Deal of a Lifetime (8 page)

Tam frowned at Con. He was interfering again. This had to stop. For the moment she ignored him and addressed Mike. “We can discuss the options over lunch if you like.”

“That would please me very much. Here comes our tram car.” The generator powered, pulley operated car came to a halt in front of them and the doors slid open. “Watch your step.”

Con assisted Tam into the car, drawing her with him to the rear of the vehicle. “This end will provide the best view of the valley as we ascend.”

“Thank you, but I prefer to watch the approach to the mountain.” Upset with his interference, Tam turned to thread her way through the crowd to the opposite end. A few seconds later Con stood beside her once more.

Behind them, a resort employee began a spiel describing the features of the tramway, the scenery, trails, outlooks, and other amenities available to visitors at the mountain end of their short trip.

The view was stunning. A thin blue stream wandered through a carpet of snow-dusted pines and shivering, leafless aspens. Rocky outcrops poked out from melting snow fields like groundhogs emerging from winter burrows to test the air for warmth. In the distance a large hawk sailed the sky looking for food, dipping every now and then to skim the treetops. Tam leaned against the side of the car. Her eyes ate up the scenery like a kid consuming ice cream.

Con’s gaze devoured Tam. He remembered when her avid hungry stare focused on him and swore it would again.

“Please folks,” the employee said as the car approached the mountainside terminal. “Don’t go wandering alone. This time of year, most hibernating animals are waking up hungry, so they aren’t too particular about what they eat. If you go beyond the paved pathways, watch your footing. Snow melt loosens everything. What looks like solid ground or rock may actually be very unstable.”

The tram car jerked to a halt beneath the terminal roof.

“We’re expecting three more cars full of folks, so we’ll hold lunch until they arrive,” announced Buddswell. “Feel free to explore the shops or admire the landscape around the terminal complex. You’ll hear a warning horn when the dining room is ready to serve. We’ve got a healthy meal of Montana delicacies for your enjoyment, so work up an appetite. I’ll be making some announcements during lunch and expect all of you to be present.”

With that, he led the way off the tram.

A row of icons and large print signs pointed the way to the overlook, the shops, and other terminal facilities. His megawatt smile gleaming, Buddswell stood at the end of the row glad-handing his guests. When Tam and Con approached, Mike pulled her from the stream of people. Con, who was holding her elbow, went with her.

“I want to talk to Tam about her proposal. She’ll be perfectly safe in my hands.”

Con bared his teeth. Since Mike was eyeing Tam’s chest, Con had little doubt what Buddswell wanted. Talking wasn’t on the agenda.

Well Con wanted her too and wouldn’t let Buddswell, past misunderstandings, or Tam’s present reluctance stand in his way. From the day Con realized he had the skills to escape the projects and his disaster of a childhood, he had always won, always succeeded, always gotten what he wanted. Except where Tam was concerned, failure and losing weren’t in his vocabulary. He’d leapt hurdles at every step. That’s what he faced now, obstacles to be surmounted or eliminated. He’d spike Buddswell’s guns, learn to forgive and forget the past, and turn Tam’s reluctance into eagerness. The two of them belonged together. The alternative didn’t bear thinking. If he lost Tam again nothing else would have meaning.

She opened her mouth to reply. Con forestalled her. “I’m afraid this isn’t a good time. Tam insisted I show her the lookout and trailheads before lunch.”

She gave him a narrow-lidded glare. “I can give Mike five minutes. Then I’ll meet you at the overlook.”

“But…” So much for spiking Mike’s guns. Con couldn’t just haul her away.

“I’ll. Meet. You. In. A. Few. Minutes.” She gave his arm a far from gentle shove.

He had no choice. Her message was clear, and he was forced to concede for the moment.

“I’ll be waiting,” Con muttered. He wanted his message clear too.
Go on, but you’ll always be mine
. Then with ill grace he strode off to the overlook.

Tam watched him go. She’d intended to put Buddswell off, but she was so tired of Con’s interference that she’d reacted less cautiously than she should. Now she was stuck fending off Mike’s advances for at least the next five minutes. She knew his reputation and prayed that five minutes would be too little time for him to attempt the seduction he clearly had in mind.

“What is it you wanted to say?”

“Let’s go someplace more comfortable.” Taking her arm, he led her along the side of the terminal complex to a private entrance.

“I don’t think—” Before she could complete her protest, he had the door unlocked and ushered her inside.

More like a lair than an office, the room had a floor-to-ceiling fireplace where a steady fire burned, a bearskin rug covered the hardwood between the hearth, and a genuine Hudson Bay blanket decorated the long wide sofa.

“Have a seat.” Mike’s husky tones came from behind her. “I’ll take your coat and hat.”

His hands settled on her shoulders. She shrugged them off, held on to her coat, and turned to face him. “I don’t intend to be here long enough to get comfortable. I told Con I’d meet him in a few minutes, and I always keep my word.”

“I’m sure Con will understand.” Mike’s smile softened, and he leaned casually against the fireplace stones.

Had she not been smitten with Con, that devastating smile might have blown her objections and good sense to flinders.

“Perhaps, but I see no reason why he should have to understand. Please get to the point.”

Mike gave her a liquid eyed, puppy dog stare. “The point is that you’re an intelligent woman. I find intelligent women very attractive.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but I’m intelligent enough to recognize a come-on when I hear one. You said you wanted to discuss my proposal. If you want something else, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

He straightened and stepped closer, taking her hand to toy with her fingers.

Con did the same thing at every opportunity, but he knew from personal experience that rubbing his thumb across her knuckles made her shiver. Mike was simply a master player and would probably try any number of tricks to undermine her defenses. Luckily his touch left her cold.

“We’ll get to your proposal, eventually.” He leaned in for a kiss.

Tam backed away, then skirted around him, headed for the door. “Just in case I didn’t make myself clear yesterday, I don’t trade sex for favors. If that’s what it takes to get a Buddswell contract, I don’t want one.”

Mike refused to part with her hand. “I respect your principles. What if I told you my attraction to you has nothing to do with business?”

“I have a hard time believing that, given your reputation and the fact that my proposal is still on the table.”

He tugged on her hand reeling her toward him. “Then we’ll take it off the table. I’ve got plenty of other ways to help your business.”

Tam resisted, finally pulling her hand free when she was no more than two steps from him. “I don’t think you understand. I won’t trade sex for anything.”

“So it’s Con you want. I have a lot more money than he does.”

Finally Tam lost her patience. “If money motivated me, I would have married Con long ago.” The statement forced her to face the truth; she’d been so afraid Con didn’t really love her she had convinced herself it was true. If she believed him, and she had little reason not to, she had to admit fear of neglect had been the real reason she’d hesitated when he talked of marriage. Fear of losing Susa had kept her silent. Tam was still afraid, but not of Buddswell. “If you can’t respect me and treat me as you would any other business colleague, I’ve wasted my time and will be leaving this conference as quickly as I can.” She turned on her heel and stormed away.

Outside, she followed the path back toward the terminal, then found the sign that pointed toward the lookout. She walked at a rapid clip until she rounded a curve and lost sight of the buildings. She slowed her steps so she could regain her composure.

Men! They would say or do just about anything to get what they wanted. Not one of the manipulative bastards cared about the truly important things like ethical behavior and love of family. She wouldn’t be seduced by Buddswell, and she wouldn’t be manipulated by Con. He needed to learn that his interference was as unwelcome as Mike’s advances.

By refusing those advances, she’d probably lost all chance of gaining the Buddswell account for the Four Corners area. She was about to cut ties with Con once and for all. At least she’d have righteous indignation to keep her warm at night, because once she told Con the truth, she’d kill any feelings he had for her and probably lose her daughter’s love in the bargain.

****

Con watched Tam amble toward the lookout. He was fuming. She’d been with Buddswell a full ten minutes, not five. Ten minutes was a short time for seduction, but it could be done, if the woman was willing. He wished he was certain Tam wasn’t willing. The possibility that she preferred Mike worried Con more than any mistake he’d made, and he’d made way too many.

“You’re not smiling, Tam. What happened? Did you discover that Mike didn’t give a damn about business and only wanted to get horizontal, or is that what you hoped?”

The words were out before he could stop them, regret galloping after. Damn. His own personal, obsessive, territorial, green-eyed monster had taken over and made him talk like an idiot. If he kept this up, she’d slip out of reach forever.

Tam gaped at him. Fury welled once more at the wrong-headed, idiotic, insulting assumptions of the men she knew. Guilt and good intentions shattered in the face of scream-worthy anger. She gripped her hands together to keep from hitting him.

“My discussions with Mike Buddswell are none of your business. I’m insulted that you would imagine I could trade sex for preferential treatment. I thought you knew me better. I certainly thought better of you. I guess I was wrong. I’m tired of your interference. You have no rights where I am concerned, so back off.”

He sucked in a breath and thrust both hands through his hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I couldn’t stand watching you let Buddswell corner you into a private meeting, especially when I gave you an out. I’ll bet he took you someplace more comfortable with a fire and a big sofa where you could discuss business on your back.”

She slapped him. The fact that Con was right about Mike didn’t make any difference. “That’s for insulting me a second time. I’ve a good mind to hit you again for thinking I can’t manage my own business, but I don’t waste my time beating on rocks. For the last time, I didn’t need you to give me an out, and I don’t need one now. Goodbye, Con.”

He’d made it worse, a hundred times worse. What had possessed him to accuse her once of using sex to gain a contract, let alone a second time. Con let the cold wind add sting to his aching cheek and watched Tam stomp back the way she’d come. He was a first class fool. He needed to stop behaving like a Neanderthal. He was smarter than that, at least he liked to think he was.

The horn sounded, announcing lunch. Con wasn’t hungry, and his stomach revolted at the idea of sitting with a bunch of competitors all chattering polite nonsense and jockeying for position. He turned his steps to the trail leading into the trees. He needed time to think.

Tamsin is right. My assumptions and interference are insulting. By interfering, I underrate and undermine her abilities. That’s part of how I lost her in the first place. I didn’t give her reason enough to overcome any doubts she had about us. How can she ever believe our stable, happy marriage is possible when I keep acting like an overbearing imbecile
? He stepped over a log that barred the path.

A spot of mushy snow blocked his way. Rather than get his feet wet he skirted around it.

She put up with a lot in our months together. Granted I didn’t know about her parents, but that wouldn’t change how she felt about marriage. Not being married was her safety net. She could leave any time she wanted, so she didn’t have to. Then I tried to take that safety net away. I tried to tie her to me with rings and ceremonies that she’d never break no matter how much she wanted. I refuse to give her up. If remaining unmarried is the way to keep her, that’s what I’ll do.

Clouds gathered above him, and the breeze chilled. He shivered, huddled into his thin coat, put his head down, and pushed on.

The path changed from flat packed dirt to a slight hard rock incline. His gaze turned inward, he walked mindless of the terrain. His feet took him from rock to loose shale veneered with ice. When those same feet slipped out from under him Con was caught unaware. He landed on his back, his breath knocked away. He hauled in air and scrabbled to regain his feet, but the incline had sharpened. The more he moved, the more the rocks beneath him shifted, and the further down the incline he slid. His inability to regain his feet annoyed him. Concern replaced annoyance when the entire hillside began to slide.

Chapter Seven

“Last, while I’m certain some of you won’t be happy with this I’ve decided that all pending distribution contracts for Buddswell’s Snack Foods will be subject to open bidding. Bids will be posted anonymously on monitors throughout the conference rooms. I need to know what I’ll be paying for with the bid I select, so only those bids from companies submitting proposals will be accepted. The winning bids will be announced at our closing banquet on Saturday night. We’ll sign letters of intent right after the announcement, so you must be present. If not, the contract will go to the next best bid. Any questions may be directed to me through my office staff. Thank you and enjoy your lunch.”

A smattering of applause escorted Mike from the podium. Tam wished she could be happy that he’d taken her suggestion, but she wouldn’t be bidding. She needed to be home with Susa—the only relationship she could count on. She toyed with her food. The venison steak, garlic potatoes, and wild greens were all delicious. She wasn’t hungry, not for food.