby.” He seemed to gulp for air. “Shelby, this is Garrett McGrath, the owner and CEO of the, uh, Family Fun Inns.”
Shelby stared at him. “Garrett McGrath?” Now it was her turn to gasp. Everyone in the high-end of the hotel industry knew that name—some considered it interchangeable with Mephistopheles.
Garrett nodded his head. “Your father said he told you something about our arrangement, about why and how I’ve come here to Halford House to learn all about the upscale hotel business from my betters.”
He glanced at Art. Poor Halford had cringed when he’d confessed the ruse he had cooked up to keep his daughter clueless regarding the sale. Garrett’s first reaction had been incredulity, then his sense of humor had kicked in. He’d been more curious than ever to meet the demonic daughter who’d driven her father to such lengths. And now he’d met her.
Garrett’s gaze slid over Shelby’s lithe figure, then back to her sultry mouth and flashing hazel eyes. “This should be an interesting experience, to say the least.”
“Interesting is hardly the word I’d choose,” Shelby replied coldly. “The entire arrangement is ridiculous.”
She was frustrated, exasperated. Didn’t her father understand? Garrett McGrath was mocking them. That gleam in his impossibly blue eyes was derision, not friendly mirth. “And I told my father so. Having you stay here to observe the way we run Halford House is a complete waste of your time, Mr. McGrath.” And ours, she added silently but implicitly.
Garrett arched his black brows higher. “Sounds like you’re implying that nothing I learn here will be of any use to me in running Family Fun Inns.”
“You know it won’t,” Shelby said tightly.
“I assume rich people have families and want to have fun, just like the patrons of the Family Fun Inns. So isn’t it possible that—”
“You’re deliberately goading me, Mr. McGrath,” Shelby cut in. “And I—”
“I’m just trying to learn from you, Your Highness.” It was Garrett’s turn to interrupt and he did so, grinning broadly. “So far, I haven’t learned much about running a swank joint like Halford House but I’ve learned that when you’re on the losing side of an argument, you take the offensive. Accusing me of goading you is a good diversionary tactic, although it didn’t work. You still haven’t convinced me why I shouldn’t be here to learn about serving the high and mighty.”
Shelby’s mouth tightened. “Are you always so argumentative, Mr. McGrath?”
“Always,” he assured her. “Usually, I’m even worse, but I’m on my best behavior today. I’m hoping to impress my superiors here at Halford House. How am I doing?”
Her father didn’t give her a chance to reply. “Please don’t take offense at anything Shelby says, Mr. McGrath. She’s wary of new acquaintances and...um...tries to test them. As for me, I’m happy and proud to share my forty-some years’ knowledge of the business with a man as brilliant and innovative as you.”
Shelby stared at her father as if he’d taken leave of his senses. “Dad, may I remind you that this is the Garrett McGrath who put a Family Fun Inn on the same island as the Blue Springs Resort, sending their property value and stock into a free-fall. Who built a Family Fun Inn practically next door to the Snow Bird Hacienda in Aspen and caused its patrons to flee the state. Whose Family Fun Inns and their faithful retinue of T-shirt shops, themed burger joints, frozen yogurt stands and souvenir junk places have taken over formerly quaint little towns and turned them into tourist traps. I can recite the names of them, beginning with—”
“Stop, you’re embarrassing me!” Garrett’s blue eyes taunted her. “There’s no need to tout the spectacular success of Family Fun Inns. Just basking in the glow of your admiration is praise enough.”
“I do not admire you and I’m certainly not praising you!” cried Shelby.
“You take the bait every time, don’t you, honey?” Garrett surveyed her lazily. “Oh, yes, working here with you the next couple of months is definitely going to be interesting.”
“Couple of months?” both Shelby and her father chorused in pure dismay.
“Why not?” Garrett shrugged. “I haven’t taken a vacation in ages. Of course, I stay at Family Fun Inns all over the country throughout the year, but that’s work, not a vacation. So I think I’ll take one here. Sort of a busman’s holiday, if you will. A high-end one.”
Shelby felt a peculiar panic ripple through her, growing stronger the more she contemplated the prospect of a steady daily diet of Garrett McGrath. “You can’t stay here, Mr. McGrath,” she blurted out.
“Shelby!” There was nothing well modulated or polished in the roar that Arthur Halford emitted as he glared at his daughter. “Mr. McGrath is our guest. Our honored guest. He is welcome here as long as he cares to stay.”
The smile Garrett flashed at Shelby set her teeth on edge.
“Thanks, Art. I’ll take that cottage you so graciously offered me earlier and settle in. Of course, I’ll be flying home to our corporate headquarters in Buffalo for a day or so every week to stay in touch, but with faxes and teleconferences, I’ll be able to manage things very well from down here.”
“Your corporate headquarters are in Buffalo?” Halford repeated with forced joviality. “I hadn’t realized that.”
“The first Family Fun Inn was in Niagara Falls,” Garrett explained. “My family had ended up in Buffalo, after living in a string of cities. We were sort of like Gypsies, traveling from place to place.”
“That certainly fits,” muttered Shelby. She could easily visualize caravans of McGraths descending on one world-class resort after another, fleecing them of their worth.
Her father shot her a quelling glance, then turned to Garrett. “Well, we’re delighted you are here at Halford House, Mr. McGrath.” Halford was once again the quintessential host welcoming his guest. “September is an ideal time to learn the ropes of running, um, a place like this. Our peak season is in winter and early spring when freezing weather up north brings our guests here to Port Key for some sun and warmth.”
“Summer is peak season for Family Fun Inns,” Garrett said, “although we do well during school holidays, especially Christmas break. Our inns are swarming with kids during school vacations.” He smiled. “Speaking as the oldest of nine, I think kids are great. There can never be too many of them around. What are your facilities for children here at Halford House?”
Shelby and her father exchanged uneasy glances. When he hesitated to reply, she stepped in to tackle the question. “We don’t get very many children here,” she admitted. She felt as if she’d been called to the principal’s office, condemned by a failing grade. “Many of our guests are older,” she hastened to explain. “Their children are grown, with families of their own. We do have a wonderful children’s boutique in our arcade of shops that is filled with unique gifts for doting grandparents to buy. It does very well,” she added lamely.
“I’ve seen some of the guests around here and they aren’t all grandparents,” Garrett challenged. “There are younger people staying here.”
“We
