seemed to spend a few seconds inspecting him, as well. Those stunning eyes—he didn’t remember them being so darn blue—ran up his body, went all over his chest and arms and finally landed on his face. He hadn’t worn a suit, just a nice long-sleeved ocean-blue shirt with gray pants and leather loafers. He had chosen a tie.
“Kendall.” He stepped forward. “It’s so good to see you again.” He took her hand and dipped his head to kiss it, seeing her face up close now. She had a few freckles but they somehow enhanced her beauty.
“Y-you too.”
By her stutter and slightly bewildered look, he suspected she hadn’t expected to like what she saw as much as she did, which matched his reaction. He caught his father’s approving gaze with a subtle, almost shrewd, grin.
Bernard and Marion went to Russ and Mara and started a conversation while a servant appeared with a tray of champagne flutes. Kendall took one and then Decker did also.
“Dad tells me you’ve been working for Hadley Forestry as a conservancy consultant.” Might as well start with the small stuff.
“Yes. I worked for a company in Fort Collins after college but my dad needed me here.”
“He needed you?” Decker didn’t know much about the forestry industry or her father for that matter.
“He’s getting older. He needs help running the company. I think someday he’d like to see me take over.”
“Is that what you want?”
She looked away as she thought. “I do love my degree and my work. Running Hadley Forestry would be right in line with that. I’m just not sure I want that level of executive responsibility. I’m an outdoor girl.”
“You could always hire a CEO.”
She smiled. “I’ve thought of that. My dad isn’t crazy about someone outside the family running his baby.”
Decker nodded with a grin. “My dad wouldn’t care. He’d only care that his baby made lots of money.”
She stopped smiling as she turned to look over at Russ as though a rumor or two had just been confirmed.
“Don’t worry,” Decker said, trying to keep things light—and hopefully putting her at ease. “I’m nothing like him.”
That pretty smile returned, as did her gaze. “Good to know.”
“At the risk of seeming ignorant, what, exactly, does a forestry company do, aside from chopping down trees and selling lumber?”
“There is a supply side and a conservation side,” she explained. “We do a lot of logging, milling and forestry management. We supply Douglas fir, western larch, ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine to the building industry and since I’ve started, we’re looking into partnering with the World Wildlife Fund.” She released a breath before continuing. “Also, one of the first things I did when I came on was to arrange for the company to start harvesting trees destroyed by mountain beetle. It’s proven to provide a great supply source for the company and clears out forested land.”
“Impressive.”
“Conservation is my specialty.” She smiled, revealing straight white teeth. “What about you? You run The Lodge? It’s a lot bigger than when I left for college.”
“Yes. The original ski lodge is now staff housing. The new lodge is much larger and glamorous. There are restaurants and, of course, hotel rooms.”
“Luxury hotel rooms?”
“Yes. We also built some cabins on the property.”
“Luxury.”
Did she not approve? “We do cater to the wealthy. You grew up that way, didn’t you?”
“Yes. My family is very wealthy. I just think average people should be able to enjoy places like The Lodge.”
“They can,” he countered. “The ski resort is open to everyone.”
“They just can’t stay the night there.”
She clearly didn’t like the segregation of classes. He both admired her for that and disagreed. “Some people need places to go to escape the public.”
“Then maybe you are more like your father than you think.”
“Do you not like my father?”
Again, she glanced over at Russ. “I guess he’s not much different than mine.”
“Using his kid to advance business?” He grinned.
She smiled back and then laughed softly. “Yes.”
After a long look that began to sizzle, she said neutrally, “I haven’t been to The Lodge since it was expanded.”
“I’ll have to take you on a tour sometime.” Maybe then she’d change her mind.
“I’d like that.”
He barely heard the announcement that dinner was ready, just followed Kendall into the formal dining area, a rectangular room with a polished wood table that could seat fourteen, white fireplace on one side and china cabinet on the other. Swooping curtains adorned tall windows and a crystal chandelier hung from a tray ceiling.
Russ finished bragging about his empire’s first quarter projections as he took a seat next to Mara, who appeared bored and didn’t say much. Decker sat beside Kendall when she took a seat next to her mother.
“As two of the most affluent families in Roaring Springs, I can’t think of a better alliance,” Russ said.
Bernard smiled. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Marion eyed her husband and then glanced across at Mara, who quietly observed her, evidently having noticed that Marion didn’t seem happy to be here. Decker’s mother valued the time she spent with her children and grandchildren but her devotion to The Chateau made that a challenge.
“I am curious, however,” Bernard said. “What made you think Decker and Kendall would make such a good match?”
“You’ve been getting a lot of good press with your move toward preserving the forest. World Wildlife Fund. Environmental financing. Very innovative revenue generation.”
Bernard puffed up in what Decker could only call pride. “That was my daughter’s idea.”
Decker watched his difficult-to-impress father bestow rarely offered respect upon Kendall and he could almost hear him thinking what a great addition she’d make to his Colton Empire.
“We’re ready, sir.”
Decker turned to see a servant standing at the entrance to the dining room.
“Ah,” Russ said. “Decker, I’ve taken the initiative to arrange for you and Kendall to have a more private dinner.” He chuckled briefly. “You’re too old to be having dinner with your
