Up to Snow Good: A Small Town Holiday Romance Read online

  “I authorized it, and as an officer of the company, I have that right.” Before his father could raise further objection, Max added, “If we pull the loan now, she’ll never accept a reasonable offer.”

  “Exactly.” He smiled around his stogie. “She turns down the offer, and we invoke the recovery clause. That’s on her, not us. You wanted a public relations win, there you go.”

  Max sat there as heat from the anger raced through him.

  “Now, do you see how business is done? You’ve still got a lot to learn, and I hope you’re taking notes.”

  Max tried not to act surprised. He knew what kind of man his father was, and he’d allowed himself to participate, but even then, he did it with the best intentions. To think he’d been used as a tool against Lauren, as the coup de gras of his father’s blood feud, made Max’s blood boil.

  “Putting all things aside, there’s a limit to what we as men, as people, as human beings, can tolerate.”

  “I feel the same way, Max. And nobody with the name of Matthews will ever forget it.”

  “That’s what this is about. It’s not about business, and it’s not about good business. This is still about your feud with Frank.”

  “You’re right, this isn’t about business. This is about life and people. I’m not a machine, Max. I’m a man, I love, and I feel just like anybody else. I know lust and desire, and I know what it is to be young and tempted.”

  “Geez—”

  “Oh, stop it. You and I both know what’s really going on here, and I’m not having it.”

  Max had reached the end of his patience. “Is that so?”

  “It is so.” His words came fast and loud. “You wanna talk about goodwill? What do you think people take us for when they find out we bed down with our enemies?”

  “You’re so damn stubborn,” Max spat back. “When will you let go of your stupid pride?”

  “Stupid? Pride is all we have, and we should be proud. We’ve succeeded. We’re the winners. You’re damned right I’m proud, and you should be too.”

  “Then be the man I can be proud of,” Max said. His eyes locked on his father for what felt like the first time.

  “No, you be the man I can be proud of. It’s up to you to rise to the position, to prove you can really take on this company, and I can trust you.” A long silent challenge passed between them. “Integrity, character, strength. I can’t turn my life’s work over to you, knowing you’re vulnerable to such childishness as a schoolboy crush. You’ll gamble away my fortune with that mindset.”

  Max stood up, a smile coming easily. “No, no more of this.”

  His father stood up on the other side of his desk, leaning over it like he might attack. “No more of what?”

  “All of it. No more of your schemes, no more of your controlling pompous bluster, no more of your bullying.”

  “Bullying? I’m your father.”

  “And there’s nothing I can do about that,” Max snapped. “But I won’t continue to do your dirty work, or clean up your messes, or go along with this ridiculous 'tough guy’ attitude. You want to push people around, start with somebody else because I’m done with this.”

  “Oh, you’re done all right,” He said. “How dare you turn on me. You’re my son.”

  “You sold yourself out a long time ago, but you’re not selling me out, not anymore.”

  “Think about what you’re doing. You need me because you can’t survive out there without me. Hunter Properties is your birthright, it’s your destiny.”

  “Not anymore.” Max crossed to the door and pulled it open before turning to face his father one last time.

  “You’re not serious. She’s just some girl. You’re not using the right head.”

  “That’s right, Pop. I’m using my heart. Do you remember what that’s like, or did you ever know?” There was no more to say because father and son were parting ways.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lauren

  Lauren was filled with confused anger, waves, both hot and cold, passed through her while her mind raced with thoughts that pulled her in every direction.

  “You’re kidding me.”

  Max shook his head. He stood with her in the lodge’s yard, far enough from anyone to give them a level of privacy, but there was no doubt Ruthie was watching. Patrick and Cindy were probably gawking too, but from behind the stables where she couldn’t notice.

  “I wish I was kidding, but I’m not. You have to know I didn’t get that loan with ulterior motives. I wasn’t thinking anything like that. When I suggested it, I didn’t know he’d turn it around like this.”

  Lauren wanted to believe him. His big, soulful eyes reached into her heart, past the confusion of her brain.

  He took her hand in his and walked forward. “I want you to know that I’ve parted ways with him, and I wouldn’t blame you for doubting me, but I want to help you with this—help you keep the lodge if that’s what you still want.”

  “You know it is, Max, of course it is.”

  “And all that other stuff, the stuff between our parents …”

  “Shouldn’t come between us,” she said. “It never should have affected us, because it was their issue, not ours.”

  “I absolutely agree because whatever happened in the past shouldn’t determine our future.”

  “You’re right.”

  Max looked around and up at the lodge. “It really is a nice place.”

  She smiled, glad to appreciate her father’s hard work and her mother’s tireless support. Those things were embedded in the very beams and soaked into the soil of the place.

  In Max, she’d found a true ally. He appeared as sincere as the kid who’d loved her with that schoolboy innocence so many years ago before the complexities of adulthood drove them and their families apart.

  She was shocked by so much new information that she hardly knew what to think. She’d been targeted by her father’s former friend and mortal enemy, and his son had been a tool of that assault, just as she’d been warned.

  Her faith in him had been rewarded because Max wanted to do the right thing, and Lauren knew she needed his help, and even more than that, she wanted it.

  So many questions sprang to her mind, the first being, “Where are you staying? You lived in your family home, didn’t you?”

  Max nodded. “I’ll get an apartment in town.”

  “No, that’s silly. There’s plenty of room here at the lodge.” She squeezed his hand. “Stay here.”

  “What? No, I shouldn’t.”

  “Why not? I insist.” To change his position, she continued, “We will be working together on the winter village, right? I’m going to need help with everything. It makes sense that you’re close by.” She didn’t want to beg, but she would if she had to. At this point, Max was the one good thing in her life.

  Max twisted his lips as he gave it a thought. “Do you think Ruthie will have me?”

  “Nope, but it’s not her decision.” She cracked a ready smile. “Did you bring clothes?”

  “Nothing. As a matter of fact, I just walked out.” The notion appeared to strike him with inspiration. “Let’s go shopping.”

  She was happy to take some time away from the lodge. The local outdoor store gave them more than enough to work with to dress him. She couldn’t deny the little thrill she got watching Max try on his new clothes. Everything fit him perfectly and clung to his tall, athletic frame. It was obvious he took good care of himself. His legs were long and well-muscled, his waist lean and tapered, his chest expansive and strong, his arms developed and powerful. He stood straight and tall, shoulders back, proud and strong.

  “What about this?” He walked out of the room wearing a parka, sturdy Levi’s, and a sexy smile. He was the perfect picture of rugged masculinity, the very embodiment of the American man.

  “Love it.”

  “There was a time when you loved me.” He pulled his lips between his teeth like he did in high school, and her heart took
off like a stallion free on the plains.

  “I don’t have time for love anymore. Let’s see the next outfit.”

  He frowned but went back inside the dressing room only to return wearing a black blazer. He looked like James Bond, a man of incomparable skill and style, a force to be reckoned with. Next was a cozy wool sweater, and he was a warm and welcoming presence.

  Whatever outfit he presented, it fit him perfectly, as if the clothes enjoyed the nearness of his incredible body, glad to be seen on such a perfect specimen.

  Max was the mover and shaker his father had no doubt envisioned, certain in his determination and intimidating in his assuredness. He could reflect any number of attitudes, but he was still Max underneath it all, and that unmistakable power was not lost on Lauren one bit.

  He paid for his things without seeming to give it any thought by pulling out his black card. He was a man of means, that much was clear, and he didn’t seem worried about the rift with his father.

  She had no idea about his personal finances or his own business dealings, but he seemed untroubled for his economic future.

  She put the ideas away, not ready to sell herself to him anymore than she was ready to turn herself over to Sam. Her affection, her love, her heart, her life, were not on the auction block, and they never would be. But he was good company, and it was reassuring to be around a man of confidence and capability. A tinge of doubt rang in the back of her head and heart. It was one she could not ignore.

  Why isn’t he more worried about that mess with his father? What is really going on here?

  She buried those thoughts because he had been sincere and well-intentioned. But was he really?

  Can a man be as charming and decent as Max pretends to be, or am I just falling for the oldest trick in the book?

  She had to give him a chance, and since he was staying at the lodge, she could watch him to see what he was up to, if anything.

  “I’m hungry,” he said with eyes that spoke to a different hunger. “Let’s go eat.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Max

  Elvis Presley promised to be home for Christmas in that sultry baritone, playing softly above the clink of their utensils, and the crackle of the fireplace.

  The lemon chicken was tender and zesty, perfect with a crisp chardonnay. Lauren had chosen the salmon, which she seemed to enjoy.

  For Max, the meal paled compared to the company.

  Lauren sat there looking beautiful and so tempting, but he tried not to think about it because of the dangers that falling for her could mean for both of them. But it was impossible for him not to look at her and imagine his hands on her skin, breathing in her delicate perfume, and kissing her red lips.

  He forced a smile and took another bite of chicken but couldn’t block the fantasies from entering his head. He would lean in to kiss her, and she would throw her head back, that mane of hair falling as she offered him the smooth column of her neck. He’d bury his face in the nape, while her fingers splayed across the back of his head, pulling at his hair until the pinch was a cross between pain and pleasure.

  He took a sip of wine, hoping to disguise his simmering lust.

  Oh, this is ridiculous. She knows how I feel; she has to know, and she must feel the same. I mean, she invited me to stay in her house, why should I be so worried?

  He looked longingly at her but said nothing. In his experience, silence was always a prudent course. As a battle raged inside of himself, he finished his dinner.

  We’re both adults, and there’s nothing wrong with a romance between us. But there was still a matter of perception and perspective; hers, not mine. I’d marry her yesterday if I could.

  “How’s your chicken?”

  “Very good,” he said, “thanks. Your fish?”

  “Delicious.”

  He had to fight back the urge to throw himself across the table and take her in his arms.

  Don’t even think it. Just put it all away for now. After the New Year, we’ll see how things shake out with the lodge. Things will take their natural course, they always do.

  “It’s nice being with you again,” Lauren answered with a smile.

  Max went on, “I’m so glad we could put all that family nonsense behind us.”

  “Me too,” she lowered her head, “though, my father always regretted what he did.”

  “It was unfortunate all around, let’s put it that way.”

  “Well said,” she raised her wineglass. “I sometimes wonder.” Seeming to read his curious expression, she explained, “How do people ever get together at all, much less stay together?”

  “I don’t defend what my father did because I’d never cheat on my wife. I’ve seen the sorrow it brings and the damage it does. It would never be worth it.”

  “I understand,” she said, “I feel the same way.”

  “I don’t mean that stupid feud, but my mother had this look on her face when she found out he was unfaithful, and she never got over it to tell you the truth. Pops thinks that’s what killed her, part of why he’s still so upset. On some level, I imagine he blames her death on your father too.”

  “I hope that’s not the case.” She shook her head. “How horrible is that?”

  He shrugged, unable to conjure a reasonable answer to the mysteries of life or death. “The fault lies with my father. Your dad did what he felt he had to do. He was looking out for the best interests of my mother because my father hadn’t been.”

  She nodded, but that pretty smile vanished from her pale, freckled face. “Still, it’s just … I don’t know.”

  “It hasn’t soured you on love, has it?”

  “Soured me? No, I believe in love, or at least I want to believe in it. Does that make sense?”

  “Perfect sense,” he said. “We all want to have hope. Without that, what do we have?”

  She tilted her angelic face. “Faith?” She lifted her glass. “Wine?”

  Max couldn’t disagree, and he didn’t want to. What he wanted was to round the table and kiss her until her lips were numb. He wanted to hold her and have her all to himself.

  “What about you? You’re a handsome, eligible bachelor from a high-profile family. I’m guessing there must be a crazy ex lurking around somewhere.”

  They shared an easy chuckle. “More than one, I’d imagine.” Max didn’t want to think about it too much and talk about it even less. “There hasn’t been anyone special. My father’s money was always a problem because I always saw dollar signs flashing in girls’ eyes. Or … maybe it just never seemed right. What about you?” He did and didn’t want to know if she had a great love outside of him.

  She turned away, glancing out the window. “Boys came and went at college and in Park City, where I helped run that resort, but they always left, and I stayed. It’s hard to establish a long-term relationship with transient people.”

  He reached across the table to take her hand. “Isn’t it obvious then?”

  “Isn’t what obvious?”

  “Us. I want you to know that what my father did all those years ago was wrong. He caused my mother terrible pain, and I would never do that, ever.”

  “No,” Lauren said, “I don’t think you would. You’re a better man than that.”

  He had to shake his head. “Good men have done worse. As for your father … he did what he felt was right. He was an honorable man, and my father was wrong to hold the grudge for as long as he has. I’ve tried to talk sense into him, but he’s so damn stubborn.”

  “He is, but he loves you and loathes me.”

  “I’m not my father, and he can’t stand between us anymore. I didn’t have much choice when I was younger. It was his house and his rules. When I was away at college, it was his money and his rules, but I shouldn’t have stood for any of it”

  She shrugged. “It’s family, and it’s business.”

  He growled. “Not my family, and not my business, not anymore, anyway.”

  Her expression wavered. “I’m
worried about all that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re here, but if being with me causes your family to fall apart, it’s not right.”

  “It is right, Lauren. I’m standing up for what I want and need.” Her face brightened, and she turned away but left her hand in his grip. “Do you remember how it used to be when we were younger?”

  She blushed, eyes rolling. “Yes, but we were just kids.”

  “We knew about life and love.” A long silence passed before Max recited, “I don’t have to see you, because you are in everything. You are the heat of the sun, the song of a bird, the fullness of my heart.”

  “Who wrote that?”

  His heart swelled with love and pride. “I did. I was sixteen and in love with a pretty girl named Lauren.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lauren

  She sighed and leaned back. She wanted to enjoy the moment—a simple meal with Max an old friend. She’d spent years fantasizing about this turn of events, and twice as many years erasing those dreams from her mind. Against every likelihood, hope of a happy future was possible. She couldn’t afford to be as miserable as she had felt these past days. And when she looked into those big, brown eyes, she saw beyond the tears and despair.

  “You flatter me.”

  “I wrote books of poetry describing your smile. The way your skin felt under my fingertips. The way the world didn’t exist when I was with you.”

  What he probably meant was when he was in her because she felt the same way. People often talk about their golden years being later in life, but hers happened as a teen with Max.

  Nothing in her life since him had ever been easy. The lodge worked her parents to death. It had been at the center of a maelstrom that tore two families apart, but it had brought others together.

  The complications and implications of their dinner together would be widespread and far-reaching, they were mending fences and rebuilding bridges once burned. He patched the holes in her heart, one kind word at a time.