LITMIR.BIZ

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and she pulled her sweater coat tighter around her. “You were there. Would you be okay?”

      He came to the railing. “Hell, with that kind of money, I could solve a lot of problems.”

      She caught a hint of his familiar scent, soap and just his own clean manly smell. She shifted away. She didn’t need him distracting her, or his opinion.

      “Easy for you to say, your life is here, and you wouldn’t have to pull up and move.” Lori stole a glance at him. “Or have Lyle Hutchinson running that life.”

      Jace didn’t know the exact amount of money Lyle had left his daughter, but knew it had to be sizable from the investigation Jace had done before he’d entered into the Mountain Heritage project. And he needed that project to move ahead, no matter what he had to do. “It’s only a year out of your life.”

      She glared at him. “That I have no control of.”

      He studied her face. She was pretty with her small straight nose and big brown eyes. His attention went to her mouth and her perfectly formed lips. He glanced away from the distraction.

      Yet, how could he not worry about Lorelei Hutchinson when her decision could put his own livelihood in jeopardy? His other concern was having any more delays, especially when the weather could be a problem. This was business. Only.

      “Look, I get it that you and your father had problems, but you can’t change that now. He put you in charge of his company. Surely you can’t walk away.”

      She sent him another piercing look. “My father didn’t have a problem walking away from his daughter.”

      He tried to tell himself she wasn’t his problem. Then he remembered if she didn’t take over the company, then that was exactly what he’d have to do. Walk away from Cassie. “Then don’t walk away like he did. This town needs Hutchinson Corporation to exist.”

      “Don’t you think I know that?”

      He sat on the porch railing facing her. “I know it’s a three-hundred-mile move from Colorado Springs, but you’ll have a great income and a place to live.” He nodded toward the house. Then he remembered. “I know you’ll have to give up your teaching job.”

      She glanced out at the lawn. “That I don’t have to worry about. I was laid off when the school year started. I have my résumé out in several places.”

      Jace felt bad for her, but at the same time was hopeful. “It’s a bad time for teachers. So maybe it’s time for a change. Why can’t you take over your father’s company?”

      “There’s so many reasons I can’t even count them. First of all, I’m not qualified. I have limited business experience. I could lose everything by managing things badly.”

      He felt a twinge of hope. “You can learn. Besides, Lyle has lawyers and accountants for a lot of it. I’ll be the person at the construction site. You can check out my credentials. I’m damn good at what I do.”

      This time she studied him.

      “I can give you references in Denver,” he offered.

      Lori couldn’t help but be curious. Her life had been exposed, yet she knew nothing about him. “Why did you leave there? Denver.”

      “Divorce. I had to sell the business to divide the joint assets. Moving here was my best chance to make a good home for my daughter. Best chance at getting full custody.”

      She might not like the man’s bad attitude toward her, but wanting to be a good father gave him a lot of points.

      “Once I finish Mountain Heritage and the spaces are leased, I’ll have some revenue coming in. It’ll allow me to control my work hours. I can pick and choose construction jobs so I can spend more time with Cassie.” His gaze met hers. “Best of all, Destiny is a great place to raise children.”

      She smiled. “That I remember about this town, and how they decorated at Christmas.”

      She watched conflict play across his face. “That’s what I want Cassie to experience, too. I don’t want her in some boarding school in Europe because her mother doesn’t have time for her.” He stood, and quickly changed the subject. “I also have several men that are depending on this job.”

      “I need to talk to my lawyer before I can make any decision.” And she needed to speak to Gina. Her sister weighed heavily in this decision. She turned toward Jace. “I know you were hoping for more.”

      He nodded. “Of course I was, but I can’t wait much longer. Just so you know, I’ll be contacting my own lawyer. I have to protect my investment.”

      Lori tried not to act surprised as she nodded. Jace Yeager finally said his goodbye as he stepped off the porch and walked around the house to the driveway. She heard his truck start up. Just one more problem to deal with.

      “Thanks, Dad.” She glanced skyward. “You couldn’t give me the time of day when you were alive, but now that you’re gone, you turn my life upside down.”

      She walked back inside the house and back into her father’s office. Paige and Mr. Bradley had their heads together. They spent the next twenty minutes going over all the details. She could contest the will, but if she lost, she’d lose everything and so would this town.

      Mr. Bradley checked his watch, gathered up his papers and put them in his briefcase. “Lorelei, if you need anything else from me, just call.” He handed her a business card. “There’s one other thing I didn’t get a chance to tell you. You only have seventy-two hours to make your decision,” he said then walked out the door.

      Lori looked at Paige. “How can I make a life-changing decision in three days?”

      “I know it’s difficult, Lori, but there isn’t a choice. What can I say? Lyle liked being in control.” The brunette smiled. “Sorry, I hate to speak ill of the dead.”

      “No need to apologize. Over the years, my mother never had anything nice to say about the man. It doesn’t seem as if he ever changed.”

      She thought about what Lyle had done to Jace Yeager. The man would lose everything he’d invested in this project if he couldn’t complete it. She closed her eyes. “What should I do?”

      “Are you asking me as your lawyer or as a citizen of Destiny?”

      “Both.”

      “As your lawyer, if you turn down Lyle’s bequest, the corporation and the partnerships would be dissolved and all moneys would be given to charity. You’d get nothing, Lori.” Paige went on to add, “As a citizen of a town I love, I hope you accept. Hutchinson Corporation employs many of the people in this community.”

      She groaned. “Lyle really did own this town.”

      Paige shrugged. “A fair share of it. But remember, the Hutchinsons built this town with the money they got from mining.” She smiled. “Times are changing, though. My brother-in-law Justin is moving at a pretty good pace to take that status. He has an extreme skiing business. And don’t count out Jace Yeager. He’s got some other projects in the works.”

      “And now he’s tied up in this mess,” Lori said. “Dear Lord, you all must have hated my father.”

      “Like I said there’s always been a Hutchinson here to deal with. Your grandfather Billy was a piece of work, too. He’d done a few shady deals in his time. The family has done a lot of good for Destiny.” She tried not to smile. “Maybe Lyle was a little arrogant about it.”

      “And now it looks like you all have me to continue the tradition.”

      Paige raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean you’re staying?”

      “Do I have a choice?” She knew it was all about Lyle protecting the Hutchinsons’ legacy. Not about his daughter’s needs or wants. He had never cared about that.

      Well, she had to think about

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