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“No, not really I’ll just, u you can find me there”

“I’ner He did sos property and with the si hiood idea I knohat I want, but I’ fabrics and tapestries and…well, it’s Dean’s job to take ether”

Herand he was already s with her Was this all going to happen without her, then? “And what’s my job in all this?”

For a ers felt for the handle of the door Briefly she reht But he merely crossed an ankle over his knee and s as seauests and staff I can already see you’re good at it And your job is also to help me I do want your input, Mari”

When the phone on his desk rang, his attention slid away from her completely, and she felt like a child dismissed froet soure out a way to retain at least so with nothing

Mari er’s office in a daze It was clear she wasn’t needed when it ca As far as Luca was concerned, she was there to keep people happy

She shut her office door firmly and threw her purse on her chair She hadn’t worked this hard to build up her life to have so a door this very moment and lifted her chin She s to soothe away the nagging feeling of inadequacy She wouldn’t let him do this to her This was her life now, and she would hold on to it with both hands

He was bringing in a designer, of course he was That was logical But it was all happening so quickly She wanted everything back the way it was

Luca would consult with this designer and she’d be out of the decision- process She couldn’t let that happen If she did he’d startunilateral decisions that affected everyone He’d have all the control and the thought terrified her

But how could she hold her ground, when the very thought of asserting herself into the situation made her stomach tremble and her knees watery?

She had to co that showed her value When the idea hit she was shocked she hadn’t thought of it before The hotel had an attic And with every renovation, she knew certain things had been placed there for storage She was sure there was a trove of antiques fron up there She reolden age” Rich fabrics and natural wood If she remembered correctly, there was an old chandelier, and who knehat other treasures she’d find?

She ju the open file on her desk and grabbing instead a ring of keys fro into the hall when she ran smack-dab into the solid wall of his chest

“Allentare!” He gripped her arers “Mari, slon! Are you all right?”

“Let htened her shoulders

The woman was as prickly as a cactus Luca stood back, nonplussed She’d nearly knocked hi at hi out of her office, not looking where she was going

“I alad to hear it”

Her face softened just a bit “I beg your pardon, it was my fault”

“It doesn’tto see you”

He watched as she slowly relaxed First a deep breath, then her shoulders lowered and the taut lines of her face disappeared She ound as tight as a top She had been last night, too Her cheek had been cold when he’d kissed it in greeting and the tiny touch on her wrist seemed to turn her to stone The woman needed to deflate before she imploded

She placed a polite senuine It was a cover But as she covering? He’d neverif he said black, she’d say white just to be contrary In that way, he thought ruefully, she wasn’t that different fros The Cascade was his baby He’d de And when it was over he’d be able to take the credit and finally step out within the coht He loved his father, he did It didn’t mean he wanted to work under his thu that kept things tense between them