Bachelor CEO
Michele Dunaway
Chase McDaniel had it all planned out.He'd work his way up in the family business and eventually become CEO. Except the heir to McDaniel Manufacturing just got a rude awakening. His soon-to-retire grandfather is ordering him to take a year off and find out what he really wants.Chase knows what he doesn't want–gorgeous, talented Miranda Craig taking his job! Being handpicked to run a company is the dream of a lifetime. And Miranda has no intention of stepping aside…even if Chase is the sexiest man she's ever met.But their strictly business arrangement may be in danger of turning into something more. Especially if a certain matchmaking relative has his way…
Miranda couldn’t believe what a mess she’d made of things
“I honestly didn’t mean to mislead you,” she told Chase. “Do you think we can put this behind us?”
“So we start over as if we’d never met?” he asked.
“Fresh start on Tuesday,” she replied, aware that the air above the dock had become charged.
“So today is meaningless,” he said. “I forgive you and you forgive me.”
Realizing that somehow she’d started down a slippery slope, but not sure where it was leading her, Miranda nodded. “Exactly.”
“Seems I need something for which to be forgiven,” Chase replied, reaching forward and toppling her into him.
The man can kiss was the last recognizable thought Miranda managed.
Dear Reader,
When I was growing up, my family spent the Fourth of July week on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin, fourteen miles from the town of Rice Lake. The “summer home” belonged to my grandparents, who stayed there from June to early September before retreating to Florida for the winter. Memories of boating, golf, dinner at the country club, lunch on the porch and attending church in a tiny chapel remain some of my favorites to this day.
While the towns and lakes in this book are fictional, the buildings around the lake are based on those I experienced in my childhood. Bringing Chase and Miranda here when I wrote Bachelor CEO allowed me to relive some of those good times.
I’m delighted to be part of the MEN MADE IN AMERICA series. Chase McDaniel is definitely an all-American boy. He’s determined to claim his birthright as company CEO, although he’s not prepared when his grandfather tosses in one last roadblock, in the form of Miranda Craig.
I hope you enjoy reading Chase and Miranda’s story as much as I did creating it. Remember, you can always contact me through my Web site at www.micheledunaway.com. Enjoy the romance.
Michele Dunaway
Bachelor CEO
Michele Dunaway
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In first grade Michele Dunaway knew she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up, and by second grade she knew she wanted to be an author. By third grade she was determined to be both, and before her high school class reunion, she’d succeeded. In addition to writing romance, Michele is a nationally recognized English and journalism educator who also advises both the yearbook and newspaper at her school. Born and raised in a west county suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, Michele has traveled extensively, with the cities and places she’s visited often becoming settings for her stories. Described as a woman who does too much but doesn’t ever want to stop, Michele gardens five acres in her spare time and shares her house with two tween daughters and six extremely lazy house cats that rule the roost.
This book is dedicated in memory of all
my grandparents. You helped shape my life
and your love made me a better person.
And thanks to all the teachers in the Francis Howell
High School English department who bought
charity raffle tickets and stacked the odds to give
Mike Storm his supporting role. Mike, for putting up
with me next door in A115 for six years,
this Iowa book is for you.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
Chapter One
She shouldn’t be bending over like that.
As he gazed at the woman wearing the short blue pinstripe skirt ahead of him, Chase McDaniel’s throat constricted and his silk tie suddenly felt tight. She leaned over farther, continuing to study the back end of her car.
He had a perfect view of well-shaped legs that led upward toward…
The bead of sweat that formed on Chase’s forehead had nothing to do with the late May heat wave. It might be ninety-two degrees, but the vision in front of him was what was getting him all hot and bothered in the company parking lot this Friday morning.
She straightened, and he noticed how her crisp white shirt clung to her breasts, outlining the white cami she wore beneath. She’d shed the suit coat, and her sunglasses were perched atop her head to keep her short black hair back.
She was hot. Both literally and physically. He’d never seen a woman quite like her, Chase decided. She had a commanding yet sexy presence. His libido heightened, and he worked to control his physical reaction. Her car was in a visitor space, and as he approached he could see what vexed her—a flat tire.
It was 10:00 a.m., and the official start of the Memorial Day weekend was hours away. Here in Chenille, Iowa, the day promised to be a scorcher. But the unseasonably warm weather was ideal for heating lake water and making the weekend perfect for outdoor activities.
Chase’s grandfather was already at the family summer home in Minnesota, and that’s where Chase was heading next, once he stopped and did his good deed for the day. “Hi,” he said, pausing a few feet from her.
She turned, and he inhaled. She had the greenest eyes he’d ever seen.
“Hi,” she replied. Her frustration with the situation was obvious.
“Looks like you have a flat.”
“You think?” She rubbed her forehead, and dirt from the tire streaked her skin. His fingers itched to wipe the smudge off, but he kept his hands to himself. He’d liked her on sight, and being up close hadn’t done anything to change his mind.
“Do you know of a repair shop I can call?” she asked, focusing on the matter at hand.
“Do you have a spare?” Chase countered.
She wrinkled her nose. “I hope so. I’ve never had to use it. Never even looked to see if it’s there.”
He moved to her trunk and noticed her Illinois license plates. Chenille was an hour northwest of Dubuque, which sat on the Iowa-Illinois-Wisconsin border. “Where are you from?”
“Chicago,” she replied, watching as he lifted the trunk lid. “What are you doing?”
“Changing your tire.” Chase gave her the grin that his sister Chandy declared irresistible. “You’re in Iowa. We do things like that, especially out here in Chenille.”
“I’d never even heard of this town until a few weeks ago,” she admitted. “Couldn’t have found it on a map before then either.”
He laughed. “Not many people can unless you’re looking for us. We’re a company town owing our livelihoods to McDaniel Manufacturing. I assume since you’re here you’ve heard of the products.”
“Oh, I dug around a little. McDaniel Manufacturing makes cheeses, ice cream and other assorted dairy items. The popular product lines give Kraft a solid run for their money.”
He tossed her trunk mat on the ground, wondering about the purpose of her visit. She’d driven a long way. Maybe she was in sales. A lot of vendors and suppliers did come calling. “So you did your research.”
“Any smart woman would.”
“And you’re a smart woman?” He refrained from adding that if she was, she’d have checked her trunk for a tire. Luckily, she had one, and it was inflated.
“I like to think so.”
Chase chuckled, unscrewing the bolt that held her tire jack and spare in place. “So where’d you go to school?”
“Northwestern University.”
“Good old Evanston,” he said, placing the bolt in his pants pocket. He didn’t want to lose that.
She took his words the wrong way. “Do you have a problem with Northwestern?”
“Nope. Not if you don’t care that I went to the University of Iowa,” he replied. He removed the car’s jack and handed it to her. His fingers brushed hers for a second as she took it from him.
After placing the spare on the ground, he shed his suit coat and rolled up his sleeves. He’d never been afraid of dirt or hard work, and he could shower when he reached Lone Pine Lake.
He’d be about a half hour late, but his grandfather would understand. Leroy was all about chivalry, especially on the parking lot of the company he owned and loved.
Chase loosened the lug nuts and he placed the jack under the frame of the car. He inserted the handle and began to turn it, raising the car up slowly until the tire was free of the ground.
Then he removed the lug nuts and the bad tire, ignoring that his hands had turned black from the brake dust and the road grime. He slid the spare on, reversed the process, and soon had her car ready to go.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.” He put the flat in the trunk and set everything on top. “If I were you, I’d take this down to Bay’s Tire and have them look at it. Bay’s is right there on the main drag. You can’t miss it. Looks like an old gas station without the pumps. Tell them Chase sent you.”
“Okay.” She crossed her arms over her chest and studied him.
“So, where are you heading after this? Going inside?” he asked.
She shook her head, her short locks swishing. “No. I’m finished. I’m actually starting work here Tuesday. I filled out my tax forms today.”
“Oh.” He frowned. Come Tuesday she’d be an employee. Chase had been well schooled in sexual harassment law. McDaniel Manufacturing prided itself on its employee satisfaction, stellar work environment and safety record.
Still, she wasn’t quite on the job yet, and something about her intrigued him. Curious to learn more, he said, “I was wondering if you’d like to reward me for my valor by letting me take you to an early lunch.”
Instead of saying yes, she arched a dark eyebrow and her pixie mouth formed a slight pucker. “That’s sweet, and I really appreciate your offer, but you’ve already helped me out enough. I should have joined an auto club or something. As it is, I’ve got to get going. The moving van is on its way, if it’s not already waiting at my apartment.”
“They’re always late,” he replied, delaying her inevitable departure. Of course, he really had no clue about moving companies. He’d only moved once, from his grandfather’s estate to his own place, ten years ago.
However, she was already edging away, to the driver’s side of the car. He stood there feeling like a fool. “It was nice meeting you,” he said.
“Thank you again,” she replied.
“You’re welcome.” Chase remained frozen in place until she drove off. Then he retrieved the suit coat he’d set on the ground. His dry cleaners would kill him, but the bill would be well worth it.
Chenille had never seen anything like her.
If it had, Chase would have found her long ago. Goodness knows he’d gone through enough women looking for the right one. Sex was never an issue. The problem was finding someone who could keep his mind and heart interested, as well. Someone he could love forever. Call him a closet romantic, but he believed in true love and wouldn’t settle until he found it.
He held up his dirty hands and grimaced. Even though he’d brought his suitcase with him, it might be best if he went home to shower before leaving for Minnesota. He should be able to do so and still be in plenty of time. His grandfather had specifically asked him to arrive earlier than the rest of his siblings. Every Memorial Day weekend the entire family gathered at the house on Lone Pine Lake, starting Friday night, to kick off the summer and celebrate Leroy’s birthday.
His grandfather would be eighty tomorrow, and Chase was certain Leroy was finally ready to announce his retirement. He’d been hinting for a while about passing the torch. Chase had been groomed his whole life to become CEO of the family business, a role and legacy that had passed to him when his parents died in a single-engine-plane crash.
Once he’d had dreams of leaving Chenille and making his way in some big city, but he’d long ago left those fantasies to his siblings.
His sister Cecilia had made her home in New York as a professional ballerina. Now thirty and at the end of her dancing career, she’d started teaching ballet, gotten married and had a child on the way. Chase’s younger brother, Chris, was also married, and worked in Davenport as a minister. The youngest of the McDaniel clan, twenty-seven-year old Chandy, was doing her pediatric residency in Saint Louis.
Chase drove the short distance to his home, an atrium ranch sitting on five acres. He’d hoped to share it with a wife and kids, but he refused to get married until he knew he’d found his soul mate. Everyone in his family had happy marriages, and Chase wanted the same.
For a second, he thought of the woman he’d met. McDaniel currently had several management openings, two in human resources. Maybe she’d filled one of those.
He washed his hands and resisted the urge to call the office, especially since it was a holiday weekend and he’d told his secretary to take the rest of the day off. Tuesday morning would arrive soon enough. Surely he could find out who the mystery woman was then.
MIRANDA CRAIG FOUND Bay Tire easily, and within a few minutes was sitting inside the store, watching while a cat yawned his assessment and sauntered off.
Her tire couldn’t be plugged, so she nodded in approval of the new one they wanted to install.
This wasn’t one of those chain establishments, but rather a mom-and-pop operation. “So Chase sent you?” the wife asked, flipping through a magazine while her husband changed the tire. Both seemed to be in their early fifties.
“He did,” Miranda replied.
“His whole family buys their tires here. Have for years. You his girlfriend?” Mrs. Bay set her magazine down for a minute.
Miranda shook her head. “No. I’m a new employee.”
The woman gave her a once-over, and Miranda squirmed. “Probably for the best. He does seem to go through women like water.”
“Uh-huh.” Miranda was grateful when Mrs. Bay began reading an article. It was easy to understand why women would be attracted to Chase. Miranda had felt that initial quiver of interest herself, before she’d realized exactly who the tall blond guy approaching her was. Chase McDaniel wasn’t quite the boy next door.
He was a lot hotter and a lot sexier than he looked in the photos she’d seen on the Internet. His pictures had done him justice, but came nowhere close to capturing the man in the flesh.
His hair was sandy-blond, like something you might find on a California surfer. His ocean-blue eyes had sparkled, and his mouth…To be kissed by those full sensuous lips could only be heavenly.
His dress shirt hadn’t hidden the fact that he was fit and toned, and the thought of touching his six-pack abs sent chills down her spine.
He hadn’t bothered to conceal his interest. His attentions had flattered her, as had his willingness to get his hands dirty. He wasn’t such a pretty boy that he was afraid of grease and grime. She’d found him highly attractive and extremely tempting.
She’d wanted to say yes to his offer of lunch, but no was the safer choice, and Miranda always erred on the side of safety. At thirty-three, she’d given up everything in Chicago and had to make a success of her new life in Chenille.
Flirting with Chase McDaniel, thirty-five-year-old heir to the McDaniel Manufacturing throne, would only complicate matters.
She couldn’t let his cheeky grin sway her from her destiny. She’d made that mistake before. She’d fallen fast and hard for Manuel, a dark-haired smooth talker. Eventually she’d figured out his seduction wasn’t about her, but about what he could get from her company. She’d discovered that he was using her to win a big contract between her firm and his. The knowledge he’d lied to her and hadn’t truly cared for her at all had wounded her deeply.
“You’re all done,” Mr. Bay said, reentering the shop. He wiped his hands, reminding Miranda of Chase. “You’re good to go.”
Miranda dispelled the image of Chase’s smile. No need for her knees to wobble. She had a long weekend ahead of her, and unfortunately, she’d be seeing him again soon. Tomorrow, in fact.
The reality was he was a means to her dream job, and she wasn’t going to let her physical attraction to the man stand in the way of finally getting what she wanted—a chance to shatter the glass ceiling. She’d come too far to fail now, no matter how much he’d piqued her interest.
Cursing under her breath at how unfair life was, Miranda went to pay her bill.
THE MCDANIEL LODGE on Lone Pine Lake had been in the family since the mid-1950s, when Leroy had purchased the property on a rare whim.
As Chase climbed the back stairs, he realized that someday, this too would be his. He paused, his hand resting on the cedar railing while he took a minute to gaze past the house to the shoreline.
Chase had been spending summers at Lone Pine Lake ever since he’d been born, and whatever stress he was feeling always disappeared the minute he stepped out of his car.
He could understand why his grandfather loved the lodge and why he spent most of the workweek here from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The lodge was like fine wine; it developed more character as it aged. The house sprawled at the top of a grassy knoll and offered a panoramic view of the four hundred feet of shoreline at the front of the property.
The entire estate consisted of ten acres, and besides the lodge, two small guest cottages sat a short distance away. The lodge itself had five bedrooms and slept fourteen. The cottages each slept four.
Chase inhaled, letting his lungs and senses fill up with the earthen smells of crisp air and fresh pine. An eagle soared across the water, talons out as it descended to catch a fish. Lone Pine Lake, with its fourteen miles of shoreline, remained an untouched gem. The houses surrounding the McDaniel estate also sat on acreage, and there were no condos or high-rises anywhere on the lake.
He’d always felt at home here, even more so than at his grandfather’s massive residence in Chenille, where Chase and his siblings had grown up.
“You going to stand there all day?”
“Hey, Grandpa,” Chase said as Leroy came around the side of the house with a fishing pole in one hand and a tackle box in the other. There was a boathouse near the dock, but Leroy liked to keep his gear on the screened-in back porch. “Was the fishing any good?”
“Nah. Still can’t convince me that there are any fish in this lake,” Leroy replied with a snort.
Chase laughed. The largest fish his grandfather had ever pulled from Lone Pine wasn’t even close to being a keeper. It was the family joke that the fish knew when a McDaniel lure was in the water.
“I expected you a little while ago. You didn’t have any trouble, did you?” Leroy asked, thumping up the stairs, pole in hand.
“No.” Chase stepped aside to let him pass. His grandfather was six inches shorter than Chase, and slowly shrinking with age.
Chase waited while Leroy put away his fishing gear, and then followed him into the spacious kitchen. Decades ago the house had been a hunting lodge, where a cook had prepared meals for many. The room’s most recent updating had been about eight years ago, three years before Chase’s grandmother’s death. His grandfather had little use for the gleaming stainless steel appliances, preferring to simply microwave some soup or a frozen meal when he wasn’t eating out. The local country club was open to the public and had the best food in the area.
Leroy reached into the big SubZero refrigerator and removed a pitcher of iced tea. “Grab me a glass, will you?”
“Sure.” Chase opened a cabinet and took out two tall tumblers. Because he hadn’t stopped on the drive up he was hungry and thirsty. “So what did you want me to come up early for?”
“Did you bring all my work from the office?” Leroy asked, after taking a sip.
“Everything your secretary gave me,” Chase replied, balancing his own glass. “It’s out in my trunk with my luggage.”
“That’s fine. I’m going to go wash up. Let’s meet in twenty minutes.”
“Perfect. I want to unpack and make a sandwich. I missed lunch.”
“Okay.” Glass in hand, Leroy left the room. Chase drained his iced tea, put the tumbler in the dishwasher and made a turkey sandwich. When finished, he retrieved his cases from the car.
This was his first visit since closing the house last fall, and as he carried everything in, he looked to see if there were any changes from last year. He wandered through the kitchen and entered the huge vaulted great room.
He set the big envelope Leroy’s secretary had given him on the dining room table, and paused to take in the view of the water through the front windows. To Chase’s right was a glassed-in porch that could easily seat forty people when filled with tables.
The great room contained multiple groupings of comfortable sofas and armchairs, beneath a ceiling that rose to twenty-five feet. The bedrooms were located in a wing on the far end of the house, opposite the enclosed sunporch.
Chase made his way to his bedroom, on the second floor. He unpacked before returning to the great room and curling up in his favorite armchair near the floor-to-ceiling fireplace. He had fond memories of crackling fires that heated the pinkish-colored stones until they were hot to the touch.
“Ah, good, you’re here,” his grandfather said, emerging from the first-floor hallway that led to the master bedroom and Leroy’s office.
“I put your stuff on the table,” Chase said.
“I’ll look at everything later. Are you still hungry? I thought we could swing over to the country club for a quick appetizer and a drink before everyone gets here.”
“I’m fine,” Chase answered. It wasn’t yet 4:00 p.m. His siblings would start arriving around five-thirty. “You said you needed to talk to me,” he prodded, a bit surprised by his urgency to hear the official word that he’d be CEO. He’d always assumed there’d be no glitches, but now that the time had arrived, he was a little nervous. He simply wanted everything signed, sealed and delivered, so he could relax and enjoy the weekend festivities.
Leroy settled into his recliner and kicked up his feet. While he might appear relaxed, his blue eyes were razor sharp and his gaze locked on to Chase. “I’m worried about you,” he stated.
“W-why?” Chase sputtered in surprise. The last time his grandfather had been worried, Chase had been seventeen and had failed to call and say that he’d be late arriving home one night. “What are you worried about? Have I made a mistake of some sort?”
“No, no, it’s me who’s screwed up.” His grandfather exhaled a sigh.
“You’re not ill, are you?”
Leroy produced a reassuring smile, and with a slight shake of his head said, “It’s nothing like that. I’m fit as a fiddle. Unlike my Heidi, I’ve got quite a few years left in me. Someone has to be there for the grandkids your dad and mom never got to enjoy.”
Chase frowned. He knew his grandfather missed his wife and son, but he’d never seen the old man like this. He seemed vulnerable. He never revealed weakness.
Leroy was a tough, self-made man. He didn’t crack under pressure. But he appeared to be doing so now. He’d become nostalgic and reminiscent. Maybe that occurred when you hit eighty. Chase didn’t know.
The only thing he was certain of was that his stomach had become unsettled, the turkey sitting like a lead weight. Something was wrong. He sensed a problem, knew it instinctively, as he had that day long ago when his grandparents had come to tell him his mother and father were dead.
The knowledge that whatever this was couldn’t be as severe as that announcement didn’t necessarily provide comfort.
Leroy sighed. “I’ve been unfair to you, Chase. I realized that a few months ago. You’ve always done everything I’ve asked of you.”
“It’s been no problem,” Chase assured him. “I haven’t minded.”
Leroy exhaled again, as if the conversation pained him. He shifted, lowering the footrest and leaning forward to plant both feet on the floor. He clasped his hands together. “Yes, it is a problem. One I should have stopped long ago. You should have had the freedom to make your own choices. You’ve been trapped into an endless cycle of meeting my expectations.”
Chase’s forehead creased. “You’ve lost me. I don’t meet your expectations?”
“Of course you do. You exceed them, actually. No grandfather could be prouder.”
“So what’s this about?”
“I’ve spent the last few months contemplating my mortality. I’ve always said I’d step down when I hit eighty, but I’ve had a change of heart. I think I’ll stay another year.”
“Well, that’s great,” Chase said, fumbling for the correct words. So that’s all this was about. Leroy was afraid Chase would be disappointed at not being named CEO.
“I wanted to tell you first. I know I’ve been grooming you to take over for me, but…” Leroy’s voice trailed off.
“It’s fine,” Chase said quickly. “Another year is no big deal. I’m actually glad you’re staying. Work’s kept you young. You’d miss it too much.”
“It’s certainly kept me busy, and that keeps my mind off other things,” Leroy corrected. One corner of his lips inched upward in a sad, reflective smile. “No, this isn’t about me. It’s about you, and my failure to do what’s right. I’m not sure being CEO is what’s best for you.”
“What?” The word shot out of Chase’s mouth, propelled by pure shock. “You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not. I’ve come to realize that you’ve always been expected to work for me at McDaniel. I’ve groomed you to fill your father’s shoes, without really asking if that’s what you wanted. Remember when you wanted to be a forest ranger? Or a doctor?”
“That’s Chris and Chandy. If I considered medicine, it was a long time ago. I almost passed out after the last company blood drive.”
Chase’s head was spinning. He felt as if he’d been sideswiped. “I love working at McDaniel Manufacturing. I’ve never resented it. I’m happy there.”
“Still, I’ve never given you the opportunity to explore other options. When your father died I assumed you would take his place in the business. I should have given you the freedom to choose your career, like your brother and sisters.”
“I chose business,” Chase protested. “I have an MBA.”
“Only because I expected you to get one,” his grandfather pointed out, unclasping his hands and gripping his knees. “You’ve always done what was expected of you. Life’s too short to live that way. I want you to break the rules. Go forth and have some fun. Sail the seven seas. Hike Everest. See if there’s another career calling your name. I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy,” Chase said, as the hopelessness of the situation became clear. His grandfather had made up his mind. He’d determined that he’d failed Chase, which meant he was immovable. Leroy was known for not backing down once he’d decided on a course of action.
“I want you to be sure. I’m giving you the next year off with pay. If you decide McDaniel is where you want to be, this time next summer I’ll step aside and you’ll fill my shoes as CEO, no questions asked. But I believe you need time to think. To be really sure your heart is into running the company I built.”
“Of course it is,” Chase insisted.
His grandfather conceded with a tilt of his head. “You say that now, but that’s because you’ve never been truly allowed to make your own decisions. Don’t worry about disappointing me. I’d be more upset if you didn’t take this time to reflect and find out what’s right for Chase, not what’s right for McDaniel.”
“But all the work I do…”
“You aren’t indispensable. It can be handled. We have plenty of people who can cover for you.” Leroy leaned back and kicked his feet up again. “You know, I wish I’d had this opportunity. At twenty I was already running the family farm. Then I started expanding and producing, and your father was born two years after Heidi and I married. Don’t get me wrong. I loved every minute. I just want you to be sure.”
“I am.” Darn Leroy for not seeing that!
Chase wondered if his grandfather might be experiencing the onset of some kind of dementia. That would explain this sudden irrationality.
The older man smiled and got back to business. “You’ll have a year to explore what you want to do with your life.”
“Fine,” he snapped. His grandfather wanted to give him this opportunity. Chase had no desire to take it, but he had no choice. “In one year I’ll be back here and you’ll be stepping aside,” he declared.
“I admire your spunk. You remind me of myself at your age. We’ll see if it’s still what you want by the end of the year. If it’s really what you want, I’ll step aside, as I said, with no questions asked,” Leroy promised.
They fell silent, each lost in thought as they watched a pontoon boat motor by. His grandfather’s announcement had thrown Chase for a loop. He’d expected to be named CEO, not handed a one-year time-out. He’d been banished from the kingdom, so to speak.
“So where will you go first?” Leroy asked.
Chase frowned. That was the worst part of this mandatory sabbatical. His life had always been mapped out. Go to college. Go to work. Become CEO. Now he’d been set adrift. He answered honestly, “I have absolutely no idea.”
Chapter Two
Miranda checked the road map again, trying to figure out where she was. Getting from Chenille to Lone Pine Lake did not involve an interstate, and for the last several miles she’d been looking for Highway A, which according to her directions was just past a big red barn.
So far she’d seen neither barn nor road, and she wished she’d splurged and bought one of those GPS navigators. Since she mostly took the train or the El in Chicago, she hadn’t realized how useful a GPS would be.
As it was, she was a little hesitant about attending today’s birthday bash. But Mr. McDaniel—Leroy, she amended; he’d insisted she call him that—had wanted her to be there for some big announcement he planned to make.
She rubbed the bridge of her nose and readjusted her sunglasses. She hated being the center of attention, and prayed the announcement wasn’t about her. She knew she’d have to get accustomed to the spotlight, especially given her new position.
But that didn’t mean she had to enjoy it. She’d always been a private person, never wanting others to know she wasn’t quite like them. They’d known, though. In high school they’d looked down on her, called her names behind her back. In college she’d stayed out of the social scene.
Miranda squinted behind her shades, thinking she saw a big red barn looming ahead.
AFTER LUNCH WITH HIS grandfather and siblings, Chase paced the enclosed sunporch. Normally everyone retired for a siesta, but Chase had asked to talk with his brother and sisters.
“You have to help me change his mind. Please.”
“Maybe this will be a good thing for you,” Cecilia mused. She rubbed her stomach, her belly protruding with the baby due at the beginning of August.
“How can this be good?” Even after sleeping on his grandfather’s decision, Chase had woken up not liking it one bit. “He’s supposed to be retiring. He’s eighty today.”
“We know. We all sang happy birthday first thing this morning,” Chandy soothed.
“He’s not going to live forever,” Chase protested.
“And you have plenty of life left. He’s told you you’ll be CEO if you want. It’s only for one year,” Chris pointed out. His brother was the compromiser in the family, always looking for the silver lining.
“Grandpa never breaks a promise. Remember when I asked for horseback lessons? It took awhile but he didn’t forget,” Chandy said.
She’d been a toddler when their parents died, so Leroy was really the only parent she’d ever known. The youngest, Chandy had been raised like a little princess, with Leroy her hero. Because of that, Chase’s sister was blind to their grandfather’s flaws.
“This isn’t like that. He’s feeling guilty. He thinks he’s held me back from achieving my dreams, from doing the things you all did. He wants me to have a choice about being CEO, but that’s not necessary.”
“For some reason he thinks it is,” Chris said.
“But why now? I’m ready. I don’t need to go find myself.”
“Have you told him that?” Cecilia asked.
Chase dragged a hand through his hair. “Yes. But you know how stubborn he is once he’s made up his mind.”
“Well, it’s what Grandpa wants for you,” Chris replied pragmatically. He was smaller than his brother, topping out at five foot ten inches, but he had similar features. All the McDaniel children did. Blond hair was predominant and they all had blue eyes.
“Well, I want to be CEO. That’s why I need your help,” Chase tried to explain.
His siblings couldn’t understand, he suddenly realized. They’d moved out, moved elsewhere. They flew home for major holidays and family events. They phoned, e-mailed and sent cards.
Only Chase had remained in Chenille. He’d stepped into their father’s shoes and the life their father had loved. Chase had considered it an honor to have such a duty, and he’d thrived. He’d met every expectation, aside from finding a wife and having a bunch of kids. Chris had taken care of that, and Cecilia would next.
His sister reached out and put a slim hand on his arm. She’d always been tall and graceful, and even pregnant, her dancer’s body remained svelte and lean, but with a baby bump. “We can see that you’re upset. We’re not against you on this. We love you and we’ll see what we can do. We’ll all talk to him, although like you said, it probably won’t do any good. But we’ll try.”
“Thank you,” Chase said.
His sister nodded at the others. “We owe it to Chase.”
“Grandpa only wants to help,” Chandy insisted.
“Yes, but he may have misread the situation,” Cecilia replied.
She glanced through the glass dividing the porch from the great room, where her husband sat reading a book. “The guests should be arriving for the festivities sometime after four. I suggest we let Grandpa have his nap, and talk to him when he wakes up. Hopefully, he’ll spare us a minute. Walter is here already, and you know how thick those two are.”
“Once the party starts it will be absolutely impossible,” Chandy predicted.
“We’ll try to get to him before the guests arrive,” Cecilia said.
It was the best Chase could ask for. “Thanks.”
He looked out the porch windows. On the flat back lawn behind the house, the caterers had set up tents and tables, and were working on food preparation. Over ninety guests were expected.
Most of them would be staying at the nearest motel, or one of the resort cottages in the area. As for the two small guesthouses on the McDaniel estate, their grandmother’s sister was living in one for the entire summer, and this weekend Leroy’s good friend and business colleague, Walter Peters, would occupy the other. Walter had arrived earlier from Chicago, and like Leroy, was napping.
Chase had never seen the need for a siesta. He’d found that exercise always cleared his mind better than sleep.
His siblings disbanded, leaving the room and returning to other activities. Chase glanced at his watch. He had a few hours before the party started, and no desire to remain inside on such a gorgeous day.
He strode into his bedroom, stripped and donned his bike shorts and shirt. He grabbed his bike from the screened-in porch, put on his helmet and hit the rural highways. Traffic was light, and he inhaled deeply as the satisfying burn began in his legs.
During the summer he would ride at least twenty miles a day, usually doing seventy-five to a hundred miles one day each weekend. When he wasn’t coming to the lake to visit Leroy, Chase would fasten his bike to the rack on the back of his hybrid SUV, throw an overnight bag and a tent in the vehicle and head out for some new place. He was king of the campground.
The lake itself offered diversion, and Chase would often take the catamaran out. They had other watercraft as well, and maybe Sunday, once things died down, he and his siblings could go water-skiing.
Today, Chase decided to do a quick loop through the state park. He’d ride about two miles on Highway A on the return trip before turning onto the last few asphalt side roads leading back to the lodge.
He switched gears and purged his grandfather and the current debacle from his mind, tuning in to his body. For a couple hours, at least, he could be free from stress.
MIRANDA CHECKED THE CLOCK on her dashboard. Even though the birthday party didn’t start until four, and Walter had insisted most people wouldn’t show until at least five-thirty, she’d been told to arrive before three. She was going to be late.
She pulled over to the shoulder of Highway A. Once she’d found the barn and the road, she’d followed instructions and stayed on the blacktop for fifty miles. Unable to find her next turnoff, she’d driven back and forth over the same five-mile stretch at least three times. She’d finally realized that spotting the elusive road was hopeless, and had been parked for the last ten minutes trying to decide what to do.
Walter had insisted there would be some sort of sign announcing the turnoff to North Shore Drive, but so far she hadn’t seen one. In the ten years she’d worked for Walter, she’d never known him to be wrong, which made the mistake hers. She allowed herself a wistful smile. Surely he’d laugh at this foible. Walter had mentored her growth in the cutthroat world of business. He’d once told her that he’d never seen anyone work harder, which was one of the reasons he’d first noticed her and moved her into a fast-track position within the company. He’d said that as a young man he’d received a leg up from the former CEO, and felt honored to carry on the tradition.
He’d made Miranda responsible for millions of dollars and hundreds of employees. She’d proved her competency again and again.
Not that it helped her now. Venting her frustration, she pounded her hands on the steering wheel. She’d already tried her cell phone, but had no service in this neck of the woods.
She’d expected this part of Minnesota to be more like Iowa—miles and miles of open farmland. Instead she’d probably found the last old-growth pine forest in the country. So much for a “lone” pine.
She glanced in her mirror and saw a cyclist approaching. Maybe he could help. Cyclists weren’t usually muggers or rapists, right? And if the guy on the bike knew where he was going, maybe he could give her directions. Despite all the warnings to stay safely inside the vehicle with doors and windows locked, Miranda went with her gut, and stepped out of the car.
The cyclist drew to a stop next to her. He was a tall, fit man. His bike shirt clung to six-pack abs. His shoes hit the pavement with a click, and she tried not to stare at his legs. Because of his sunglasses, she couldn’t see his eyes—not that she was looking at his face, anyway.
She heard his voice, though—an incredulous demand: “What the hell are you doing here?”
CHASE HAD BEEN ALMOST back home when he’d seen the car on the side of the road. The ride had been invigorating and exactly what he needed. He’d get to the lodge, take a shower and dress for tonight’s party, all with time to spare.
He hadn’t thought much about the parked car until he’d drawn closer. Then he’d noticed the vehicle was silver, a sensible little four-door sedan…with Illinois plates.
He knew that car. He’d changed its tire. Twice in two days was more than a coincidence.
When its owner stepped from the car he’d enjoyed a glimpse of toned calf muscles under the red capri pants she wore. He’d braked, coming up next to her. And said the first thing that came to mind.
He could tell he’d surprised her, because she drew back slightly, the words of greeting dying on her lips. Man, those lips. They’d tortured him. Not as much as his grandfather’s announcement, but close enough to do some damage to his sleep.
“I’m starting to think you’re stalking me,” he said.
Her hypnotic green eyes widened farther. “Me? I don’t even know you.”
He reached up and removed his mirrored sunglasses. “We met yesterday.” Though he still didn’t know her name, he realized. “Remember?”
She exhaled, relieved at seeing him. “Chase. You scared me.”
“Do you have something to be afraid of, Ms….” He let his voice trail off.
“Miranda Craig,” she offered.
A pretty name, and not one he recognized.
“So what are you doing so far from Chenille, Miranda Craig?” He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue. “Don’t you have unpacking to do? Didn’t the moving van show up?”
“Yes, but I left it for later. I have to go to a party and I’m lost. I’m also late,” she admitted.
The quiver in her lower lip was almost indiscernible but Chase noticed the slight movement. She wasn’t so tough and suave as she tried to pretend. Being lost and late was causing her real distress.
“Where’s the party?” Chase asked, although in the pit of his stomach he already knew the answer.
“The McDaniel Lodge on Lone Pine Lake.”
“Well, you’re almost there.” He couldn’t help himself; the edge of his lip curled upward in a smile.
She crossed her arms and frowned at him, the tilt of her head the only acknowledgment that he was right. “This isn’t funny.”
“I find it that way. Here I am, rescuing you a second time. Where would you be without me?”
“Sane?” she retorted, and Chase let out a roar of laughter.
“Ah, so I drive you crazy already. That’s good to know. I’ll file it away for future reference. So you’re coming to my grandfather’s party?”
“I am. Walter Peters invited me.”
He stopped laughing then. “Walter? Don’t tell me you’re his…Is that how you got a job at McDaniel?”
Miranda glared at him as if he’d lost his mind. “That’s a sick accusation. Absolutely not. Walter’s my boss. We’ve known each other for years. He’s like a father to me, that’s all.”
“Sorry. Just checking,” Chase said, relieved.
Walter Peters and Chase’s grandfather had been friends ever since Leroy had needed a supplier for McDaniel products, and he’d joined forces with Walter and the company he worked for. Each man served on the other’s board of directors, and Leroy and Walter were constantly trading employees who needed promotions or different opportunities.
As for Miranda, Chase liked that she had fire. Most women didn’t fight back. They were too eager to please. Miranda looked as if she’d like to tell him to go to hell. She probably would, if she had any idea how to get to the lodge.
She needed him. That was the only thing giving him the upper hand. For now, he’d take any advantage he could get. She raised his adrenaline more than the thirty miles he’d just clocked.
“Are you going to help me?” she demanded.
Chase nodded. “For a price.”
“You’re crazy. I can just drive back the way I came and ask directions in town.”
“No, no.” All of Chase’s senses had heightened. The ride had made him a little heady, which must be the reason he wanted to press her against the car and ravage her mouth with his. The last mile would make for a good cooldown; his body needed one.
“I’m just saying I’ve come to your aid twice now. Don’t you think you owe me a little reward for all my trouble?” he asked.
“Someone needs to teach you some manners.”
Her lips held a little pucker, one he really liked.
“I’m teasing you, although I do plan to collect, so be warned. If you want, follow me to the turnoff, then pass me and continue on until the road curves sharply to the left. You’ll see a sign that the caterers put up, and you’ll need to turn there. Just keep following the signs. You can’t miss the tent or the parking.”
“Okay.” She seemed skeptical. “You can ride fast enough for me to follow you?”
“I’ll sprint,” he said. He put his sunglasses back on and locked his shoe into place. He grinned at her. “Be sure to keep up.”
And with that, before she could even get into her car, he took off.
CHASE MCDANIEL HAD TO BE the most infuriating man she’d ever met, Miranda decided as she put her car in gear and took off after him. He hadn’t even waited for her, just got on his bike and rode off at “sprint.” His feet were flying.
She didn’t know people could go that fast, except for maybe Lance Armstrong or one of those other racing guys. Chase could make that bike move, and she had to go a tad over the speed limit before she caught up with him. He slowed down then, and she followed at a safe distance.
Still, she got a great view of his backside. She had to admit his rear was nice. She’d seen him in a business suit and now in cycling shorts.
Naked, he was probably magnificent. He’d need a shower when he got back, and for a split second she had a vision of him standing under the spray, and her joining him….
She swallowed hard, and followed as he turned onto an asphalt road she had easily missed, since it was hardly wider than a driveway. She gave a quick wave and passed him, wanting to put distance between them.
From Chase’s demeanor, she had to assume he didn’t yet know anything about her or the scope of her new job. If he did, he probably would have ridden off and left her to find her own way.
She felt a bit guilty for not saying anything to him about her new position, but Leroy had insisted he wanted things handled his way. Miranda wasn’t fond of subterfuge, but as this was her dream job, she’d agreed.
Now on the correct road, she easily found the signs, and soon drove up to the McDaniel estate. A parking attendant waved at her, and, when he found out she was staying at one of the guest cottages, showed her where to go. She climbed out and looked around, but Chase hadn’t yet arrived.
“Ah! Miranda! There you are!” Walter boomed in greeting. She turned to find him standing on the screened porch of the cottage. “See you made it okay.”
“I got lost a few times.”
Walter’s eyes twinkled. He was sixty-nine and retiring from his company presidency in two weeks. His departure was one of the reasons Miranda had accepted the McDaniel Manufacturing job. She might not get another opportunity to move up this fast ever again, and the company wouldn’t be the same without Walter. There were also rumors of a forthcoming takeover by a competitor once Walter stepped down.
“Glad to see you made it in spite of me,” he said, giving her a quick hug. “My directions aren’t what they used to be. Heck, nothing’s what it used to be. I’ll be missing you come Tuesday.”
“You’ve only got a week or two left yourself. Then it’s off on that round-the-world cruise with your wife. Speaking of which, where is she?”
“Our granddaughter Lucy had her baby Wednesday, so we’re dividing and conquering. My wife loves Leroy, but not enough to put off holding her first great-grandchild.”
“Good for her, and congrats,” Miranda said. As she grabbed her suitcase from the trunk, she noticed Chase ride up. She watched him park the bike at the lodge and go inside without looking in her direction.
Bringing herself back to the moment, she carried her luggage inside. The cabin was small, with a living room–kitchen combination, shared bath and two bedrooms. Miranda didn’t plan to stay long. She’d return to Chenille in the morning and spend Sunday afternoon and Memorial Day in her new apartment. She’d slept there last night, but the place hadn’t yet felt like home. She had a lot of unpacking and other work to do before that happened. Not that any place had ever felt like home after her parents died.
“I’m going over to the lodge to visit with Leroy before the party starts. Do you want to come with me?” Walter asked from the porch.
Miranda glanced at herself in the bedroom mirror. She looked rumpled, and knew she had to face Chase again. He’d be showered and…
“I’ll meet you at the party,” she called to Walter, who yelled in agreement and shuffled off the porch. She tracked his movements from her window as he picked his way across the side yard. She’d been watching out for him for years. She was going to miss him. He called her his surrogate granddaughter, since none of his children had been interested in a business career.
While she loved working with Walter, the job at McDaniel Manufacturing was her chance to get out from under his shadow and truly be her own person. She’d fought hard to reach this place in her life. For a second she blinked back tears, wishing her parents could see her now. She was so close to making all of her dreams come true.
And she wouldn’t let anything ruin it.
Not even her attraction to Chase McDaniel.
Chapter Three
By six-thirty the party was in full swing. People milled everywhere, enjoying the warm weather, delicious appetizers and good company. Leroy held a place of honor, and since everyone wanted to speak with him, he was constantly surrounded.
Chase lifted the cup of beer to his lips, took a swallow and feigned interest in stories his lake neighbors were telling about their trip to Australia. But his concentration was shot. All he could think about was Miranda Craig.
She stood out of the sun on the opposite side of the tent. Walter Peters had taken her under his wing and was introducing her to everyone.
Chase lifted his beer and took another sip. The brew had grown warm, as he’d been holding the same cup for at least an hour. “That sounds great,” he said at an appropriate juncture in the conversation, then added, “If you don’t mind, I’m going to go check on how my grandfather is doing.”
“Of course,” Mrs. Schulz gushed. “We’ll see more of you this summer, I’m sure.”
“You will,” he confirmed. The same crowd was always at the country club restaurant on weekends, and he suspected he’d hear each of the Australia stories several times before the summer was out.
He wove his way through the crowd, stopping briefly to make certain his grandfather was okay. Chandy was sitting beside him. She nodded to Chase that everything was fine, and he moved on.
“Walter, I heard you were here,” Chase said, reaching his target. “I’m sorry I missed you earlier.”
“Chase!” The older man gave him a hug and a pat on the back. “Good to see you. Boy, you’re rock solid. Must be all that exercise.” Walter turned to Miranda. “Chase competes in triathlons.”
“Only one or two a year, and only if I have time,” he said smoothly, liking how her eyes widened. He stretched his hand forward. “Chase McDaniel.”
“Miranda Craig,” she said, the flicker in her eyes reflecting uncertainty.
“It’s nice to meet you. I take it you worked for Walter,” he said, as if they’d never met. He figured pretending they were strangers would allow her to salvage some pride. A woman as fierce as Miranda likely wouldn’t want people to know she needed to be rescued. Twice.
“She did. Best employee I ever had. If I wasn’t retiring I wouldn’t let McDaniel steal her,” Walter insisted proudly.
“Of course not,” Chase agreed, with a smile that probably didn’t quite hide the turmoil he felt. He liked Walter. He liked Miranda, as well, but in a totally different way. He brushed aside the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t quite right. “Have you had a tour of Lone Pine?” he asked her.
“She arrived a little bit late and wanted to freshen up,” Walter confided, and Chase saw Miranda squirm. “So she missed the tour Chandy gave everyone earlier.”
“She has to see the lodge,” Chase said.
“Really, it’s okay,” Miranda protested.
“Oh no, it’s a gem,” Walter declared. “Finest place around. Christine and I love to come up here. We spend a week every August.”
“I’d be happy to take her on a tour now,” Chase offered.
“That’s a great idea. Thanks, Chase. It would be a shame to come all this way and not see it,” Walter told Miranda.
“Really, I—” she began.
“Hey, Walter!” The trio glanced over to see Leroy waving. “Come here a minute.”
“Perfect timing,” he said. “I’ll catch up with you later. Go tour. Have fun. You’ll love the place.” Walter headed over to Leroy’s circle.
“If I find out you arranged this, I’m likely to do you bodily harm,” Miranda said quietly, so that only Chase could hear.
He chuckled. “I’d warn you against that. I might enjoy it too much. Come, let me show you around.” He reached out and took her elbow. “Follow me.”
“Seems like I’m doing that a lot,” she murmured as they eased through the crowd and out from under the tent.
“Ah, but I get you where you need to be, don’t I?” Chase’s grin turned wicked. “Let me show you the lodge while it’s empty. As Walter said, if you’ve come this far, you must see the place.”
She hesitated, then nodded in agreement.
Chase led her across the yard, up the steps and inside.
“THIS IS BEAUTIFUL,” Miranda breathed as they stepped into the great room. “I love it.”
She’d seen pictures of fancy homes in upscale magazines. But they’d always looked cold and sterile. This was far less pretentious. It had a rustic, aged feel, like a timeless classic from a bygone era where life had been simpler.
The place was designed to be lived in. The hardwood floors showed wear from years of use. This was a family home, not an ostentatious attempt at showing off how much money the McDaniel family had. The room was friendly and inviting.
“So what do you think?” he asked.
She walked to the nine-foot-high, floor-to-ceiling windows at the front, and gazed out across the water. She’d grown up in an apartment building where large families were crammed into small units, and the next building was only a sidewalk width away. This room, with a ceiling that soared from nine to twenty-five feet high, was massive.
“It’s lovely,” she said.
He seemed pleased by her compliment. “Not too outdated?” he pressed.
She shook her head. “How can you even ask that? I think it’s perfect.” She gestured at the mission chairs placed strategically for the best lake view. “I could sit there for hours.”
“I often do. When I was younger I remember my parents loving these chairs. I’d wake up, run downstairs and find them sitting here.”
“It must be nice to have memories like that.”
They stood near each other and watched a small sailboat cross the water. The lake wasn’t deep enough to handle cabin cruisers and it wasn’t long enough to attract huge Scarab-type boats. Because of that Lone Pine Lake catered to the pontoon boat and smaller runabout crowd, making it perfect for families. Below, a few of the older kids played on the paddleboats and a few kayaked. A canoe waited, overturned on the bank. The place screamed home.
“You’re very lucky to have grown up here,” she told him, trying to swallow past the lump in her throat.
Chase arched an eyebrow. “Even though there’s no swimming pool in the backyard?”
She frowned. “Why would you need one when you have a lake?”
He shrugged. “An ex-girlfriend thought we should have a pool. Needless to say, she never visited. Seemed she wouldn’t swim in anything that has fish poop.”
Miranda made a disgusted face. “That’s silly. I love going to the beach, and there are great ones as close as Lake Michigan.”
“So you’re not one of those girls afraid of getting your hair wet?”
She resisted the urge to tuck her short hair behind her ear, a nervous habit. “No. What good is the outdoors if you don’t fully enjoy it? If you’re dating people like that, no wonder you’re all messed up.”
“Me? Messed up?” He cupped her elbow, guided her down the hallway and gave her a peek at both the master suite and Leroy’s office before showing her the other first-floor bedroom suite, where Chris, his wife and children stayed. “You didn’t answer me. So I’m a disaster?”
“Yes. Of sorts.” Better to be on the offensive. Anything to keep him from knowing the effect his light touch was having.
He led her back into the great room and then up the staircase to the second floor. “I’m injured.”
She knew he was poking fun, and played along. “Don’t be. Perhaps you should simply date better women.”
“Such as you? You turned down my offer of lunch.”
She ignored the bait. “Yes, because I’m not like the lingerie model wannabes I’ve seen you with.”
His brows lifted. “I looked you up on Google,” she admitted, “images and all. I wasn’t too impressed. The media called you Iowa’s heartthrob.”
He covered his heart with the palm of his hand. “Ouch. You wound me further. That was years ago.”
“Sure. You know, they call those kind of girls plastic for a reason. They look good, but that’s about it.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Chase leaned against the wall, and the hallway seemed to shrink. He was a big, sexy man. “That must be the reason I can’t find true love. I’m dating the wrong kind of woman.” His eyes dropped to her mouth.
“Could have something to do with it,” she replied, her breath catching in her throat.
He edged nearer. “So what type of woman would fit me? You looked me up on Google. You saw all my past mistakes, my bad boy reputation. What do you think?”
He’d put her on the spot, but Miranda hadn’t gotten this far without being able to think on her feet, despite her brain short-circuiting from his nearness. She stepped back. “If a woman’s got any sense at all she’ll know to steer clear of you.”
“I’m really a great guy.” He winked before continuing down the hallway.
He showed her his sisters’ old bedrooms and then pushed the door to his open. Though the rooms on the first floor were larger, his wasn’t shabby. It easily fit a queen-size bed, a dresser, a desk and a sitting area that overlooked the lake.
“Nice,” Miranda said, hovering in the doorway while Chase went to look out the window.
He glanced over his shoulder and held out his hand. “I’m not going to throw you onto my bed and have my way with you. Come on. It’s safe to step inside. This isn’t a den of sin.”
“I know that,” she snapped, feeling slightly foolish.
What was the big deal? It was just a bedroom. His stuff was in the drawers. A wet towel hung in the bathroom. A dirty pair of white socks lay on the floor by some running shoes. A pair of plaid pajama bottoms peeked out from under the rumpled red comforter.
As much as she might want to step into the room, it was just too personal. Chase’s magnetism overwhelmed her. He made a tsking noise, as if disappointed she wouldn’t take a risk.
Chemistry was a—She cut off the mental expletive. Men like Chase should be outlawed. Their mere presence was lethal.
“You’re missing a great view of the lake,” he cajoled.
“I know.” She shook her head and opted for safety, and a few minutes later they were back downstairs.
Chase opened the front door, led her down some steps and out onto the front lawn. “We’ll tour the boathouse and then head back to the party.”
“Okay,” she said, following him along a narrow stone path down a gently sloping hill. The boathouse wasn’t actually over the water. Instead, the cedar frame building sat back about ten feet from the edge of the lake. They entered through the side door. “Wow,” she breathed.
She’d expected a square room filled with life preservers and oars. The room contained those, but everything was neatly organized in cubbies. Rather than being the storage shed she’d expected, the boathouse functioned almost like a den. There was a bar and stools. A few tables. A dartboard, a foosball game, a billiard table and a small television set.
“This is where we used to hang out all the time.” Chase made a sweeping gesture. “This was teen central.”
“I noticed there didn’t seem to be any video games or TVs up in the lodge.”
“Never have been. The lodge is a place to get away from the world. The boathouse is a place to play and have fun. Imagine four kids plus all their friends. It got wild. We would move up here with our grandma the moment school let out, and friends would come and go all summer.”
“What about Leroy?”
“My grandfather has a three-day workweek from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He’s done it for years.”
“Must be nice.”
Chase grinned. “It pays to be the boss. As for us kids, we sometimes got bored. But usually we kept busy. No couch potatoes in my family. My grandfather installed that ballerina bar and those mirrors for Cecilia.”
Miranda glanced over, seeing her and Chase’s reflection. She swallowed. He looked so assured and comfortable. This was his home.
“So what made you choose to relocate to Podunkville?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t call Chenille that,” she protested. “Small towns are charming. I’ve found the people lots more easygoing than those in Chicago. And even friendlier to strangers.”
“That’s only so they can gossip about you at Maxine’s, the most popular restaurant downtown.” He grinned and then became serious. “So what exactly are you doing for us? Why’d you leave Walter’s company? Were you as high up as you could go? That’s usually why we get people from Walter.”
“It was a rather last minute decision. I had planned on staying where I was after Walter retired, but there are takeover rumors and the board is unsettled. Signs were that a move might be best.”
“I’ll warn you, the shopping’s not very good in Chenille. We’re forty miles from the nearest mall.”
“Malls are overrated.”
He chuckled. “I thought all girls loved to shop. My sisters are deadly.”
Maybe those who had money saw retail therapy as a sport, but shopping for Miranda had always meant being frugal. Her purse strings had loosened these past few years, but she couldn’t break the habit of budgeting. She had a few school loans to pay off before indulging in anything frivolous. And she had to save for retirement. “I’m not ‘all girls,’” she finally told him.
“I’ve already figured that part out.”
While she’d been lost in thought he’d moved dangerously close. Worse, she was backed up against a bar stool. She had no way to escape and she wasn’t sure she would if she could. Every nerve ending in her body tingled with awareness. “What are you doing?” she breathed.
“Cashing in on what you owe me.”
“Really?” she asked, trying to regain control. “When did I get in your debt?”
He thought for a second. “That came out wrong. I’m claiming my reward for rescuing you.”
“I don’t remember promising you anything,” she said, but his head lowered. She froze. He was going to kiss her.
She should tell him no. Fight it. Get away from Chase McDaniel and back to the party as quickly as her legs could carry her. That would be the rational thing to do.
But she couldn’t. He was like rocky road ice cream. Impossible to resist. His lips lightly touched hers and didn’t disappoint. He kissed her gently, as if testing how far she’d let him go.
Her body quickened. She wanted him to deepen the kiss, and as if reading her mind, he began to really kiss her. She let herself taste him, let him slide his tongue inside to connect with hers.
He was divine. Sure, she’d been kissed before, but something about kissing Chase felt different. It felt perfect. But it was also terribly wrong.
She pulled back, trying to ignore the flood of sensations rushing through her. What he’d roused with one kiss had warning signs flashing in her head. “I think you’ve had enough of a reward,” she said. Her voice came out huskier than she would have liked.
His gaze locked on to hers and his lips parted. For a moment she thought he’d try to change her mind. Then he stepped away and let her go. “Shall we head back to the party then?”
The abrupt way he dismissed what had happened made her knees wobble. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten her reserve and fallen under the spell of his playboy charms. He seemed to live for adventure. And she’d been just another challenge. Now that he’d succeeded, game over. Time to move on to the next conquest.
She followed him from the boathouse and toward the tent. Dinner had been served and people were sitting at tables eating and laughing.
“Shall we eat?” Chase asked.
“Sure,” Miranda agreed.
Places had been saved for them at the head table, and after going through the buffet line, they settled in their seats. Miranda tried to eat, but the fact that she’d kissed Chase McDaniel smarted. She wasn’t easy, yet she’d succumbed like a dog rolling over for a pat on its stomach. Disappointment at her behavior made her lose her appetite, so she picked at her food, while Leroy and Walter shared stories of becoming friends and building companies.
“Mine was always a family business. Even now we control the stock,” Leroy boasted.
“Yeah, but I proved to my boss you didn’t have to be family to get ahead. I’m a self-made man.”
“And I’m not?” Leroy countered. They loved to one-up each other, a friendly game they’d played for years.
“I’ve survived two mergers,” Walter claimed.
“Speaking of which, what’s with this latest takeover?” his old friend asked.
“Is something wrong with your food?” Chase leaned close and gestured to Miranda’s plate as Walter began to describe the situation in detail.
“It’s delicious,” she replied. The food was superb, and she forced herself to eat a bite.
The gall of the man, anyway. Why had he kissed her? Sure, it was only a kiss, but for some reason she couldn’t let it go the way Chase obviously had. He’d probably kissed plenty of women like that, which showed her inexperience. She also felt guilty. She’d enjoyed his touch too much. It had been awhile since she’d dated. Heck, she hadn’t had a real relationship in over a year, and Manuel had only been using her to close a sales deal and get a promotion at his company.
The night slipped on, and Chase asked her to dance. Despite her resolve to keep distance between them, she went. She wanted to be in his arms, to see if her earlier reaction was a fluke. She also wanted to speak with him.
“I need to tell you something,” she said as the slow number ended. She had to talk to him about her job. Given what had happened between them, it was the right thing to do. Otherwise, working together would be awkward. It probably would be anyway. He was like chocolate cake. She loved eating it, but afterward felt guilty for indulging.
“What is it?” Chase asked.
She opened her mouth.
“Chase!”
Miranda closed her lips and tried not to grimace as an older couple came forward.
“You look fantastic,” the woman gushed. “I haven’t seen you in, what, ten years?”
“This is Leroy’s second cousin Laura and her husband, Cliff.” Chase made the introductions. “They live in Paris.”
“Yes, but we wouldn’t have missed Leroy’s eightieth for the world.”
Miranda, seeing the conversation would be ongoing, soon slipped away.
“Having fun?” Walter asked as she returned to her seat.
“Loads,” she said, her gaze seeking out Chase. She knew he’d hate her once his grandfather took the stage.
Not five minutes later that moment arrived, sealing Miranda’s fate. Her window of opportunity to tell Chase the truth and set things right had closed.
Leroy grasped the microphone in one hand and asked for everyone’s attention. Chase finished chatting with his relatives and moved to the side of the room, joining his siblings. Miranda slipped into the chair next to Walter.
“I saw you and Chase dance. I’m glad you’ll be able to work well together,” Walter told her.
“Yeah.” Miranda didn’t want to tell him that was doubtful after tonight. She listened as Leroy thanked everyone for coming, before acknowledging and introducing his family.
Then he said, “As you know, I’m eighty.” He paused and waited out a few hoots and hollers. “But contrary to the rumors, I’m not retiring. I’ve decided to stay until this time next year. Still, I want to start easing my way out slowly.”
Leroy looked over the crowd, which consisted of business colleagues, friends, neighbors and family. “To achieve my objective and to make the transition smoother, I’ve decided to restructure the top of McDaniel Manufacturing. My good friend Walter Peters and I discussed ideal candidates for the new position I’m creating. It’ll be third in line, behind me and behind Chase, my grandson.”
Everyone glanced at Chase and he gave a short nod. His face remained taut and impassive, even though Leroy smiled at him.
“In fact, it’s been so hush-hush that this is the first time I’ve brought it up, even to Chase. However, since I am the CEO…” The few board members present laughed. They would rubber-stamp anything Leroy wanted.
“I’m calling this new spot a vice presidency, and the person I’ve hired to fill the position is here with us tonight.”
Walter touched Miranda’s arm in a show of support. She needed it. Even though she wasn’t looking at Chase, she could sense him watching her, and her skin heated.
“I’d like to introduce Miranda Craig as the new second vice president of McDaniel Manufacturing,” Leroy continued, and somehow she stood and briefly waved to the crowd.
Only after she sat down did she dare glance at Chase. His grandfather continued to talk, but the speech faded into a background hum as Chase and Miranda’s eyes connected.
With effort, she managed not to avert her head. She hated what she read on his face. His initial shock had turned into anger and the tight expression guaranteed payback. Since Leroy hadn’t told Chase anything about Miranda, he clearly thought she’d been coy and flirtatious. He thought she’d played him.
In a sense, maybe she had. She knew what many others in the room did not. Chase was going on forced sabbatical. She was the one who was going to take over his job. She was his grandfather’s choice for the next CEO should Chase fail to return.
As she watched, Chase lifted his glass to her in a mock salute. A feeling of foreboding settled over her. He wasn’t offering her good wishes. Miranda wasn’t that naive. Gone was the passion, replaced with something much deadlier. Chase wasn’t conceding an inch.
This was war.
Chapter Four
Chase had never thought of himself as the type of person who would be able to commit murder. But as he stared at Miranda, he wanted nothing more than to wring her pretty little neck until she begged for mercy or at least apologized.
He’d kissed her! He’d flirted with the enemy.
He took a deep breath, calming himself as Cecilia approached. “You okay?”
“Of course,” Chase replied through gritted teeth. How could he not have seen this? Easy. McDaniel had thousands of employees and there were always jobs open. Never in a million years would Chase have expected his grandfather to create a second vice president position or to bring in an outsider to fill that niche.
His sister touched his cheek, and Chase unclenched his jaw and forced a fake smile to his face.
“That’s better,” she said. She knew him far too well. “Gotta keep up appearances.”
“Yeah.” Chase gave a nod of acknowledgment to a passerby. He lifted his glass and saluted another.
After his one beer, he’d been drinking water most of the evening. He hadn’t wanted anything dulling his senses.
“Here they come,” Cecilia whispered, as Leroy led Miranda through the crowd.
Chase clenched his fists and tried to keep his smile from slipping.
“Chase,” Leroy said in greeting a few moments later. “I know you met Miranda earlier. There isn’t anyone more competent or more suited to this position than her. She’ll start Tuesday. I expect you to show her the ropes.”
Chase would like to show her a noose. Sure, most people would love to be in his position. As soon as Miranda took over, he’d be free to enjoy a life of leisure. He could collect his salary and, for one year, do whatever he wanted. How awesome was that? Trouble was, he already had six weeks vacation time annually, and hardly ever took any. He loved McDaniel and he loved his job. The last thing he wanted was some upstart replacement coming in and messing with his company—no matter how gorgeous she was.
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