LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Yes, but he’s so focused on his business. It’s the only reason he agreed to this arranged marriage.” She didn’t want to be second to a man’s profession. Then again, she placed high standards on her own career. She was passionate about saving animals and preserving nature.

      “Well, you’ve been consumed with your work, too, Kendall. Ever since that man you were with toward the end of college, you’ve been driven that way.”

      Sometimes she wished her mother didn’t know her so well.

      “Seems to me you both have your reasons why a marriage like this would work,” her mother continued.

      She wasn’t helping Kendall’s internal conflict. She’d basically just given her a green light to follow her heart and her heart wanted the excitement of marrying a man like Decker, to see where it would lead.

      “Come on,” her mother said, “Let’s go shopping.”

      * * *

      Decker wanted Kendall. He sat at his desk in his large modern office with a seating area before a gas fireplace and a conference table, staring at his computer but thinking of nothing but her.

      For once he wanted something for himself and not for his father. Yes, this had been his father’s idea, but last night’s dinner had changed everything. Kendall was perfect for him. She’d fit his lifestyle better than any other woman he’d met. He’d never been more certain this early on in the relationship game. That served as a reminder that maybe he should tread more carefully. He couldn’t afford anything getting in the way of taking over the company.

      Kendall didn’t appreciate her father using her as leverage. She was smart and didn’t have to settle for less than she deserved. Maybe an arranged marriage wouldn’t be enough for her. He’d have to work hard convincing her this would be a good union, even if they didn’t love each other.

      As far as Decker was concerned, love was overrated and marriage was more of a financial investment than anything. He didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day and he didn’t think wedding anniversaries were anything special. So a couple stayed together for x number of years. Who cared? In this modern, fast-paced world, lasting marriages were becoming rarer and rarer. He’d rather celebrate windfalls or career advancements.

      Maybe Kendall wouldn’t agree. That’s why he’d romance her the traditional way to get her to the altar. Like any business deal, he would go after her aggressively.

      “Distracted?”

      Decker looked up to see his father enter his office. He never knocked. Seeing his shrewd grin, Decker realized his father meant thoughts of Kendall had distracted him. Russ was clearly pleased with the way things were going, the melding of the Coltons and the Hadleys into one powerful unity.

      “A little.”

      “What’s your next move?” his father asked, going to one of the seats before the desk and sitting. He propped his ankle on his knee.

      “Maybe flowers or dinner out.”

      “That’s mediocre. Kendall is accustomed to riches. You should fly her to Paris for dinner or something equally grandiose.”

      “I don’t think Kendall is that materialistic.” She was into nature, not what money could buy.

      “How often does a man take her to Paris for dinner?”

      Not often he was sure, but that wasn’t the way to win her heart. “I’m old enough to manage on my own, Dad.”

      Russ’s smile broadened. “We can’t lose this deal. With Hadley money added to ours, we can expand to a level we’ve never reached before.”

      That did appeal to Decker, but his dad didn’t understand. “I’m the one who had dinner with her last night. Let me handle the courtship.”

      His dad’s smile faded and he nodded. “You’ve got a good head for business, Decker. I’ll trust you to do a good job with this marriage.”

      A good job. That sounded cold even to Decker. “Kendall won’t go through with this marriage unless she feels it’s a smart move on her part.” He had to plant that warning in his father’s head, prepare him for the possibility that Kendall wouldn’t marry him after all.

      “Draft up a contract so we have her written agreement to marry by the end of the month.”

      Decker barely smothered a scoff. One dinner with Kendall and he knew she’d never sign a contract to tie the knot.

      “Our lawyers can write it so she’ll feel comfortable but we’ll have assurance that she’ll marry you. If she wants to end it afterward, then we’ll get something out of it.”

      Decker began to feel ill over how Russ reduced something personal to a bottom line. “I’ll see what I can do.”

      Russ nodded. “Very good.” He placed his hands on his knees. “Any progress on boosting reservations since that woman’s murder?”

      Decker had been working tirelessly on a strategy to improve revenue, to replace the losses that homicide had caused. He worried he wouldn’t be able to turn things around before the film festival this summer. “I’ve got meetings scheduled to come up with a mitigation plan.”

      “Good. Let me know how it goes.”

      “As always.”

      “Even though Bianca Rouge was one of the most expensive call girls you can buy in Vegas, her untimely demise still tarnishes our reputation,” his dad said. “She stayed at The Lodge. Some people aren’t comfortable staying here because of that, a murder victim.”

      A European millionaire had brought the Rouge woman to The Lodge. While he had suffered his own shame in being caught with a prostitute, he had not been the killer. A man named Nolan Sharpe had written a suicide note confessing to the crime.

      “I’ve got a weekly call with Deputy Sheriff Daria Bloom to get status on her investigation,” Decker replied.

      “That’s all good, but I need to see results. If you’re going to be CEO, you should be able to handle a PR disaster like this in a timely manner.”

      Decker felt his ire rise. His father frequently threw veiled threats like that at him.

      “Have I ever failed you?” he asked.

      “I can think of a few occasions.”

      Decker met his father’s hard eyes dead-on. “No one else can run this lodge better than I can and you know it.”

      “All I’m saying is I need more convincing before I promote you to CEO.”

      No, his father just enjoyed his position of power. Decker had to bite his tongue before he told Russ his ego was the only thing that needed convincing.

      “I often wonder how much more successful we’d have been had Wyatt done what he was supposed to and joined our business,” his father added, further grating Decker’s nerves.

      “I doubt he’d have made any impact, given he had no desire to be part of this,” Decker said, knowing that would irritate his father. “Unlike me.”

      Russ’s face grew stern with displeasure. “I know you respect him for going off to do what he wanted, but a rodeo star is hardly up to this family’s standards.”

      Decker suspected that could be debatable. “He runs the Crooked C Ranch. That’s up to your standards.” Decker watched his father catch that he’d said your standards.

      After a while, Russ’s annoyance eased and a new, slightly shrewd grin inched up more on the left side. “That’s what I like about you, son. You never back down. That’s what makes the difference between a good CEO and a great one. You have to have the balls to run a business like this.” Russ stood.

      Decker didn’t know what to say. His father had actually complimented

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